U-Boat Worx Unveils Underwater Limousine

U-Boat Worx, a Dutch manufacturer of submarines, has released its "subsea limousine," the C-Explorer 5. This nifty underwater vehicle, aside from looking like something out of countless science fiction movies, can seat four and is aimed at the affluent end of the market. It was unveiled at the Monaco Yacht Show in September, and is now available for about $2.4 million.

The CE5 is targeted at resorts and well-off citizens who have always wanted to take a stroll under the water. It's a pressurized vessel constructed of steel and acrylic capable of descending up to 1,000 feet into the murky depths of whatever body of water you happen to be closest to. It can hit speeds up to 3 knots, which is about 3.5mph.

Like many smartphones, the vessel's battery life comes in at around 8 hours of operation, with an optional upgrade to 16 hours for those concerned about running out of power in the middle of a watery nowhere. Should something go awry, the CE5 can support its crew for 96 hours. The batteries are high-capacity lithium-ion.

Steering is achieved via dual-2kWh thrusters and an options dual-1.2kWh thrusters for side-to-side movement. For the average sojourner, however, it's the CE5's interior that is likely to be most impressive. You'll find LED lighting and air-conditioning rounded out with a pleasant design and round pod-like window. The CE5 offers a remote-controlled device that's tethered to the vessel for exploration, as well as an external arm, and HD camcorder, and sonar.

[via Gizmag]