PH Ahoy! The Monaco Yacht Show

In an endless search for new revenue streams, prestige car makers are increasingly teaming up with boat builders

By Nic_Cackett / Thursday, 28 September 2017 / Loading comments

While we're sadly not in Monaco to see (or better yet, board) the results of their labours, several manufacturers - or their subsidiary design consultancies, at any rate - have used the show to launch vessels built with automotive styling influences. We round-up the best of the water-going garage-fillers.

Aston Martin

No sooner has the dust settled on one

AM partnership

press release than another pops up. Gaydon's collaboration with Triton Submarine is possibly a little less significant than its burgeoning relationship with Red Bull Racing, but its noteworthy nonetheless for it being one of the first assignments for Aston Martin Consulting, the service provider set up to apply the firm's design, engineering and manufacturing expertise to third parties.

McLaren and Lotus both run similar enterprises - but neither of them (as far as we know) has a limited-edition submarine on the drawing board. Dubbed Project Neptune, the new concept attempts to marry Aston Martin design language with Triton's established three-person Low Profile platform to create a super-exclusive submersible for moneyed show-offs.

Chief Creative Officer Marek Reichman remarked: 'Project Neptune is defined by its sleek, elegant exterior. We have used forms and proportions that express the same devotion to design, engineering and beauty that shape our cars, such as the Aston Martin Valkyrie hypercar project.'

While Mr Reichman has let his imagination runaway with him there, the Neptune does look rather splendid in a Bond-makes-his-escape sort of fashion. Expect Triton - a Florida-based manufacturer - to be taking the temperature of every oligarch it meets in Monaco this week.

Porsche

Of course the same water Aston Martin is attempting to navigate was occupied by Porsche long ago: its semi-independent design studio was established by Ferdinand Alexander Porsche in 1972, and has turned its hand to a startling array of products over the years.

One of the most recent (and surely the most expensive) is the Dynamiq GTT 115 Superyacht. Launched at Monaco, and weighing in at around £12m, the 115ft yacht is intended to accommodate 12 passengers and is powered by a diesel-hybrid setup which utilizes three variable-speed generators in conjunction with two 1,650hp V12 diesel engines and a pair of electric motors.

Like the Neptune, it's easy to get carried away with the automotive styling influences, but Porsche calls attention to minor details such as the frame of the sun shade, which orients itself on the supporting 'B' pillar of the 911, while the cleat on which the boat is moored cites the taillight.

Either way its fairly splendid and as only seven will be built, you're unlikely to run into another one at Portsmouth. Shipbuilder Dynamiq is taking orders now.

Mercedes

Granted, the "Silver Arrow of the Seas" has been around since last year's show, but it's worth revisiting because this is the one we'd actually take home with us (if we could afford the berthing fee, or the cost of filling the 910-litre fuel tank).

Despite being designed by Mercedes-Benz Style, the Arrow460-Granturismo is co-developed with Silver Arrows Marine, a British registered firm, and powered by two 440hp Yanmar engines. The 14m yacht will seat 10 in slightly less splendour than the Porsche - but it will do 38 knots in the right conditions.

Deliveries began in the second half of this year.