An amphibious concept car called the Rinspeed Splash set a world record for the fastest crossing of the English Channel on July 26th, by speeding across the world's busiest waterway in 3 hours, 14 minutes.

The Splash differs from most amphibious cars in that, instead of displacing water, it skims over the water on extendable wings like a hydrofoil. It works more the way a surfboard does than a boat.

The record-setting vehicle features extensive improvements over the original version, which debuted at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show. The current model contains structure enhancements for offshore use, and a new powerplant provided by Weber Motors. With its new 140-hp engine, the Splash can achieve a top speed of 80 kph (about 50 mph) on smooth water.

To read more about cars that get wet, click here.