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BMW Just Unveiled a New 43-Foot All-Electric Foiling Yacht for Zero-Emission Cruising
Christened the icon, the zero-emission vessel can hit 30 knots at full tilt., rachel cormack.
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One world premiere at Cannes blew the others out of the water.
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The Icon is fitted with foils that ensure smooth cruising across the water with minimal drag and maximum efficiency and speed. In fact, BMW says the wings reduce the energy requirement by up to 80 percent compared to a conventional planing boat.
The 43-footer is also equipped with a powerful electric propulsion system that runs on high-voltage batteries supplied by BMW. A pair of 100 kW electric motors convert the 240 kWh of energy supplied by six batteries from the BMW i3 for a range of more than 50 nautical miles and a cruising speed of 24 knots. Of course, the electric vessel navigates the seas silently, smoothly, and cleanly.
Like any good bimmer, the Icon will be ultra comfortable. With a beam of nearly 15 feet, the newcomer has a generous aft entertaining area and a very spacious lounge entrance. The lounge is adorned with designer furniture and a kaleidoscopic carpet that uses metal sheeting to reflect sunlight like waves on the sea. The yacht also sports 360-degree rotating seats and a tablet-based infotainment system. There’s also a 32-inch, 6K touchscreen display in the central command station that emulates the BMW iDrive operating system. Everything from the mileage to the weather can be ascertained via voice commands.
Sounds like the Icon could be a hit.
Click here to see all the photos of the Icon.
Rachel Cormack is a digital editor at Robb Report. She cut her teeth writing for HuffPost, Concrete Playground, and several other online publications in Australia, before moving to New York at the…
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THE ICON – innovative tides
17 May 2023
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An ocean of ideas: This is particularly true of automotive engineering when it comes to developing a new model, a new platform or the new direction of the brand, as with the Neue Klasse from BMW. The goal? To think outside the box, but with a firm trajectory in mind. For example, the BMW i7 (➜ Read more: The BMW i7 – a new perspective ) recently reinterpreted the notion of luxury: sustainably innovative.
But what if you could transfer this luxurious, yet emission-free form of transport from the road to a new element – let’s say, to the water as we mentioned at the beginning? BMW, together with world-leading experts and boat builder TYDE, has dared to do just that with THE ICON. And besides batteries, it has contributed its technical expertise for the construction of a completely new watercraft.
Just as the tides are created by the interaction of the earth and the moon, the interplay of two factors was crucial in this shared vision: a focus on innovation and the joy of sustainable mobility.
Because, as Peter Dengler, head of THE ICON project, points out, this can be made possible in all segments. “Mobility on water is nearly ten times more energy-intensive than mobility on land. In the meantime, however, professional sailing has come up with solutions for substantially saving energy, paving the way for climate-friendly solutions. The decarbonization of mobility is already taking place in some areas. In other areas, however, there has not yet been innovation, so decarbonization has not even begun. There is currently no equivalent of luxury electric vehicles like the BMW i7 M70 offered on the water.”
He saw an extraordinary fascination in that visionary triad of sustainability, luxury and conscious pleasure: “Our team was particularly driven by the idea of creating the magical combination of innovation, digitalization and the relationship between people and technology, but most importantly, an incomparable zero-emission experience for the water.” What does the new mobility on the water look like? “The same characteristics found in BMW luxury vehicles like the BMW i7 M70 will be key in this element too: maximum sustainability combined with design, innovation and a unique driving experience.”
from sailing
The team broke free from the shackles of established development and design conventions right from the start. They deliberately set out not to design a boat, but rather create their own experience on the water. BMW has had trailblazing experience and long-standing involvement in sailing sports such as the premier class America’s Cup, the Formula 1 equivalent of boat racing.
A team of engineers built the first bridge between nautical technology and the most advanced electric mobility. Leading experts from all over the world were brought on board for this – including Guillaume Verdier, the world’s leading designer of the fastest and most efficient sailboats and responsible for the hull and hydrofoil of the last winning boat in the America’s Cup.
and the technical milestones
TYDE , a new, progressive lifestyle tech company and provider of experiences for luxury mobility at sea, was also at the rudder of this intelligent transfer of technology and expertise in the development of THE ICON. Dr. Christoph Ballin, the longstanding CEO of electric mobility pioneer Torqeedo, was instrumental in making electric mobility on the water fit for everyday use. Tobias Hoffritz is already a long-standing partner of BMW for technology and innovation projects with his company Second Sphere.
