Autoblog

Gray Designs' latest auto-influenced yacht dubbed Xhibitionist [w/video]

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Performance, Etc., Videos, Specialty, Design/Style, Luxury

Swedish designer Eduard Gray, who you've heard of via the Dartz Jo-Mojo and Pombron Nagel concepts and delightful Saab 92010 Sixten concept, is back at the drawing board penning boats and matching supercars. Following the Strand Craft 122, the Xhibitionist is a 75-meter superyacht with unmissable automotive cues, and it is said to be the inspiration for the Xhibit-G supercar.

The Xhibitionist is a multi-purpose watercraft whose inner spaces can be rearranged into a car showroom, a partitioned retail space or a luxury lounge for guests. The 'hood' at the bow opens up to release an array of solar panels that are sturdy enough to act as a platform for entertaining or as a helipad. Beneath that is a viewing deck, while out back, guests can enjoy the hot tub on the fly deck.

Motivation for the Xhibitionist comes from hybrid engines in the "powerplant gallery," but the carbon-fiber-bodied Xhibit-G supercar with its aluminum chassis gets more traditional gumption from a 630-horsepower V12. Oddly for a supercar, though, the car is limited to a top speed of 155 mph. Inside is white leather set off by black carbon fiber and chrome. The supercar is said to be for Zeus Twelve, a supercar brand working with Mansory and Lotus.

You can check out the video below to see how the Xhibitionist gets attention, and read more about it in the press release.

Continue reading Gray Designs' latest auto-influenced yacht dubbed Xhibitionist [w/video]

Gray Designs' latest auto-influenced yacht dubbed Xhibitionist [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mercedes mastering the seas with 'Silver Arrows' yacht concept

Jonathon Ramsey — Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST

Filed under: Videos, Mercedes-Benz, Specialty, Design/Style, Luxury

Mercedes-Benz's three-pointed star was intended by Gottlieb Daimler to signify three modes of transport: land, air and sea. Land has been well taken care of for more than 125 years. The brand took a leap back into the sky with a Eurocopter EC145 interior designed by Mercedes-Benz Style, its product design division. Now its UK-registered Silver Arrows Marine division will get the brand back in the water in 2013: it has showed off concept looks for a 14-meter "Granturismo" at the Monaco Yacht Show that will soon go into production.

Silver Arrows Marine is being vague about details, only providing soundbites like "innovations hitherto unknown in the boat industry," an "innovative layout and use of space," and "innovative versatility," plus a design "suitable for a wide range of uses" and "elegant and timeless interior appointments." The 46.2-foot motor yacht is mainly a day-tripper but "can" also do an overnight on the water.

Martin Francis of Francis Design and Tommaso Spadolini of Design Studio Spadolini have been called upon to lead its design. If you saw Kia's "Epic Ride" commercial during the 2011 Super Bowl, you've seen Francis' work: he was a technical expert concerning the hull on the Philippe-Stark-designed Yacht A. Spadolini, over the past 20 years, has done scores of yachts, from small sport boats to the Wally 77 to 70-meter Rossinavi behemoths.

We should see the final product soon enough. In the meantime, you can study the concept in the image gallery above.

Continue reading Mercedes mastering the seas with 'Silver Arrows' yacht concept

Mercedes mastering the seas with 'Silver Arrows' yacht concept originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 23 Sep 2012 18:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Aston Martin boat concept takes Bond off-shore

Noah Joseph — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:58:00 EST

Filed under: Aston Martin, Design/Style

As varied as the cars that James Bond has driven in the various 007 movies, few have proven as inseparable from the Bond image as Aston Martin. But what of the boats? Bond's watercraft have ranged from hovercraft to submarines, Sunseeker speed boats to megayachts and even naval ships. But one designer has sought to bridge the gap with the Aston Martin speed boat you see here.

Called the Voyage, this 55-foot speedboat design is the vision of naval architect and Aston Martin owner Luiz de Basto, who has several Magnum yacht designs to his credit. The name follows traditional Aston Martin nomenclature evident in the Vantage, Virage, Vanquish and Volante models, but goes far beyond semantics with a raft of design elements familiar to the British automaker's svelte GTs: the grille shape has been interpreted into the windshield, the side vents into hull portals, the center console into a cabin access hatch.

