Car giant BMW has teamed up with German tech start-up TYDE to present a new 13.5-metre foiling watercraft named The Icon. Built as a showcase boat, the first unit has been manufactured in Europe and is making its debut this week at the Cannes Film Festival.
The battery-powered model has an impressive range of over 50 nautical miles at 24 knots, with a maximum speed of 30 knots. Hydrofoils aim to improve efficiency by up to 80 per cent compared to a conventional hull and contribute to improved speeds and enhanced comfort while underway.
The boat's design is characterised by a flat trimaran-style hull with "prism-like" layout and a central support for the superstructure. The sea-inspired two-tone exterior is enhanced by strips of LED lights, which carve out the boat's profile by night.
On the interior, the yacht has good head heights thanks to an "origami" style design which allows passengers to remain standing upright across the cabin. The cabin is separated into twin lounge areas and a BMW-designed helm station, which features rotating helm seats that allow the space to function either as part of the social area or independently. At the centre of the helm station is a 32-inch touch digital control unit with 6k resolution that has been designed to look and feel like the BMW iDrive operating system. Voice control is also integrated into the same system.
The cabin is flanked by glass panels which promote a continuous connection to the water. This ethos is extended to the swim platform on the aft, which spans 4.5-metres and creates an "exceptionally spacious" entrance to the cabin.
In a press release, TYDE explained that each individual furniture piece is made of grainy metal which reflects sunlight around the cabin like waves on the water.
The Icon is also fitted with Dolby Atmos system which harnesses input from two-time Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer.
The craft has been designed "as a series product with pioneering technology for private or even commercial use" intended "to inspire CO2 -free mobility at sea". It will be on display at Vieux Port for the duration of the Cannes Film Festival.