Cruising the Med: Egyptian-built aquatic car offers upgrade on jet skis

Vehicle designed by friends offers more stability and extra features

Karim Amin, 29, one of the three Egyptians who designed and invented a vehicle that can drive on water, at Porto Marina in Alexandria, Egypt. Reuters

Volunteers help to launch a car that can drive on water at Porto Marina in Alexandria, Egypt. Reuters

Karim Amin, 29, one of the three Egyptians who designed the water car puts it through its paces in Alexandria, Egypt. Reuters

Karim Amin demonstrates the vehicle's capabilities at Porto Marina in Alexandria. Reuters

A pair of water cars in Alexandria. Reutrers

Plain sailing? One of the vehicles navigating the waters of Porto Marina in Alexandria, Egypt. Reuters

A water car making waves in Porto Marina in Alexandria, Egypt. Reuters

Karim Amin, one of the Egyptians who invented this vehicle that can drive on water, gives bathers at Porto Marina in Alexandria a closer look at the water car. Reuters

Holidaymakers on Egypt's north coast might find a surprising addition to shoreline traffic this year: a number of sports cars whizzing across the surface of the Mediterranean.

The more upmarket beaches have introduced this "aquatic car" in lieu of jet skis, which its Egyptian makers promise is much safer and packs a lot more punch.

The vehicle was designed by Karim Amin, 29, and two of his closest friends.

Mr Amin said that while the vehicle looks like a car, the internal mechanism is exactly the same as a jet ski. But since the body is much larger, it is virtually unflippable in the water, meaning it can be driven much more recklessly than a jet ski, which is one of its main selling points.

He said he and his colleagues were trying to create a new watersport experience, something that beachgoers had not seen before.

The car is equipped with several high-tech features to appeal to younger patrons: a surround sound stereo system on which they can blast music from their phones via Bluetooth; a screen on which to watch video; and a GPS-tracking system in case they get lost.

The car has a top speed of 70 kilometres an hour, making it a popular choice with thrill-seekers visiting the north coast this summer.

Currently, the trio make only one model of the car, with seats for two people. However, they are working on a larger model that can hold a family of four, with a convertible option.

Demand for rides in the aquatic car has skyrocketed since Mr Amin and his colleagues introduced it a few months ago. The car’s popularity increased even more after photos and videos of it spread on social media over the past few weeks.

Many Egyptian social media users expressed national pride in the fact that the car is made locally.