A dream team for touring: When carmakers and boat builders join forces

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Gaining momentum together: when carmakers collaborate with boat builders, fast designs come into play. We take a closer look at the latest innovations.

In times of increasing interchangeability, individual looks are becoming more and more important. This is also true on the road, and the electrification of the car unlocks entirely new possibilities. It not only brings new and environmentally friendly drive technology into focus, but it is also enables designers to implement completely new ideas. Ideas that can also be used in other areas – for example, on water. Several shipyards are entering into collaborations with car brands and using their design language and technology to create floating icons that ride the wave of good style. Because nothing embodies luxury, speed and freedom better than a yacht. So when well-known brands such as Range Rover, Mercedes, Lexus and BMW seek proximity to the water, it is for a very specific reason: to stand out from the crowd. So, let’s dive into a world where water and land no longer have to be opposites and where design and brand worlds merge into one.

Fun designs: Car Off Shore and Fiat

There is good news and bad news: production of the Fiat 500, an extremely popular car with customers, is being discontinued. In future, there will only be an all-electric version. However, fans of the lively city car might be interested to know that there is an alternative for the water: the Car 500 Off Shore from Car Off Shore. This extravagant boat, with a structure based on the design of the Fiat 500, is a little longer than its road-going counterpart at 5.3 metres, but no less original. The motor has an output of 40 hp, which is enough to reach a top speed of around 56 km/h. There is space for up to five people and there will be 500 numbered models. But there is also good news for those who prefer to stay on the road: the Fiat 600 looks quite similar to its little brother, the 500, and will be available in both mild hybrid and electric models.

Extra power: Frauscher and Porsche

The luxury brands Porsche and Frauscher are getting along perfectly well in a partnership without any CO₂ emissions. It is a shared heart that connects the two: lithium-ion power batteries from the new Porsche eMacan, which also provides the Frauscher electric sports boat with its engine. The result is a beautifully shaped 8.67-metre day cruiser based on the Frauscher 858 Fantom Air. It is not only a matter of technology, the design of the console is also inspired by the Macan. With 400 kW of power and 100 kWh of storage capacity, the Frauscher can reach 85 km/h and has a cruising time of two to three hours. The Porsche Macan is just as impressive: the top-of-the-range model delivers a system output of 470 kW (639 PS) and a range of up to 590 km. In terms of design, the electric Macan takes some inspiration from the iconic 911 and 918 sports cars. The LED light strip that connects the rear lights is a classic feature. There is no doubt about it, the Frauscher x Porsche collaboration is a technical tour de force with a clear commitment to design.

Green power: TYDE and BMW M

Visitors to this year’s Cannes Film Festival were treated to a very special mode of transport. BMW ensured that the guests of honour were chauffeured in style in 88 all-electric i7 limousines. At the same time, the brand presented ‘The Icon’, an electric yacht designed in collaboration with the shipyard TYDE. BMW wants this to pave the way for emission-free mobility on the water. With the help of technology from the i3 electric vehicle, TYDE launched a 13-metre-long designer model that can travel 100 kilometres and reaches a top speed of 55 km/h. The centrepiece of the boat is the luxurious and almost completely glazed saloon with 360° rotating seats and displays in 6K resolution. Since ‘The Icon’ glides through the water almost silently, an exclusive drive sound has been created. Incidentally, this was also given to the aforementioned BMW i7 M70 xDrive, a high-performance saloon that, thanks to two electric motors, delivers 660 horsepower and can accelerate to 100 km/h in 3.7 seconds despite weighing 2.7 tonnes.

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A love affair with high standards: Horizon Yacht and Lexus

The manufacturers themselves describe their luxury yacht, which is more than 20 metres long and goes by the unwieldy name of LY 680, as a ‘hideout in the middle of the sea’, and they are certainly not exaggerating. A love of design and the luxury materials used can be seen in even the smallest details. Lexus and Horizon Yacht have been working together for many years, and the new model also embodies the ‘L‑finesse’ design philosophy that the car brand adopted in 2005. In keeping with this design line, Lexus presented the new Lexus LF-ZC at this year’s Milan Design Week. The all-electric four-door saloon, which is set to hit the market in 2026, has a sporty look. Everything is truly digital, and the outer shell and cockpit look suitably futuristic. Two masterpieces for ambitious petrolheads.

A clear statement: Cigarette Racing and Mercedes-AMG

It is a long-standing partnership that continues to deliver superlatives drenched in horsepower. When Cigarette Racing and Mercedes-AMG announce a new collaboration, the motorsport world has something to look forward to. The Mercedes-AMG GT Black Series was the model for the 13th racing boat developed as part of this partnership. A hypercar that accelerates to 100 km/h in 3.2 seconds thanks to 730 hp and can reach speeds of up to 325 km/h. Behind the special 41′ Nighthawk AMG Edition model from Cigarette Racing is a similar high-performance masterpiece: Five outboard engines with a total output of 2,250 hp provide brutal propulsion and a top speed of almost 145 km/h. The eye-catching colour scheme of magma beam orange certainly underlines the central message of the boat and car: my (water)way or the highway!