Developing the first maritime luxury electric vehicle has been an exciting journey for both: “THE ICON has a wealth of groundbreaking innovations on board that are suitable for anchoring climate-friendly mobility in the high-end segment as well. The yacht is available as a series product, and the technology platform developed means the model range can easily be expanded.”
delivers up to 80-percent energy saving
Foiling, a technology that delivers up to 80-percent energy saving, is a pioneering technical development that supports the sustainability goals of the new watercraft. This means BMW i batteries (➜ Read more: the material cycle of a battery cell ) can be used as a power source. How does that work? Foils consist of a stabilizing fin and two wings. They act like underwater wings that allow the watercraft to literally hover over the water – enabling THE ICON to be electrified by the power of BMW batteries alone.
The upper-side curvature creates a negative pressure, generating buoyancy. Water resistance on the hull is no longer a factor. The craft is lifted out of the water, reducing the resistance to a minimum – the watercraft literally hovers over the water. Two propellers on the rear foil provide propulsion for THE ICON. It takes between 10 and 12 seconds from startup to hovering. Flying about one meter above the water, feeling no wave impact at all feels exactly the same as comfortably gliding in the rear of the BMW i7 (➜ Read more: Theater screen in the BMW i7 ) on the road.
between people and technology
Dengler and Hoffritz found the interface was much more advanced in cars than on yachts. As a result, all maritime controls and navigation displays were bundled into a single control interface. “The intuitive, integrated user interface, based on the BMW ID8 operating system and a touch-sensitive display, delivers an automotive standard in boating,” explains Dengler. This ensures that operation is intuitive and integrative and can also be controlled interactively via voice commands.
SUSTAINABILITY
For all the senses.
Because the interpretation of modern luxury embraces all the senses, the technical innovations in the development and design of this new mobility concept, both below and above water, go hand in hand with a design that impressively combines esthetics and function. Designworks (➜ Read more: 50 years of Designworks ), the BMW innovation studio, has already served as a creative partner on land in the design of the BMW i3 and BMW i8 and in the air with the electric wingsuit (➜ Read more: The making of the wingsuit with e-motor ).
Water was yet another element to provide an exciting challenge for the Designworks team led by Tom Allemeier and Tommy Forsgren. The BMW Group subsidiary has earned a reputation over 50 years for designing mobility concepts for tomorrow – from road to rail and water to air.
When designing THE ICON, the design team was not looking to design a boat, but a new experience on the water. “We have developed a new design approach for a watercraft that is not exposed to waves but flies over the water with the help of foils,” said Tom Allemeier, Director of Design at Designworks. “So instead of the conventional side of the ship, a ceiling-high panorama window forms the outer facade. The result for passengers inside is a whole new experience with an unobstructed view – a luxurious ‘Infinite Space View’. This makes the view across the deck seem endless, merging with the water and the horizon,” says Allemeier. The architecture is supported by what is known as a center spline, an iconic strut that extends centrally from the stern over the roof to the bow. With so much technological innovation, the design process was also unorthodox.
There was a lot of digital technology involved. We were able to use VR glasses to experience the space and see how the perspectives worked before the built model was ready.
Lead Designer on the Munich-based Designworks team
The expressive design language on the exterior is also reflected in the interior. The materials used evoke the feel of an elegant salon, the design language of a modern luxury lounge. Each passenger takes a seat in their own swiveling chair, including their own infotainment interface. A high-end DOLBY ATMOS audio system is on board. The interior space is promoted into a living space.
for the future
Where else can this technology transfer lead? Dengler and Ballin are upbeat about the development of future maritime mobility: “Solutions developed as part of THE ICON project will be used for various vehicles and applications to follow in the wake of THE ICON: from advanced private luxury to premium commercial and public mobility. THE ICON and its successors will inspire zero-emission luxury mobility at sea and open a new segment for sustainable luxury yachts.”
