Test the Prodrive WaterCar Panther, an amphibious car!

IS IT EXPENSIVE?

In a word, yes. In more words, yes, it is very expensive. But it is also a multipurpose vehicle. Most cars only try to be one thing: a car. Some try to be a car and SUV, or a car with a roof that comes off. But this is a four-seater soft-top convertible off-roader that floats. And ride waves. And you can start your own extreme sports business by the lake. So 230,000 euros is perhaps a bargain.

This particular Panther is the best example in the world, having seen three years of testing with British racing and engineering team Prodrive. Yes, the same people who conquered the World Rally Championship with Subaru, set up the Aston Martin cars at Le Mans and are in charge of the Extreme E Odyssey field.

WHAT IS IT DOING IN THE UK?

Company founder David Richards came across a Panther while on vacation in Los Angeles a few years ago. Being a sucker for things that go fast and make a lot of noise (and he also has a penchant for boats), he decided to import one into Britain with a view to selling them on this side of The Pond, and quickly set the task to the engineers at Prodrive. to polish it for the European market.

WHAT'S IT LIKE TO DRIVE?

You'll know if you've ever owned a pen that was also a flashlight and an alarm clock, things that try to be two things tend not to be. You know how seals and penguins look graceful and athletic in the water but uncomfortable on the shore? This is the equivalent of four wheels.

Prodrive's quest to polish this diamond in the rough has focused primarily on improving engine cooling and various fiberglass hull seals to prevent it from filling up with water and sinking faster than a Jeep Wrangler in quicksand. What they haven't been able to counter is the rear weight distribution of the Panther.

WHAT'S REALLY POWERING IT?

At the rear, behind the rear axle, sits a Honda V6 3.7-liter, used in the Acuras of the US market. Because both it and the 'Panther' thruster for water propulsion are pinned to the rear, the Panther lifts off the front axle if called upon to accelerate rapidly.

The engine, which tops out at 300bhp, sounds fierce. The screeching V6 is deafening. There is an ever-present aroma of unburned fuel vapors around. The four-speed gearbox is hopelessly slow, but luckily there's plenty of punch.

IS IT GOOD ON THE ROAD?

No. This is not a car to drive fast. Those huge Barbie Jeep wheel arches are invisible from the driver's seat, so you have to remember that it's a hell of a lot wider than you can see. Although it is relatively light for its size at 1,338 kg, it behaves as if it weighed two tons.

This is not a car where you can lean an elbow on the top of the door and drive or, cruising. You have to take care of it. Prodrive engineers know this very well. They freely admit that this is not a car they would drive long distances in on their way to family vacations. It is more convenient if you live near a river, lake or sea. Instead of having to tie your boat to a trailer and go through all those pesky unloadings, with the WaterCar you can simply head down to your nearest beach and jump right into the water.

Manufacturers recommend entering the water at no faster than 14 mph. Hah, good. It's a really strange feeling to be sitting in a car, with a rear view mirror, a steering wheel and a gear stick, and driving it through water. Once you're safely floating, it's time to switch to boat mode.

HOW DO YOU PREPARE FOR POWER SAILING?

First things first, select neutral. Then hold down a button marked 'wheels up' until you hear a beep. This hydraulically raises all four wheels and tucks them into the arches so they don't drag in the water. The reason selecting neutral is so important is that this process will bend the driveshafts.

Next, press the button to lower the trim elements. Finally, pull a lever next to the handbrake to engage the drive. This engages a power take-off from the V6, which is now running the water drive. No more than fifteen seconds after submerging, the Panther is ready to swim.

IS IT BETTER TO BE A BOAT THAN A CAR?

That's right, it's absolutely magical. The trick is to keep the revs at 6,000 rpm as you accelerate, and then drop to 5,000 rpm once the boat "takes off." In the language of water, the fins you lowered earlier now act as submerged wings.

This hydrodynamic lift exceeds the car's buoyancy and lifts much of the hull out of the water, reducing drag and allowing for more maneuvering.

WHAT'S IT LIKE INSIDE?

Permission to board , pattern? In reality, the details of ship wannabes are conspicuous by their absence. The steering wheel, for example, does not have wooden handles that stick out like a rudder. There are no buoys hanging off the sides. You can't even sunbathe on the hood.

It's a no-nonsense, functional interior, with a rubberized airtight cover over the radio, buttons and switches and some unsupportive waterproof seats. The rears are as welcoming as the seats you'd find in a Porsche 911, only with more headroom.

HOW MUCH EQUIPMENT DO I GET?

Forget Apple CarPlay or cruise control—the Panther's cabin is like a trip back to the '90s. The mirrors are electrically adjusted, but the automatic headlights are not. Do you mind? I thought not. It's hard to fault the kit when you've got so many weird and unusual switches inside, marked 'Engage Jet Drive' and 'Wheels Up/Wheels Down'.

Because the rear is occupied by the engine, the trunk is actually under the hood. Here you will find enough space for a small bag of food or a couple of life jackets. Maybe some flares.

WHAT DO I HAVE TO PAY?

As the Prodrive-modified Panther is the only one officially in Europe, it's hard to say. He certainly has weirdness on his side. Prodrive planned to sell this particular example for €195,000. That kind of money buys you a Bentley Bentayga, which is also ugly, stupidly fast, and handy on various types of terrain. It could be a complicated decision.

Maintenance costs are likely to be high, especially since Kwik-Fit isn't very well versed in boats. But the Honda engine should hold up like Stonehenge and there is very little that can go wrong. Electric seats? Parking camera? Not here.