Italian shipyard Benetti has unveiled new details about its latest superyacht model, the B.Neos 40M. The 40.6-metre line is inspired by "the proportions and silence of sailing yachts", and was first unveiled at the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival last September.
The concept's exterior was penned by UK-based Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design, a studio best known for its sailing yacht projects. Renderings show a plumb bow, low-profile superstructure, expansive glazing and overhanging aft decks, with the balanced proportions of a sailing yacht.
The name B.Neos is derived from the Greek word “néos”, meaning “new, young and fresh”. Positioned as a "refined, forward-thinking vision of life at sea", the yacht combines purposeful yet simplistic design with hybrid propulsion as a standard - embodying Benetti’s ambition to attract a new generation of owners.
Francesca Muzio of Italian studio FM Architettura is responsible for the interiors, which the shipyard describes as being designed to feel "personal rather than monumental". As a result, the design favours a warm and tactile scheme with a "lived-in" and more relaxed approach chosen over "formal perfection".
The 296GT of interior volume on board has been designed to offer a close connection with both nature and people through a fluid and "uncomplicated" layout. The main deck is a prime example, where a long, lazy aft pool area flows effortlessly into a "Sea Atrium" - a light-filled 2.4-metre-high space enclosed by floor-to-ceiling glass walls, curated as a reimagination of the beach club.
Heading inside on the same deck, there is an open, family-style kitchen conceived as the social heart of the yacht. Here, meals can be shared intimately and informally with family without the constant presence of crew, though the galley area can be separated with a sliding glass partition for formal dining if desired.
The presence of the wheelhouse forward on the main deck opens up the upper deck to serve as a private owner's area with a forward apartment and 270-degree panoramic views – something more typically found on yachts of 60 metres plus, according to the yard. Stairs lead upwards to the observation deck, fitted with a large and inviting sunpad.
Offered as a standard and not an optional add-on, the model's hybrid technology system has been carefully curated to transform the experience onboard: reducing noise, vibrations and exhaust fumes for a quiet and calm setting both at anchor and underway.
Enabling this is an integrated system based on twin MAN V8-800 engines. It offers several operating modes: zero-emission and hotel mode for silent electric power; diesel-electric and crossover for optimised fuel efficiency; and a "boost" mode for instant torque and easy manoeuvring. Efficiency is also enhanced by a purpose-driven technical ecosystem, which the yard notes contributes to a 30 per cent reduction in energy consumption compared to a vessel of the same size. The implemented hybrid system also eliminates the need for future upgrades and allows for a compact engine room.
Other innovations on board include home automation and ultra-fast connectivity via 5G and Starlink, which introduces augmented reality and artificial intelligence into the yacht's management. Smart glasses or tablets are just some examples of how the crew would be able to "see" behind surfaces, while a central hub shares real-time operational data with the shipyard, allowing for remote, easy guidance.
The B.Neos model is also one of the first to be part of Benetti's Peace of Mind program: conceived to protect the yacht’s long-term value while eliminating operational concerns through a comprehensive ecosystem of services. The program includes technical services, operational management, supported by a dedicated crew academy, as well as lifestyle and turnkey services via Yachtique, the interior design division of Azimut|Benetti Group. This culminates in Yacht as a Service (YaaS), a new approach where yacht and services are integrated into a single, managed five-year solution of ownership.
“Today’s owners seek a return to what truly matters: a lifestyle defined by essentiality, harmony and peace of mind," said Giovanna Vitelli, chair of the Azimut|Benetti Group. "With B.Neos, we didn’t just design a new product; we rethought the entire ownership experience to remove complexity and bothers."
Vitelli added: "We chose proportion over volume and used technology to eliminate redundancy. The result is a yacht inspired by the intelligence of sailing – with a sleek, low-profile silhouette and a perfect balance. It is informal in spirit and authentic in its connection to the water, yet unmistakably a Benetti in presence and status.”
According to BOATPro, Benetti currently has 59 superyacht projects under construction or on order, the largest of which is the 80-metre Project Iron Man.
Read More/Construction underway on custom 80m Benetti superyacht Project Iron Man