Design and Technology
Top 5 Car and Superyacht Collaborations
Pursuit selects five of the top recent superyacht and car collaborations worth your attention.
There is a natural synergy between superyacht design and car design. In both realms, technology, innovation and craftsmanship combine to create true icons of design. It is no wonder, then, that when these two worlds collide, the results are boundary-pushing, inspiring and entirely covetable.
1
Niniette
Bugatti and Palmer Johnson
With a combined 207 years of heritage, Bugatti and US shipyard Palmer Johnson have combined forces to create a limited edition series of carbon fibre day boats inspired by the Bugatti Chiron, the Niniette 66. Powerful, fast and exclusive – like a Bugatti – the 20m Niniette 66 is also stable, efficient and luxuriously spacious, like a Palmer Johnson. The advanced stabilised hull can reach speeds of up to 44 knots, its super slim form enabling higher speeds with lower input power and fuel burn. Inside, the yacht promises contemporary spaces and sumptuous comfort, with a horseshoe-shaped lounge that subtly pays styling tribute to Bugatti’s automotive heritage using leather, nubuck, polished metal and carbon, as well as a double master suite, a marble guest bathroom and a high-spec kitchen. On the main deck seating area, you’ll find a fire pit and a spa pool.
2
GTT 115
Porsche and Dynamiq
Innovative Dynamiq Yachts took the superyacht market by storm when it started offering clients a new way to yacht shop. Simplifying the yacht design and selection process, it enables buyers to spec out their yacht in the same way they would a luxury car, selecting fixtures and fittings from a straight-forward online configuration. It came as no surprise then when the yard teamed up with Porsche for its brand new 35m. The very first superyacht to hit the water with Porsche DNA, the GTT 115 blends comfortable high-speed cruising with transatlantic crossing capabilities. Set to be an exclusive collector’s edition, only seven will be built, with the first model having premiered at the Monaco Yacht Show 2017.
3
Aeroboat S6
Rolls Royce and Claydon Reeves
The 19.8 m Aeroboat S6 is Claydon Reeves’ latest collaboration with Rolls-Royce, an iconic company that is behind some of the world’s most enduringly luxurious cars in the world, but also at the forefront of marine power systems. The S6 combines elegant, outdoor living and the thrill of high-performance cruising – Rolls-Royce will be the primary supplier for every system on board– in a beautifully designed and engineered yacht. With twin MTU V10 2000 M96 engines, a water jet propulsion system and a hull developed by BMT Nigel Gee, the S6 promises to be nimble and powerful. As well as a grand cabin forward with expansive windows that can alternatively be transformed into a master suite, with a second cabin located amidships, this yacht also includes features more commonly found on much larger boats, like the yacht tender garage with space for a 3.8m tender or a pair of Jet Skis.
4
Aurea
Pininfarina and Rossinavi
The 70m Aurea is the first collaboration between the Italian powerhouses Pininfarina and Rossinavi. As you would expect from the renowned automotive design studio behind the styling of more than 100 Ferraris to date, Aurea’s profile is characteristically graceful and flowing. With a diesel-electric propulsion system housed at the centre of the boat rather than at the rear,
Aurea is able to free up more space for guests to enjoy the yachting lifestyle; a large beach club aft, two swimming pools, three large outdoor decks, water-level access on both sides of the hull and an infinity pool with al fresco dining for 12 people on the upper deck all make this the ultimate superyacht for making the most of life at sea.
5
AM37
Aston Martin and Quintessence
The result of two years of research and development, the AM37 marks Aston Martin’s debut in the yachting realm. A collaboration with Quintessence Yachts with naval architecture by Mulder Design, the 11.37m powerboat concept was revealed at the Monaco Yacht Show 2016 and the first model in the series was delivered to an American owner less than a year later. As you would expect from a boat conceived by such an iconic car brand, the AM37 is effortlessly stylish and performance-orientated. An innovative sliding hardtop, can be activated at the touch of a button, folding three carbon panels under the aft deck when the cockpit is uncovered. The carbon fibre dashboard uses leather and polished metals to echo styling elements from Aston Martin’s most advanced sports cars, while the table transforms into a comfortable bed for overnight trips. This chic day boat is available in two versions, a Gran Turismo, which can achieve 45knots, and a sportier AM37S, which can reach speeds of 50knots.