The result isn't just a boat inspired by Aston Martins, but an Aston Martin designed for the water. We're already imagining Daniel Craig pulling up in San Tropez or Monte Carlo in this bad boy for a future flick, but until that day, you can check out the high-resolution images in the gallery for a closer look and the press release after the jump.

Continue reading Aston Martin boat concept takes Bond off-shore

Aston Martin boat concept takes Bond off-shore originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 10 Oct 2011 07:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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121-foot megayacht en-Gulfed by classic racing livery

Noah Joseph — Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:29:00 EST

Filed under: Etc.

Heesen 37m "Aurelia" - Click above for high-res image gallery

Most mega yachts come in white. Some cut a different path through the water with dark blue, forest green or even dark red hulls. But this, this is something else entirely.

The proud new owner of the 37-meter (121-foot) motor yacht you see here is evidently a certifiable car nut. He named his vessel Aurelia after the iconic Lancia coupe, and the guest cabins below decks after famous coachbuilders Bertone, Pininfarina and Zagato, whose designs influenced the cabins' decor.

And there's something else here... what are we forgetting? Oh yeah, the owner had the aluminum hull painted baby blue and orange in tribute to the classic livery of so many famous racing cars, with a big number 10 on the side in reference to her hull number. Even the tender - a 14-foot Castoldi water-jet-powered runabout - has reportedly been decked in matching livery.

The tenth of its type to be launched by Dutch shipyard Heesen Yachts, Aurelia has been fitted with four spacious bedrooms, each with en-suite head (that's bathroom to you landlubbers) instead of five smaller ones. It also has a salon with dining table and lounge space with bio-ethanol fireplace, and plenty of exterior lounging space.

A pair of gyroscopic stabilizers keep Aurelia steady in rough waters for the comfort of all aboard, but you're not interested in stability, are you? Of course not. You want to know what she's got in the engine room, so we'll tell you: a pair of MTU 65-liter V16 turbo-diesels, each producing - wait for it - 3,648 horsepower, for a grand total of 7,296 horsepower. That's sufficient to propel her up to 30 knots (34.5 miles per hour). Which may not sound very fast, but keep in mind this floating mansion weighs 155 metric tons.

We've got the full press release for you after the jump and a full gallery of high-resolution images, so wipe off the old Sperrys and climb aboard.

Continue reading 121-foot megayacht en-Gulfed by classic racing livery

121-foot megayacht en-Gulfed by classic racing livery originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Jun 2011 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Dartz Prombron Nagel packs 2,000 boat-pulling horsepower [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Mon, 09 May 2011 11:00:00 EST

Filed under: Sedan, Russia, Luxury

Dartz Prombron Nagel - Click above for high-res image gallery

With all these intriguing boat designs crossing our desk - like the Audi trimaran and the Bugatti Sang Bleu speedboat - we're going to need something to tow them around with. And what could be more suitable than the Dartz Prombron Nagel?

Looking something like a Lego car, the Nagel is envisioned specifically for pulling boat trailers. It's based on the same platform as the colossal Prombron SUV, but with a new sedan-like form penned (appropriately enough) by Gray Design - the same designers behind the Beach Cruiser concept, the Corvette Stingray speedboat and that megayacht with the supercar inside.

Now, a sedan may not seem like the best choice for towing boats, but this particular vehicle is pegged to pack a fantastical 2,000 horsepower. (Unless they're planning to package two quad-turbo W-16 Bugatti engines under the hood, don't ask us how they intend to get to such a stratospheric output figure.) That's claimed to be enough for "the world's first armored Sportback" to pull a five-ton, 15-meter (50-foot) boat or drive to a top speed of 250 km/h (155 mph), hopefully not at the same time.

Perhaps most incredibly of all, the Nagel is scheduled to hit production sometime next year. It serves as a rolling tribute to the 100th anniversary of the journey undertaken by a Russian team to the Monte Carlo rally, a venture that earned them numerous decorations from both the Monegasque crown prince and the Russian czar. Scope out the details in the press release along with the video slideshow after the jump, and the renderings in our high-resolution image gallery.

