A collaboration between sports car designer Bugatti and yacht builder Palmer Johnson has created a super model series combining desire and demand.
WITH 2015’s Back to the Future nostalgia disappearing in the wake, the new year is heralding a new era of design as European boatbuilders focus their vision on 2020 and beyond. Some photos appearing have grown men salivating, none more so than a new collaboration between supercar builder Bugatti and superyacht builder Palmer Johnson.
Bugatti has a knack for making mute metal emit a smouldering sensuality, so the prospect of doing the same in carbon fibre and titanium is tantalising. Palmer Johnson gets the lion’s share of credit for the stunningly elegant open sport yachts but the distinctive Bugatti design give them the X factor. The three-model series bears the Niniette name made famous by Ettore Bugatti (it was the pet name for his daughter Lidia) and also comes with a Bugatti-style price tag. Try $3 million for the 42-footer, $5 million for the 63…and don’t ask what the 88-footer will cost because you can’t afford it.
“This very special project brings together two brands with more than 100 years of experience in high-end hand crafting in their respective fields,” Bugatti spokesman Dr Stefan Brungs said. “Inspired by Bugatti’s design DNA, Palmer Johnson has created not only an incredibly elegant and beautiful yacht but also a masterpiece of craftsmanship featuring carbon fibre, titanium and precious wood. This collector’s item will thrill maritime aficionados.”
Palmer Johnson’s SuperSport design forms the basis for the Niniette’s running lines, sporting twin sponsons to stabilise the deep-vee monohull. Top speeds of around 38 knots are expected. On the 63 you still get luxurious accommodation for up to four guests and crew.
The brand motto of “Art, Form, Technique” is being applied, with Bugatti and Palmer Johnson sharing outstanding lightweight design expertise. It has a contrasting blend of titanium and dark blue exposed carbon fibre, mated with warmer timbers (either brown bubinga, maple or blue morta oak).
Meanwhile, German boatbuilder Bavaria has been planning what it considers an “absolutely new concept in motoryachts” under the code name Project DA10.
The company apparently wants to “meet its customers’ desires on a totally new level”, opting for a semi-displacement 40-footer powered by diesels from 75hp to 300hp. That’s a huge variation, of course, but the DA10 is more about efficiency and economical running costs more than top-end speed.
“It’s fantastic to develop a super-efficient motor yacht which opens new possibilities of use for owners and charter customers. Our design ideas are as classical on the one hand as they are revolutionary on the other,” Fabio Marcellino from Bavaria said. Even some of Bavaria’s sailing experiences were incorporated as the design team looked for comfort, intelligent space utilisation and surefooted handling.
The concept was workshopped with professional journalists and dealers under the watchful eyes of Dutch naval architect Vripack and Bavaria’s in-house development team. Customers will also get their say via social networking. Initial drawings and layouts were released on Bavaria’s Facebook fan page.
SLEEK: A collaboration between Bugatti and Palmer Johnson, the three-model Niniette series comes with a Bugatti-style price tag. This 63-footer retails for $5 million.
TRANSFORMATION: Bavaria’s Project DA10 plans to unite comfort on and under deck with its new model.