Jetour G700 Ark Edition: the swimming SUV
New tech promises amphibious capability for off-road SUV that could propel the brand’s ambitions in export marketsThe News
Jetour has demonstrated a new powertrain system for its G700 Ark Edition that allows the SUV to travel across deep water even when its wheels lose contact with the ground.
The Key Details
- Amphibious-style system redirects power away from the wheels
- Electrically driven propellers replace traditional mechanical systems
- Gyroscopic stability system helps maintain balance in water
- Designed primarily for emergency use in flood-prone areas
- Could expand to other models including the F700 dual-cab ute
The Finer Details
Every car company has a technology story to tell, but Chinese brand Jetour has a story that it hopes will make it the automotive equivalent of a Pulitzer-prize winner and bestseller combined.
It was demonstrated in a compelling way at China’s Yanqi Lake late last week, where the Chery-owned brand deployed a new powertrain system that propels the Jetour G700 Ark Edition across deep expanses of water when the drive wheels are no longer in contact with terra firma.
According to Jetour, “…the powertrain decouples drive from the wheels and redirects energy to dedicated water fording systems.”
Amphibious vehicles were all the rage during World War Two, and the German ‘Schwimmwagen’ technology from that era was adapted for the ‘Amphicar’ of the 1960s.
But Jetour’s system appears to go well beyond that.
Instead of the Amphicar’s mechanical PTO (power take-off) system, the G700 users electrically-driven propellers and a gyroscopic stability system.
The Jetour system was designed for emergency use, primarily, and would be worth its weight in gold for some remote areas of Australia where flash flooding is a perennial issue.
We could see the system bolted to the rear of the F700 dual-cab ute as well, for the benefit of Aussie farmers.
At the very least it would save drivers the embarrassment of being stranded half-way across Melbourne’s Sturt Street underpass after a heavy downpour, or trying to cross a low lying road during minor flooding.
If Jetour can market this technology correctly – and if it is indeed as capable as professed – it could be a game-changer. Although what it means for drivers requiring a boat license to cross larger bodies of water remains to be seen.
The Road Ahead
Jetour’s amphibious system remains a concept-level innovation for now, but its potential applications in emergency scenarios and rural environments could make it more than just a marketing exercise.
If successfully commercialised, the technology could set the brand apart in an increasingly crowded SUV and 4x4 market, particularly in regions prone to flooding or extreme weather events.
And it could make innovations like the Tesla-style self-driving ‘Autopilot’ look positively quaint by comparison.
Watch this space.
Related: Jetour Australia launch locked in for early 2027
Related: Jetour set for Aussie debut in 2025
Related: Jetour G700 2026 Review
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