Author: Markus Löblein; Art: Verena Aichinger, Lucas Lemuth, Ha My Le Thi; Photos & Video: BMW
ELECTROMOBILITY
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Official data on fuel consumption, CO2 emissions, electric consumption and electric range were determined in accordance with the mandatory measurement procedure and comply with Regulation (EU) 715/2007 valid at the time of type approval. In case of a range, figures in the WLTP take into account any optional equipment. For vehicles type-approved after 01.01.2021 only WLTP values officially exist. For more information on the WLTP measurement procedures, see https://www.bmw.co.uk/en/topics/discover/efficientdynamics/bmw-emissions.html .
For more information on the official fuel consumption and official specific CO2 emissions of new passenger cars, see the 'Guide to Fuel Consumption, CO2 Emissions, and Electricity Consumption of New Passenger Cars', which is available free of charge at all sales outlets, from Deutsche Automobil Treuhand GmbH (DAT), Hellmuth-Hirth-Str. 1, 73760 Ostfildern-Scharnhausen, and at https://www.dat.de/co2/ .
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Tyde Icon sea trial review: Is BMW’s €2m electric flying boat brilliant or bonkers?
- Electric boats
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A joint project between BMW and Tyde has created an extraordinary new foiling electric craft called The Icon, but how does it work and what is it like to drive? Hugo Andreae reports...
Is it a boat, is it a plane, is it the future or is it a fascinating but pointless publicity stunt? These are just some of the questions being asked about the most extraordinary new craft of the year.
Built by German start-up Tyde and penned by Designworks, BMW’s futuristic skunkworks department, its stated mission is to “disrupt the luxury leisure world” and be “a radical change for good”. To ram home the point, Tyde named it The Icon and launched it in the full glare of the world’s media at the Cannes Film Festival.
It worked a treat, hoovering up column inches like a publicity-hungry starlet, but at some point every icon has to live up to its billing, and at the other Cannes festival in September – the Yachting one – we finally got a chance to put that to the test.
Before telling you what it’s actually like to drive, it’s worth spending a few minutes getting to grips with the people and technology behind this revolutionary new craft.
Tyde is the brainchild of two big hitters: Dr Christoph Ballin, one of the co-founders of Torqeedo electric motors, and Tobias Hoffritz, former Innovation Manager at BMW AG. No surprise then to learn that The Icon is powered by a pair of Torqeedo 100kW Deep Blue motors and fed by six 40kWh BMW i3 batteries.
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But sticking a load of lithium ion cells and a pair of electric motors in a conventional planing hull that looked and drove like every other boat would have been greeted with a collective ‘meh’ and resulted in a craft with a very limited cruising range.
So instead they used another of Hoffritz’s contacts within BMW to come up with a far more arresting solution. The result is nothing if not original. With its origami-inspired latticework of glass, carbon fibre and steel, it is about as far from the traditional image of a luxury motor yacht as it’s possible to get.
Designed from the inside out, the idea is to redefine the concept of luxury by giving passengers the space, light and views to enjoy the unique sensory experience of ‘flying’ above the water in a near-silent hydrofoil boat .
The hull is made of conventional moulded GRP and looks to have more in common with a modern racing yacht than a traditional planing power boat.
Engineered by renowned naval architects J&J Design with foiling technology by America’s Cup guru Guillaume Verdier, it features an unusually wide, flat stern with a maximum beam of 14ft 9in (4.5m) that tapers towards a knife-like reverse-angled bow. As a result its waterline length of 42ft 6in (11.95m) is only a few inches short of its length overall.
Read Hugo’s full review of the Tyde Icon in the January 2024 issue of MBY, which is out on December 7.
