Car of the future, on land on water, no problem!

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Ever been pursued in a high-speed car chase by a megalomaniac's guards only to reach water and have nowhere else to go? It's the perennial problem for the secret agent. But fortunately, help is on hand. The Splash has been making waves in the European motor show market and now it could help super spies around the world. The custom-built car-come-hydrofoil is equally adept on land and sea, reaching speeds of up to 50mph on smooth water - easily enough to outpace even the most dogged henchman on water skis. Bond pedants will point out Roger Moore's Lotus Esprit Turbo went underwater in The Spy Who Loved Me, but that one-off is now touring the world in exhibitions, so this The Splash is the best we've got available for the moment. At the push of a button a hydraulic mechanism lifts the hull of the boat two feet from the water, transforming the sports car into an amphibious sea creature. The bi-surface vehicle, seen here being taken through its paces in Florida, is one of the latest creations of Swiss company Rinspeed, a firm which specialise in adapting cars. The hi-concept creation is even environmentally friendly, being powered by natural gas. Perfect for the ethical secret agent in your life. It's not too shabby on the road either, accelerating to 60mph in 5.9secs, and reaching a top speed of 125mph. Just make sure it comes back in one piece on your next mission.