Swimcar Kenderaan Amfibia by Suzhou University of Technology

Swimcar Kenderaan Amfibia by Suzhou University of Technology is a highly esteemed winner of the very prestigious 2026 A' Design Award Gangsa in Reka Bentuk Futuristik Competition Category.

GangsaFuturistik· 2026

Swimcar Kenderaan Amfibia

by Suzhou University of Technology

Client: Suzhou University of Technology

A' Design Award Gangsa Winner in Futuristik Category

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Verified Award Winner
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View at A' Design Award Press Release Award Badge

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The Design

About Swimcar Kenderaan Amfibia

Swimcar ialah kenderaan amfibia modular yang direka untuk bandar yang terdedah kepada banjir. Kenderaan ini menggabungkan casis elektrik kedap air dengan kabin bebas yang diperbuat daripada komposit gentian karbon. Antara muka magnetik-hidraulik memegang kedua-dua bahagian bersama semasa penggunaan di jalan raya. Apabila penderia mengesan paras air yang meningkat, kabin akan dilepaskan dan terapung sebagai rakit penyelamat, supaya penumpang kekal di atas permukaan air. Modul manfaat eko menulenkan air melalui pengudaraan dan penapisan semasa kenderaan bergerak. Motor dalam roda menyediakan daya tujahan di darat dan di dalam air.

The Recognition

About the A' Design Award Gangsa

Swimcar Kenderaan Amfibia ialah pemenang A' Design Award Gangsa, pengiktirafan yang amat berprestij yang dianugerahkan kepada reka bentuk cemerlang yang dicirikan oleh kreativiti, kecerdikan dan ketajaman fikiran. Pemenang Gangsa ialah artifak yang amat mahir dan sangat kreatif yang membuktikan pengalaman luas, imaginasi dan akal budi pereka bentuknya. Swimcar Kenderaan Amfibia diharapkan menjadi objek yang sangat dihargai, dikagumi dan disayangi, sangat profesional dan inovatif. Reka bentuk pemenang A' Design Award Gangsa ini merangkumi amalan terbaik dalam seni, sains, reka bentuk dan teknologi, dan cemerlang dalam perhatiannya terhadap butiran. Swimcar Kenderaan Amfibia memenuhi keperluan dengan indah, menyentuh keinginan, memikat perasaan dan menarik rasa ingin tahu.

Behind the Design

Press Kit

Credits, team members and technical details provided by the designer.

Unique Properties: Swimcar is a modular, Split-Body Amphibious system engineered for urban resilience. It integrates a high-performance electric chassis with an independent cabin. Unlike standard vehicles, its "Split-Body Logic" allows the cabin to detach instantly during floods as an autonomous "Life-Saving Ark." Furthermore, the "Eco-Benefit Module" actively purifies water via physical aeration and filtration. This innovation transforms transit into a net-positive ecological activity.
Dimensions & Packaging: The Swimcar is designed to automotive-marine hybrid standards. Dimensions: 5,200 mm Length x 2,150 mm Width x 1,850 mm Height. The cabin features a 2,850 mm wheelbase for optimal stability. Technical properties include a IP68-rated dual-motor powertrain (350 kW output) and a high-capacity 120 kWh solid-state battery housed in a watertight lower bay. The "Life-Ark" cabin offers 8,500 liters of reserve buoyancy. Construction utilizes pre-preg carbon fiber and marine-grade 5083 aluminum alloy.
Tags: Amphibious Mobility, Split-Body Logic, Urban Resilience, Life-Saving Ark, Eco-Benefit Module, Water Purification
Production Technology: Swimcar utilizes a lightweight Carbon-Fiber composite shell for the cabin to ensure maximum buoyancy and structural integrity. The chassis features a sealed electric powertrain with high-torque in-wheel motors. The core innovation is the magnetic-hydraulic decoupling interface, allowing instantaneous separation under pressure. We employed CFD (Computational Fluid Dynamics) to optimize the hull's hydrodynamic efficiency and FEA (Finite Element Analysis) for crashworthiness.
Design Challenge: The primary challenge was balancing structural unity with emergency detachment. Engineering a magnetic-hydraulic interface that remains rigid at highway speeds but releases instantly under water pressure required rigorous iterative modeling.
Research: This applied design research aimed to eliminate urban drowning risks. Using a User-Centered Design methodology, I analyzed flood mortality data and hydraulic pressure physics. Tools included CFD simulation and modular architectural modeling. I interviewed emergency responders to identify vehicle escape failures. Results proved that a detachable buoyant cabin is more viable than waterproofing. This shift from "sealed" to "separable" design ensures life safety, offering a resilient model for future urban transit and insurance risk mitigation.
Inspiration: The inspiration for Swimcar stems from recurring tragedies where passengers are trapped in submerged vehicles during flash floods. Witnessing these preventable losses motivated a shift toward a Life-Safety First philosophy. By researching modular architecture and hydrodynamics, the Split-Body Logic was developed to address the failure of traditional automotive exits under hydraulic pressure.
Project Duration: The project commenced in November 2025 and was developed over a three-month intensive design and research period. The design process and technical conceptualization were primarily conducted in Changshu, China. The project reached its final completion in January 2026, integrating comprehensive modular architectural studies and advanced amphibious system modeling.
Operation Flow: In daily use, Swimcar functions as a seamless commuter. On land, the cabin and chassis act as one; when entering water, the electric propulsion engages automatically. The "Split-Body" magic happens during emergencies: internal sensors detect rising water levels, triggering a hydraulic release that ejects the cabin. It transforms from a car into a buoyant life-raft instantly. This fail-safe interaction ensures passengers stay above water, performing better than any traditional seal.
Team Members: Weiwei Zhang
Image Credits: Image #1: Designer Kun Wu, Modeler and Renderer Kun Wu, Swimcar Exterior Concept, 2026. Image #2: Designer Weiwei Zhang, 2026. Image #3: Designer Kun Wu, 2026. Image #4: Designer Kun Wu, 2026. Image #5: Designer Kun Wu, Illustrator, 2026.