Suspension turns car into boat

Like a tadpole losing its tail, the Aquastrada Delta amphibious vehicle cruises the shore, then climbs up onto it. Created by a team of engineers in Carmel, CA, the vehicle achieves top speeds of 100 mph on the road and 45 mph on water, says chief designer Gary Gere. With a 139-inch wheelbase, the 18-foot, 2,830-pound Delta is no minnow.

Aquastrada International Corp. is patenting or has patented many aspects of the vehicle design, and will display it at the New York International Boat Show this month. Look for production models in 1997. The price: $150,000.