Tyde Icon specifications
LOA: 43ft 2in (13.15m) Draft: 14ft 10in (2.95m) Motor: 2x 100kW Torqeedo Deep Blue Top speed: 30 knots Starting price: €1,900,000 (ex. VAT)
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BMW THE ICON Debuts As Posh Electric Yacht With i3 Batteries
Home » BMW THE ICON Debuts As Posh Electric Yacht With i3 Batteries
Adrian Padeanu
May 17, 2023 / 2 minutes read
While we’re patiently waiting for BMW to introduce the Touring Coupe Concept on Friday and the new 5 Series / i5 next week, an entirely different type of product is making its debut at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. THE ICON is a joint effort between the Munich-based luxury automaker and boat manufacturer TYDE. The unexpected project traces its roots to an idea and concept conceived by BMW, with the styling penned by subsidiary Designworks.
At 13.15 meters (43.14 feet) long, THE ICON is imposing large, and yet it has zero emissions since it gets its necessary juice from no fewer than six batteries sourced from a BMW i3 . The large 240-kWh pack feeds a pair of electric motors, each producing 134 horsepower (100 kW). This dual-motor setup enables the posh boat to hit a top speed of 30 knots and provide an operating speed of 24 knots. With the battery fully charged, it can cover more than 50 nautical miles or 100 kilometers.
Further bridging a connection with BMW’s road-going EVs is the interior with a tablet mimicking the experience provided by the eighth-generation iDrive found in current models. THE ICON boasts a 32-inch touchscreen with a 6K resolution, making it just about as large as the 31.3-inch, 8K Theatre Screen inside the new 7 Series / i7. As with the electric road cars, Hans Zimmer was asked to develop a bespoke soundtrack to replace the thrill provided by a conventional engine.
Using an electric powertrain for such a large yacht is not as common as you might think as this type of drivetrain is mainly used for smaller boats. BMW goes as far as to say THE ICON is more than just a concept or a design study, mentioning it’s a “fully production-ready example.” It gets everything from 360-degree rotating seats to a lounge area, thus making it ideal for deep-pocketed customers looking for a high-end watercraft.
We can’t even fathom how much it would cost to buy but we’re certain it will spark an interest among one-percenters.
Source: BMW
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Meet The Icon Foiling Yacht
- By David Schmidt
- January 24, 2024
The Icon is BMW and Tyde GmbH’s first foray into the world of electric hydrofoil yachts. The Icon flies above the brine on three hydrofoils. These lift-generating appendages work in concert with the vessel’s twin rudders to balance gravity and centrifugal force while executing turns to yield what Tyde terms “coordinated curve control.”
Christoph Ballin, Tyde’s co-founder and managing director, says the toughest challenge his company faced when creating The Icon involved assembling the right team. While BMW initiated the project’s development and build, and is responsible for the yacht’s luxe interior and exterior design, Tyde’s crux involved bringing cutting-edge marine expertise—including forward-leaning companies and individuals with deep experience with hydrofoils and flight-control systems—to the design table. The magnet? “The concept was convincing,” Ballin says.
Flight control is handled by a centralized foil-control system that Tyde developed with Oceanflight Technologies. The system’s algorithm crunches incoming data from the vessel’s sensors 100 times per second, and it leverages custom-built actuators to articulate the vessel’s hydrofoils.
The Icon is powered by dual Torqeedo Deep Blue electric motors that each spin a dedicated contra-rotating propeller. Hull and hydrofoil design was tackled by America’s Cup-winning naval architect Guillaume Verdier; as such, The Icon’s hull contributes to smooth takeoffs and landings. The Icon achieves a (ballpark) 50-nautical-mile range at its 24-knot cruising speed. Top speed is 30 knots.
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This electric boat with a hydrofoil hull utilizes BMW EV batteries and has its own sound design
This year’s Cannes Film Festival saw a unique debut quite a ways away from the silver screen and out on the docks of Southern France. During the event, BMW Group Designworks and boat builder Tyde unveiled a new all-electric boat concept called The Icon. This electric hydrofoil is powered by BMW battery packs and represents a collaboration for the future of sustainability in the marine segment. Did we mention two-time Oscar winner Han Zimmer is involved too?
Designworks is a global creative design studio based in Southern California that has operated as a wholly-owned subsidiary of the BMW Group since the mid-1990s. With additional offices now in Munich and Singapore, the studio has contributed its talents to several notable BMW models and has been deeply involved in the development of the automaker’s all-electric i brand .
