The Tonic is an amphibious car that loves to drive on the water, off-road and on-road in equal measure. It has been developed by ESORO as an exclusive tender for the PINK GIN sailing yacht. The Tonic is “parked” on the raised foredeck and can be lifted into the water by the shipborne crane. A selectable all-wheel drive and a conversion time of only a few seconds makes it easy to use the car in water and at the shore. The PINK GIN is a yacht by Baltic Yachts.
100% BOAT
Retractable wheel suspension and fully closing wheel arches lend the Tonic a hydrodynamically optimized hull. The special carbon tunnel above the propeller provides adequate thrust with shallow draught to travel at up to 60 km/h. The body – completely manufactured in carbon reinforced plastic – offers comfortable room for the driver and three passengers.
100% CAR
Driven by a 2-litre turbo diesel engine, the Tonic is a good choice to drive on the road and in off-road areas. The selectable all-wheel drive and steplessly adjustable wheel suspension are able to cope with all ground conditions. The speed of the Tonic is limited to 120 km/h. An outstanding detail: the front-wheel suspension, together with the ceramic brake system and the high-pressure hydraulic drive, can be fully retracted into the body.
WORLD RECORD: CROSSING THE CHANNEL IN 74.5 MINUTES
Great rejoicing and relief on the beach of Calais following a successful adventure: 74 minutes 30 seconds after starting from Dover, the amphibious vehicle Tonic regained firm ground under its wheels. Thus on Tuesday 1 July, 2008 the team around Professor Hans Georg Näder clearly surpassed the previous world record in channel crossing held by Sir Richard Branson (100 minutes and six seconds). The new record time has been officially recognised for the Guinness Book of Records. Professor Hans Georg Näder, who had commissioned ESORO to develop the Tonic-Amphicar, was the pilot for the channel crossing and sailed the new 60 km/h-on-water vehicle through the waves. At his side, Henry Hawkins, captain on the sailing yacht PINK GIN. On this yacht, Professor Näder won the New Zealand Millennium Cup along the coast of Majorca in 2007. Using an amphibian vehicle to go hunting for a world record in the 34 km wide channel stems, so 46-year old Professor Hans Georg Näder, from a mixture of “enthusiasm for peak technical performance and sporting ambition”.
