- This wild creation by BMW Designworks was unveiled at last year’s Cannes Film Festival.
- The cabin is equipped with futuristic furniture pieces and a 32-inch 6K touchscreen.
- Power comes courtesy of six 40 kWh battery packs from the BMW i3.
In some ways, The Icon, a futuristic boat from German manufacturer Tyde that was designed by BMW group subsidiary Designworks, is a bit like the Tesla Cybertruck. Just as the latter threw out the rule book for conventional pickup trucks, The Icon is vastly different from any other luxury yacht and serves as the first battery-powered boat of its kind.
Unveiled at last year’s Cannes Film Festival, this creation wouldn’t look out of place on a James Bond film set. The 43-foot yacht boasts a flat trimaran-style hull with a prism-like layout and incorporates hydrofoils, allowing it to hover above the water and generate minimal waves or wakes.
Read: BMW i-Powered Electric Boat ‘The ICON’ Takes Car-Inspired Luxury To A New Sea Level
Almost the entire exterior of the boat is clad in glass, offering an exceptionally airy and light ambiance for passengers, albeit compromising on privacy. While only one example has been produced, it is fully functional and ready for a new home as it goes up for auction.
As mentioned, Tyde’s latest marvel is electric, powered by six 40kWh battery packs borrowed from the BMW i3. These batteries supply energy to a pair of 100 kW (134 hp) electric motors, propelling the yacht to a top speed of 27 knots (31 mph / 50 km/h). At a cruising speed of 24 knots (28 mph / 44 km/h), The Icon can cover over 50 nautical miles (93 km).
A High-Tech BMW Cabin
SBX Cars
The boat’s cabin is equally unique and futuristic, adorned with avant-garde furniture and a large yoke steering wheel. Divided into two lounge areas with a BMW-designed helm station, it features rotating helm seats that enable the space to function either as part of the social area or independently. Each furniture piece is crafted from grainy metal, reflecting sunlight around the cabin like waves on the water.
Crafted by BMW Designworks, the vessel also includes a massive 32-inch 6K touchscreen display at the helm station’s center. It has been designed to look and feel like the BMW iDrive operating system, with voice control also integrated into the system.
Additionally, BMW has installed a Dolby Atmos sound system and enlisted world-famous musician and Oscar winner Hans Zimmer to compose artificial engine sounds for added ambiance.
For those interested, the BMW Designworks boat is currently up for auction at SBX Cars. You can check it out here.