In addition to traditional material and model design, Designworks specializes in consulting and dreaming up future forms of mobility . Combined with its deep roots in a growing EV brand, it’s no wonder the team at BMW decided to collaborate with electric boat builder Tyde.
Tyde is a German yacht builder with a specific focus on delivering marine mobility that is not only zero emissions but also provides ultimate luxury and eye-catching design. This is ethos preached by BMW Group, so it’s of little surprise the two companies teamed up to develop the Icon electric boat. Check it out.
BMW uses its tech to help power unique electric boat
According to BMW, The Icon is an electric boat that emerged from an “in-depth sharing of knowledge” between BMW, Tyde, and Designworks. Measuring 43.14 feet in length with a top speed of 30 knots (34.5 mph), the hydrofoil hull design of the electric boat reduces the energy needed to cruise by up to 80%, compared with a conventional hull that drags a larger wake.
The foils also create a smoother ride for passengers as the vessel appears to float above the water. It may seem like magic, but there’s plenty going on below the surface to propel BMW’s new electric boat. The Icon is powered by two 100 kW electric motors that feed from 240 kWh of energy onboard, dispersed between six BMW i battery packs.
At its operating speed of 24 knots (27.6 mph), The Icon makes virtually no noise, thanks to its electric motors and the boat’s foils. Even with the optimization of cruising efficiency and all-electric power, BMW’s electric concept can currently only travel about 50 nautical miles (62 mi) at sea.
While it may not be the right vessel for long voyages, BMW, Designworks, and Tyde have created a unique electric boat that provides 360-degree views and an immersive audio experience. If you’re going to name your electric hydrofoil, The Icon, it better be iconic. To do so, BMW tapped longtime collaborator and no stranger to Cannes – composer Hans Zimmer.
The Hollywood legend’s drive system sound note and intentional function tones can be experienced through a Dolby Atmos sound system installed in the cabin of The Icon, combining pleasant, intuitive, and functional sounds with “a modern driving soundtrack.” BMW described some other features on the electric boat:
The angled glass doors of the watercraft open to a lounge area with artistically designed furniture on a luxurious carpet that creates a kaleidoscope effect. Constructed from sections of metal, the hull of the watercraft reflects sunlight onto the floor like waves on the sea. The user-focused experience centers around the 360° rotating seats. The essential features, including an easy-to-reach tablet-based infotainment system, are arranged within reach. With a simple twist, the seats can be re-positioned to encourage social interaction, making The Icon a perfect meeting hub that feels at home in any port or harbor.
The electric boat is currently on display at Cannes, and BMW explained that it is not merely a design concept but a production-ready vessel adaptable for both private and commercial use. BMW Group points out that the boat’s platform offers modular adaptability to individual design wishes and needs.
As if it wasn’t unique looking enough. There’s no shortage of affluence in the South of France, especially around Cannes each year, so perhaps BMW and Tyde can find a couple of buyers, and we will see more Icons at sea.
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Scooter Doll is a writer, designer and tech enthusiast born in Chicago and based on the West Coast. When he’s not offering the latest tech how tos or insights, he’s probably watching Chicago sports. Please send any tips or suggestions, or dog photos to him at [email protected]
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BMW unveils wild new design for an all-electric boat that can ‘float’ across the water: ‘Love it’
B MW Group Designworks, in collaboration with German yacht builder Tyde, unveiled their newest creation — an all-electric hydrofoil boat called The Icon — during Cannes Film Festival in 2023.
The Icon can cruise with a top speed of 30 knots (34.5 miles per hour), and its hydrofoil hull design means that it needs to use 80% less energy than a conventionally shaped boat, which would drag a larger wake.
A hydrofoil is a lifting surface that operates in water. As a hydrofoil boat speeds up, the foil surface lifts the boat so that it is practically floating above the water, decreasing drag and allowing greater speeds and less energy usage.
According to Electrek , The Icon is powered by two 100 kW motors, dispersed between six BMW battery packs, and can travel up to 50 nautical miles (57.5 miles) before needing a recharge. Due to the electric motors and foils, it is virtually noiseless.
