BMW has brought its expertise into waterborne sustainable mobility with The Icon — a luxury electric marine craft developed in collaboration with boat maker Tyde.

Unveiled during the recent Cannes Film Festival, the unique exterior of the 13.15 metre-long yacht is penned by Designworks, the innovation hub within the BMW Group. Tyde was responsible for taking the concept to a production-ready state, while the high-voltage batteries were supplied by BMW i. The Icon is equipped with a pair of 100 kW electric motors, powered by six batteries from the BMW i3 supplying 240 kWh of energy. The craft cruises at 24 knots and can reach a maximum speed 30 knots in a sprint. The batteries are able to push for a range of over 50 nautical miles thanks to the hydrofoil technology, which helps reduce energy requirements significantly,

With a width of 4.5 metres in the rear, there’s ample space to create a luxurious lounge inside The Icon. The side of the yacht is made up of large glass surfaces, allowing passengers to enjoy the views and the sunshine. The cabin is carpeted and features 360° rotating seats and a tablet-based infotainment system for each seat. At the same time, the command station in the centre of the deck is made up of a 6k, 32-inch touchscreen display that uses an operating system similar to the BMW iDrive control. The watercraft even has the Dolby Atmos system on board, and BMW has invited Academy Award winner Hans Zimmer to compose an exclusive soundtrack to accompany this exclusive machine.