Not only did an array of projects premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival, but so did a new breed of watercraft on the French town’s port.
The sustainable luxury mini yacht called The Icon gives users a small taste of what it’s like to be a part of the global elite, according to its developers, BMW and boat maker Tyde.
BMW designers came up with the idea and developed the concept for this collaborative endeavour. The electric drive system on the craft sources its energy from high-voltage batteries supplied by BMWi.
The boat uses hydrofoils traditionally used in racing yachts to help reduce the energy requirement by up to 80 per cent compared with a conventional hull, its developer said, adding that the foiling technology – whereby the craft rides on wing structures below the water level, while the hull floats above the surface of the water – provides a higher level of travelling comfort and higher speeds.
Image credit: BMW
The body of the watercraft comprises a very flat hull and a central support element for the transparent architecture. The basic outline, with its prism-like form, enables a width of 4.5m in its rear section, which creates a spacious entrance into its lounge.
BMW hopes the craft can be used as a means of marine transport both by luxury-conscious private customers and in the commercial sector, and that it will “accelerate the cause of emission-free luxury mobility on water”.
Vital statistics: The Icon
Overall length: 13.5m
Length at waterline: 12.95m
Breadth overall: 4.5m
Draught displacement: 1.87m
Draught foiling: 0.85m
Electric motors x2: 100kW
Battery capacity: 240kWh
Max speed: 30 knots
Service speed: 24 knots
Range at service speed: >50NM
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