And if that wasn’t enough, the boat’s audio elements were designed by Hans Zimmer, the acclaimed German film score composer known for his work on such movies as “The Lion King,” “The Pirates of the Caribbean” franchise, “The Dark Knight” Trilogy, and many others.
Per Electrek , Zimmer designed a “drive system sound note and intentional function tones” for The Icon, providing users with a “modern driving soundtrack.”
BMW described some of the boat’s other features, writing , “The angled glass doors of the watercraft open to a lounge area with artistically designed furniture on a luxurious carpet that creates a kaleidoscope effect. Constructed from sections of metal, the hull of the watercraft reflects sunlight onto the floor like waves on the sea. The user-focused experience centers around the 360° rotating seats. The essential features, including an easy-to-reach, tablet-based infotainment system, are arranged within reach.”
While The Icon is on display at Cannes, it is not just a design concept — BMW Group has made clear that it will be available for purchase, though it is not clear how high that price tag will be.
Electrek’s commenters were impressed by the uniquely designed boat.
“Love it,” wrote one commenter.
BMW unveils wild new design for an all-electric boat that can ‘float’ across the water: ‘Love it’ first appeared on The Cool Down .
BMW Shoved Six i3 Batteries Into A Hydrofoil Yacht And Called It ‘THE ICON’
- By Thomas Hundal
- May 17, 2023
- 34 Comments
For the past 46 years, BMW’s flagship has always been the 7-Series . Sure, various 8-Series coupes have come and gone, but the big sedan was always the move for big business people on the big go. However, there is a new flagship, and it’s a rather literal one. Say hello to THE ICON, an ultra-luxurious yacht built in collaboration with boat maker Tyde and powered solely by electricity.
Deep within the hull sit six i3 battery packs. Yes, that i3 . Connected to a pair of 100 kW motors, the batteries make for a cruising range of 50 nautical miles, or about 62 non-nautical miles, at an operating speed of 24 knots. Top speed is a rather impressive 30 knots (55 km/h), not bad for a combustion-powered craft of this size, let alone an EV. Best of all, it’s not like total battery pack capacity is off the scale. With 240 kWh of energy on-board with a full charge, this thing’s battery pack isn’t worlds larger than the one in a GMC Hummer EV. A green yacht, who’d have thought?
So how does something this big using these battery packs move with this range and pace? The answer is hydrofoils. Instead of pushing its hull through the water, the ICON glides on submersed wings for improved speed and efficiency. Just like how drag is the big enemy of electric cars, drag is also the enemy for electric boats. After all, air and water are both fluids. This is similar in concept to what boatmaker Candela is doing .
The hydrofoil design also leads to great space aboard. BMW was able to keep the hull essentially flat, and offer a cabin width of 4.5 meters at the rear of the vessel. Speaking of size, THE ICON clocks in at just over 43 feet from stem to stern. It’s not exactly a superyacht, but it’s not a dinghy either.
Step inside, and you may notice that this ship features a variant of iDrive. A 32-inch 6K touchscreen display running a version of BMW’s Operating System 8 offers a familiar layout for owners of current BMWs, while the metallic control console certainly looks slick. While we’re on the subject of glass, the whole cabin is enclosed by massive glass panels, offering a truly expansive view out.
As for the rest of the cabin, it looks like an expensive lounge chock-full of cloth furniture, richly-textured carpet, and plenty of metal accents. THE ICON would make for a great Monaco gin palace, especially with the mirrored tables. Plus, it gets a thumping Dolby Atmos sound system, complete with propulsion noises by Hans Zimmer.
It’s also worth noting that THE ICON is truly gorgeous, a prismatic masterpiece with an excellent mixture of swooping and straight lines, blunt surfaces, and thoughtful materials. While the low-poly design trend hasn’t done BMW’s car range many favors, it really works in this more architectural context.
Best of all, BMW says that THE ICON isn’t just a concept. Sure, this one currently serves as a functional showpiece for the Cannes Film Festival, but this is a production-ready watercraft. I bet BMW would have an easy time selling this sort of vehicle. Between brand prestige, hydrofoil tech, and the novelty of electric propulsion, this is a yacht with a difference. I wonder if we’ll see it in the new BMW film?