Continue reading Dartz Prombron Nagel packs 2,000 boat-pulling horsepower [w/video]

Dartz Prombron Nagel packs 2,000 boat-pulling horsepower [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 09 May 2011 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu speedboat concept by Ben Walsh

Noah Joseph — Sat, 07 May 2011 15:33:00 EST

Filed under: Bugatti, Design/Style

Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu speedboat concept by Ben Walsh - Click above for high-res image gallery

The Bugatti Veyron has sufficiently proven itself to be king of the road, but what happens when you run out of road? The earth's surface is, after all, covered in more water than it is land, let alone paved portions thereof. Ben Walsh's solution? This Bugatti-inspired speedboat design.

A graduate of the Royal College of Art, Walsh was largely responsible for the interior on the Cadillac Converj concept, and has since left GM's Advanced Design studio for an interior design position at PSA Peugeot Citroën. So he clearly has a passion for French cars, but for this project has set his sights on the exclusive Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu edition.

Like other boat designs we've reported on, this example isn't likely to ever see production, but it's beautiful. It takes the Veyron's aluminum and carbon fiber construction and applies it to the form of a 30-foot speedboat that's vaguely reminiscent of the spaceships from Star Wars (Episode I) and Flight of the Navigator. The rear shot best illustrates the connection to the Veyron. The boat's single propeller indicates a single engine, but when you're packing a 1,000-horsepower, quad-turbo W16, do you really need more than one? Have a closer look in the high-resolution image gallery below, and at the car that served as its inspiration in the gallery below that.

Bugatti Veyron Sang Bleu speedboat concept by Ben Walsh originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 07 May 2011 15:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mauro Lecchi's Lamborghini yacht under construction, with Fenice Milano interior

Noah Joseph — Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:41:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lamborghini, Design/Style

Mauro Lecci Lamborghini motoryacht - Click above for high-res image gallery

When we first brought you Italian designer Mauro Lecchi's vision of a Lamborghini power yacht, we were suitably intrigued, but didn't imagine it would actually ever hit the water. Color us surprised, because apparently it is.

The design, "heavily contaminated by stretched lines", according to the press release, takes its cues from Lamborghinis old and new and applies them to the 50-foot form of an express motor yacht. Available propulsion options range from an available pair of 550-horsepower V12s from Motori Marini Lamborghini, and ultimately top out at twin 950-horsepower Seatek turbodiesels. The first example of the Lamborghini-themed yacht is apparently now being built, incorporating lightweight carbon-Kevlar construction that promises to be significantly lighter than the usual fiberglass or even aluminum.

Just in case it isn't flashy enough on the outside, Lecchi and company have contracted Fenice Milano to outfit the yacht's interior spaces. Yes, that's the same Fenice Milano that has gilded everything from the Fiat 500 to the Rolls-Royce Ghost. So you know it'll be suitably decadent (or horrifying). We've updated the high-res image gallery below as the yacht undergoes construction, accompanied by Fenice Milano's press release after the jump.

Gallery: Lamborghini poweryacht concept by Mauro Lecchi

[Source: Fenice Milano]

Continue reading Mauro Lecchi's Lamborghini yacht under construction, with Fenice Milano interior

Mauro Lecchi's Lamborghini yacht under construction, with Fenice Milano interior originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 12 Feb 2011 19:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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BMW designers make waves with new Intermarine 55 motoryacht

Noah Joseph — Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:58:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., BMW, South America, Design/Style, Luxury

Intermarine 55 by BMW DesignworksUSA - Click above for high-res image gallery

Head down to the local yacht club and you're likely to see as many BMWs in the parking lot as anything else. It's not that Bimmers are any more nautical than any other car, but they seem to attract the same sort of clientele that are drawn to the open water - and they have the means to get there. But over the past few years, the company's design house has been bridging that gap by dabbling its proverbial toes in the waters of naval architecture (read: boat design).

Following their partnership with the Bavaria shipyard (which has yielded both sail and power boats styled by BMW's pens), BMW DesignworksUSA has teamed up with Brazilian company Intermarine to launch a new 57-foot cockpit motoryacht.

BMW Designworks USA focused their design of the Intermarine 55 on creating an open environment, emphasizing big windows to let the sunshine in and the occupants see out, as well as an open-plan interior and plenty of deck space for enjoying the good life on the water. Similar to other vessels of this size, the Intermarine 55 features three cabins, two bathrooms and a large salon.

