With upgraded layouts designed for increased customisation options, Hannah Rankine steps on board the new Prestige M8 Evo at Groupe Beneteau's Monfalcone shipyard to discover how it offers the experience of an 80-foot monohull in a 65-foot package.
We've all heard the saying 'don't judge a book by its cover'. Prestige Yachts is making a similar case: don't judge a yacht by its length overall (LOA).
It's an easy trap to fall into. LOA is typically the first number we look at when sizing up a yacht - the quick mental shortcut for gauging space, capability and, inevitably, price. But step aboard the new Prestige M8 Evo and those assumptions dissolve immediately.
At 19.8 metres (65 feet), this power catamaran shouldn't feel this expansive. Yet with 275 square metres of walkable space across three decks, it delivers the volume and lifestyle experience of a monohull closer to 80 feet.
"The market has been heavily focusing on volume in recent years," explains Michelangelo Casadei, general manager of the motor yachts business unit at Groupe Beneteau. "The multihull is a clever answer to this because, in general, you have a lot of space on a lower LOA.”
It's a compelling proposition, and one that Prestige has refined with this evolution of the original M8. After nine units were built, the shipyard took stock of client feedback and market trends, then set about improving the model. "The challenge was to do something better compared to a product that already works," says Alessandro Tollini, product marketing manager at Prestige.
The evolution begins with the exterior, which was penned by Prestige’s long-standing design collaborator, Garroni Design. "We tried to simplify the exterior lines because […] we have seen a tendency in design today to have cleaner lines," explains Camillo Garroni, chief architect at Garroni Design. "We also modified the flybridge support for the hardtop. Before, there were two big legs and now they are thinner and more aligned with the [Prestige] M7."
The result is a more minimal, cohesive profile that feels modern without abandoning the M8's DNA. Clients can also specify any exterior colour option.
Flexibility as philosophy
The cockpit features comfortable lounge seating ideal for taking in the views when underway or at anchor. "The old version had a lot of fixed furniture. So we decided to remove everything except one piece underneath the stairs," Tollini explains. "Now we have an area without structural constraints that you can organise how you want. The concept we have introduced is flexibility."
The original M8 featured two staircases to the flybridge - one inside the saloon and the other outside. The Evo retains only the exterior staircase, replacing the interior one with a large dining table. The saloon also benefits from enhanced natural light, with the possibility of upgrading the large window on the starboard side to an optional patio door, creating what Tollini describes as a "veranda" effect.
Forward sits an enlarged galley on the starboard side, with the helm station migrating to port alongside an L-shaped sofa. Throughout the saloon, loose furniture from premium brands like Living Divani replaces fixed pieces, allowing owners to configure spaces according to their needs.
A flybridge built for socialising
Climb the exterior staircase and the flybridge reveals itself as one of the M8 Evo's standout spaces. With the second staircase eliminated, the flybridge gains precious square metres while maintaining unobstructed panoramic views.
The galley has moved to starboard and features a generous setup with an ice maker, fridge, freezer, grill and ample storage. This relocation frees the central area for a large dining table, while forward, a centre console helm station offers excellent visibility.
Aft, the flybridge remains deliberately open. Rather than fixed furniture, Prestige encourages owners to customise this space with freestanding pieces - sun loungers, a yoga area or an open-air gym. It's entertaining space that adapts to how you actually live on board.
Villa-style interiors
Below deck, the M8 Evo's interior design - handled in-house by Valentina Motta - reflects an evolution in client expectations.
Motta developed two distinct interior moods, both open to customisation. The first M8 Evo sports a sophisticated, loft-style atmosphere with Art Deco touches. Light wood dominates, with dark wood accents on details like trays and floors.
"In the second mood, which will feature in hull number 11 under construction, the woods swap," Motta explains. "The dark one is the principal, and the light is the accent colour. We chose natural fabric in the linens, the bulkheads and decorative pillows. This version is not exactly like a loft, but rather cosier. Two moods for two different clients."
The owner's cabin on the main deck has been completely reimagined, featuring a generous bedroom with a walk-in wardrobe leading to an en-suite bathroom. The shower has been significantly enlarged, while a dedicated office corner provides space for staying connected without sacrificing the holiday atmosphere.
The M8 Evo offers four or five cabin configurations. The five-cabin option sleeps up to 10 guests across the main deck master and four cabins below, two in each hull. The four-cabin configuration includes a main deck master, a VIP suite and two guest cabins. The VIP option transforms one hull into a single expansive cabin with a walk-in wardrobe, living area with sofa and TV.
For owners who prefer a galley-down layout, one cabin can be replaced with a lower-deck galley, freeing up the main deck saloon for additional living space.
Crew accommodation is equally flexible, with the standard option providing two single-berth crew cabins, upgradeable to four berths total.
Performance with purpose
The M8 Evo doesn’t target clients who want speed. It’s for those who appreciate expansive spaces and spending long periods of time on board. As Casadei says: "If you want to ride fast, turn on heel and jump the waves, buy a monohull. But if your life involves lots of cruising, entertaining and adopting a villa-style life on board, then a multihull is a super shrewd solution with fuel economy."
Jean-François Lair, chief sales officer of Groupe Beneteau and brand director of Prestige, echoes this philosophy: "It's not a yacht for going 30-40 knots; there is no point. But clients ask us to have bigger power on the engines so that they can go above 20 knots if needed in the case of an emergency. So it's very practical."
This approach led Prestige to upgrade from Volvo D8 engines (600hp) to MAN units producing 730hp as the more powerful engines actually perform more efficiently at lower cruising speeds. An optional silent mode package includes solar panels, a genset and lithium battery pack, allowing up to 10 hours of generator-free operation.
The M8 Evo isn't trying to be the fastest yacht on the water or the longest at the dock. Instead, it's carved out its own category where volume, flexibility and lifestyle trump traditional metrics like LOA and top speed. Because when you have 275 square metres of flexible, villa-style living space, does LOA really matter?
To find out more about the M8 Evo, contact the team at Prestige.
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