The Intermarine 55 also highlights the expanding business which the German automaker's American design studio has pursued in Brazil and across South America, most notably in designing Embraer's business jet cabins, but also branching into a wide variety of disciplines, from medical equipment and metal hardware to computers and cameras. Follow the jump to read all about it, and check it the high-resolution images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Intermarine 55 by BMW DesignworksUSA

[Source: BMW]

Continue reading BMW designers make waves with new Intermarine 55 motoryacht

BMW designers make waves with new Intermarine 55 motoryacht originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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The Streets of Monaco super yacht features go-kart track... and everything else

Noah Joseph — Fri, 07 Jan 2011 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Design/Style

The Streets of Monaco super-yacht - Click above for image gallery

Those who follow the super-yacht scene know that these giant floating mansions have grown to incorporate all manner of amenities: helipads, bowling alleys, swimming pools, garages... anything and everything you might expect in a land-locked residence, only set out to sea. But this... this is something else altogether.

Called The Streets of Monaco, this design is modeled after a section of Monte Carlo - in more ways that one. The headline feature is an on-board karting track modeled after the famous grand prix circuit. But that's hardly the extent of it. As you can see, the design bridges the gap from naval architecture to actual architecture and on to city planning.

Instead of decks, it has buildings. Instead of a swim platform, a freakin' beach. It's also got submarines, helicopters, waterfalls, movie theater, spa and more, plus sleeping accommodations for 16 guests and the 70 crew it would require to keep this puppy going. All packed into 155 meters, length overall. (That's not a typo. We don't mean 155 feet. We mean 155 meters, equivalent to 508 feet.) That's about half the size of a modern super-tanker, cruise ship or Nimitz-class aircraft carrier. For better or worse - seaworthy or not - the design stays on paper for the time being.

Gallery: The Streets of Monaco super-yacht

[Source: Superyacht Design]

The Streets of Monaco super yacht features go-kart track... and everything else originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 07 Jan 2011 07:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Strand Craft 166 yacht comes with its own supercar tender [w/video]

Zach Bowman — Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:02:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Etc., Design/Style, Luxury

Stand Craft 166 Yacht - Click above for high-res image gallery

The problem with yachting is that there's just no way to bring all of your toys with you. How will the neighbors at the marina ever know that you've got a world-class supercar if you have to keep it tucked away in the garage while you're out sailing the Mediterranean? The shipwrights at Stand Craft have the perfect solution. Meet the 166 - a modern yacht that comes with its very own high-horsepower supercar tucked in the aft. The wheeled machine in question will reportedly wield a 620-horsepower V8, and Stand Craft claims that the vehicle will clip off a top speed of 189 mph.

It's a fitting trinket to go along with a yacht that packs a hidden Jacuzzi tucked into the bow, a retractable fly bridge that tucks away the ship's radar arrays when not in use and a whopping total of five state rooms. Each of the suites is loaded with 52-inch flat-screen television with iPad controls. If any of this is starting to sound or look familiar, that's because the company previously revealed their Strand Craft 122, another ultra-premium vessel that also featured a garage and lux accoutrements, albeit in a slightly less ostentatiously sized package.

Not too shabby. While you join us in waiting for real-world images, hit the jump for the full press release and a quick video.

Gallery: Stand Craft 166

[Source: Stand Craft]

Continue reading Strand Craft 166 yacht comes with its own supercar tender [w/video]

Strand Craft 166 yacht comes with its own supercar tender [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 23 Dec 2010 17:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Strand Craft 122 super yacht comes with supercar and in-boat garage to hold it

Jeremy Korzeniewski — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:59:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Etc., Design/Style, Luxury

Strand Craft 122 Super Yacht - Click above for high-res image gallery

We know what you're thinking. What business does a yacht - albeit one as ridiculously lustworthy as the Strand Craft 122 promises to be - have gracing the pages of Autoblog? Somewhat surprisingly, the answer is a garage. And also a supercar. That's right, this ultra-yacht design study comes with an integrated garage in the stern that houses an 880-horsepower V12-powered supercar.

Despite the fact that the designer has shared next to nothing about the supposed supercar (other than the fact that it can theoretically travel at speeds of over 230 miles per hour), we're going to go ahead and start referring to it as the World's Coolest Tender. Feel free to check out the high-res rendering of the machine in our image gallery below.

As far as the yacht goes, we guess that's pretty cool too... what with power coming from twin Rolls-Royce engines along with an optional booster engine sporting over 14,000(!) horsepower and a top speed of 55 knots. Not too shabby, eh? Price? Well, it's all theoretical at this point, but even so, we're guessing we could pool the AB staff's money together and still only come up with enough money for a quick tour of the harbor in one.

Gallery: Strand Craft 122 Super Yacht

[Source: Strand Craft]

Strand Craft 122 super yacht comes with supercar and in-boat garage to hold it originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 28 May 2010 14:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mauro Lecchi makes waves with concept Lamborghini poweryacht

Noah Joseph — Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Lamborghini, Design/Style

Lamborghini poweryacht concept by Mauro Lecchi - Click above for high-res image gallery

History - even recent history - holds no shortage of examples of European automakers taking to the water with their own yacht designs. (Don't get us started on boating themes finding their way into cars.) Ferrari's broken speed records on the water, BMW DesignWorks and Porsche Design have gotten their feet wet a few times, Lancia and Abarth have each launched speedboats of their own, as has Mercedes AMG... even Lamborghini has provided marinized V12 engines to offshore powerboat racers. But like a Formula One engine supplier (which Lambo's done as well), the Raging Bull has stopped short of producing their own watercraft.

That's where Mauro Lecchi comes in. The budding transportational designer has dreamt up his concept for what a Lamborghini express yacht could - and should - look like, and here it is.

In his design, Lecchi has borrowed styling elements from the likes of the Countach, Gallardo and Reventon, adapted to the form of a 50-foot powerboat similar in concept to a Magnum or Pershing. Theoretical construction would employ light-weight carbon-Kevlar instead of the usual fiberglass, and in true maritime style, Lecchi's identified three potential powertrain options, ranging from twin 700-horsepower Volvo Penta diesels to triple 550hp gasoline-burning V12s from - you guessed it - Motori Marini Lamborghini. Check out the renderings in the gallery below.

Gallery: Lamborghini poweryacht concept by Mauro Lecchi

[Source: Mauro Lecchi on Coroflot via Auto Motto]

Mauro Lecchi makes waves with concept Lamborghini poweryacht originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 23 Apr 2010 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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A Little Bigger than a Cayenne: Porsche Design's 135-foot catamaran megayacht

Noah Joseph — Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:59:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Porsche, Design/Style

Royal Falcon Fleet RFF135 Catamaran by Porsche Design - Click above for high-res image gallery

Sure, cars like the Cayenne and even the Panamera are enormous in comparison to the 911. But there's still only so big Porsche can go. That is, on land at least. Not one to be told to stick to its core business, Porsche's design arm has teamed up with a Singapore shipyard to design a state-of-the-art catamaran megayacht.

We first reported on the RFF135 by Porsche Design and Royal Falcon Fleet back when the idea was announced, but now that the project has started to materialize, the two companies have begun releasing details and images. Worlds apart from the speedboat which Porsche Design penned for Fearless, the RFF135 is a massive twin-hull design measuring 135 feet in length (hence the name) with a 41-foot beam. That's enough space to accommodate 10 guests and 10 crew members below decks in 472 square meters of area, with another 208 square meters of deck space up top.

That's almost unfathomably large, and to propel the vessel up 35 knots (about 40 mph), the catamaran will be equipped with twin V16 turbodiesel engines from German manufacturer MTU, each producing a massive 4,600 horsepower. Don't ask about miles per gallon - this puppy will drink down 750 liters of diesel every hour, but at least you're bound to look damned good doing it, right? Details in the press release after the jump and renderings in the gallery below.

Gallery: Royal Falcon Fleet 135 by Porsche Design

[Source: Porsche Design]

Continue reading A Little Bigger than a Cayenne: Porsche Design's 135-foot catamaran megayacht

A Little Bigger than a Cayenne: Porsche Design's 135-foot catamaran megayacht originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 13:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Spirit of EcstaSea: Rolls-Royce collaborates on Palmer Johnson mega-yacht

Noah Joseph — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST

Filed under: Rolls-Royce

Palmer Johnson Ice Class World Yacht - Click above for high-res image gallery

Teak decks, big engines, luxurious accommodations, leisurely cruising, lots of chrome...we could just as easily be talking about a modern Rolls-Royce as a motor yacht. So it should come as no surprise that renowned shipbuilder Palmer Johnson turned to Rolls-Royce to collaborate on one of its most ambitious projects, the PJ World Yacht.

The result of Palmer Johnson's acquisition of Flekkefjord & Slipp, a Norwegian builder of exploration vessels, the 82-meter Ice Class mega yacht concept features everything a world traveler could ask for, and then some: a helipad with elevator-equipped hangar, submarine garage and a six-floor interior designed by Italian naval architects Nuvolari-Lenard - including a three-deck master stateroom, swimming pool, gym, spa, home theater...the works.

The yacht even comes equipped with such pirate-defense features as water cannons and thermal imaging cameras, along with an environmentally-friendly diesel-electric propulsion system. Granted, the branch of Rolls-Royce with which Palmer Johnson collaborated on this project has more to do with marine equipment than luxury limousines, but against the backdrop of other automotive-nautical crossovers like BMW's Bavaria Cruiser 55 and Porsche Design's Fearless 28, the PJ Ice Class World Yacht looks like the veritable Rolls-Royce of mega yachts. Have a look at the renderings in the gallery below to see for yourself.

Gallery: Palmer Johnson Rolls-Royce Ice Class World Yacht

[Source: Palmer Johnson]

Spirit of EcstaSea: Rolls-Royce collaborates on Palmer Johnson mega-yacht originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bavaria's new Flagship: Cruiser 55 sailboat by BMW DesignworksUSA

Noah Joseph — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., BMW

Bavaria Cruiser 55 by BMW DesignworksUSA - Click above for a high-res image gallery

The term "flagship" gets thrown around a lot in the auto biz, but this time the term really fits the mold. Styled by the the automaker's design firm, the BMW DesignworksUSA Bavaria Cruiser 55 became the largest vessel in Bavaria's fleet when it launched this past weekend at the Palma Boat Show in Majorca, Spain.

Even in the rapidly reproaching disciplines of automotive design and naval architecture - recent examples of whose collaboration have included Viper-powered, Porsche-designed speedboats and a nautical Volkswagen Caddy - this isn't the first time the BMW design studio has dipped its toes in the water, having designed the Deep Blue 46 motoryacht for the same firm and the even larger 60-foot sailing vessel for Belgian shipyard Zeydon. This latest design benefits from lessons learned in automotive design, while incorporating some of the latest features in naval architecture. Follow the jump to read more in the press release and click the thumbnails below to view the images in high resolution.

Gallery: Bavaria Cruiser 55 by BMW DesignworksUSA

Continue reading Bavaria's new Flagship: Cruiser 55 sailboat by BMW DesignworksUSA

Bavaria's new Flagship: Cruiser 55 sailboat by BMW DesignworksUSA originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 28 Apr 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Porsche gets its feet wet...with Viper power

Noah Joseph — Wed, 21 Feb 2007 10:08:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Dodge, Porsche

If you had to pick two high-performance cars that have the least in common, a Porsche and a Viper would surely have to be in the mix. In terms of roadgoing vehicles, these two share little. So they turned to the water, and Fearless is the company that led them there.

The Miami-based custom yachtbuilder has brought both onboard (so to speak) for a range of speedboats, penned by Porsche Design and powered by marinized Dodge Viper engines. The lineup starts with this 28-foot, 525-horsepower speedboat with seating for five that's's capable of reaching 70 knots (~80 mph) on what its German designers termed "the aquabahn." Yours for only $300,000.

Looking worlds better than the Porsche-designed land-yacht we reported on previously, the 28' runabout is only the first in a range of models that will be capped by a 150' flagship launching (literally) in 2010. A 44-footer is due next year, followed by a 68 before the penultimate 125 is set to appear in 2009.

This isn't the first crossover between automotive design and shipyards - Ferrari's venture into the water with Riva, and the more recent Andare Attivo come to mind. But having grown up around powerboats, this writer can tell you the Porsche-designed Fearless motoryachts appear to be among the most shapely.

[Source: Fearless Yachts via Kicking Tires]

Porsche gets its feet wet...with Viper power originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 21 Feb 2007 10:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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