(Photo credits: BMW)
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- BMW , bmw i3 , BMW THE ICON , boats , EVs , i3 , THE ICON , WHY ARE WE SHOUTING , yachts
Thomas Hundal
That’s one very nice GREENHOUSE. I can’t imagine how hot it would get on sunny day on the lake.
I know that when I think of boats, carpets and plush cloth seats are definitely at the top of my list.
This is the kind of beat Mercedes would normally cover. She hasn’t been around for a few days. I hope she’s OK.
I noticed that. Her last article was about attending the overland expo and doing some actual overlanding this week. I’m assuming she’s attending to that and will have lots of great stories when she returns
I think she’s currently in Hawaii for the Taco release and Highlander press drive.
Looks about as seaworthy as every other BMW I’ve seen.
Hydrodynamic, yes.
Aerodynamic, no.
But if you can afford something like this, have fun puttering around a mile or so from the marina.
On todays episode of BMW would literally do anything other than designing good looking cars….. I can’t imagine how much of a nightmare charging it will be and 50 miles is kind of laughable.
It has no head or galley, do you really want to spend more than 50 miles at a time on it away from a marina?
What a gorgeous colossal potential failure. I didnt see price but i am guess this is a quarter million dollar pontoon boat. Hey 3 I3 batteries are what $120,000? No beds, no cabin just an enclosed gorgeous covered sitting space but no tanning area. And sure when moving it raises the water line but you stop to let the kids swim? Well doggies you are just one fat kid doing a cannonball of flooding the below the water line battery chambers and finding out does sea water on a battery cause fire or an explosion? Either way everyone in the water but on the plus side once it sinks you have enough water to put it out FAILURE!
What’s the warranty on those batteries? – Asking for David Tracy.
I get a laugh out of how something like this is crafted to take you to pretty places with pretty views, yet it still needs a large screen TV. I guess it’s to keep the yute onboard from getting fidgety…
But did they extract them from the donor i3’s with a chainsaw? Everyone should know by now that’s the new industry standard process for removing EV batteries.
Hey a BMW without turn signals
eliminate redundancy > increase range!
Not so much yacht as world’s most expensive pontoon party boat.
And if they shift the batteries to one side, BMW can call it The Poseidon.
A.) needs more M-stripes nautical flags B.) Finally, My BMW can leave me stranded on both land and sea!
a prismatic masterpiece with an excellent mixture of swooping and straight lines
In profile, it resembles a hacksaw.
I’m expecting to see one of these tied up to a dock, with Mr Incredible & ElastiGirl slinking out the back while adjusting their outfits…
Erm, excuse me posh boat owning person, can you tell me where the bathroom is?
Anywhere you like – just walk to the edge of the deck
I am sorry i doubt that any of our betters would be caught pooping off the side of a boat. But oh the paparazzi would love it.
George Brett would, he’s relatively well-off
Except that there is no deck.
Couple things to keep in mind; energy storage in batteries is HEAVY compared to gasoline, and boats don’t have brakes; the water itself is a giant brake at al times. Cut throttle and boat stops almost immediately; this is why any electric boat that wants to have even mediocre performance is going to have hydrofoils; get the hull out of the water like you can with a lightweight gas boat, and suddenly it gets a lot more efficient (see: planing hulls). Thing is tho, hydro foils are a pain in the ass for most people, as it requires seriously deep water, and can easily be damaged.
As for this ‘boat’, it’s fucking stupid. No seriously. Imagine being on the water (reflective) on a sunny day, in a glass box (greenhouse). There is a constant yearning to put automotive styled enclosures on boats (glastron scimitar) and people who have no boating experience are always like YAYYYYYy but anyone who’s been around boats is scratching their head and wonder if people enjoy being in a convection oven.
Even boats with glass side windows, like an 80s bayliner capri with it’s automotive greenhouse-profiled side windows, is hot as F on a summer day because it blocks all the wind, and that’s with no roof or sun shade to trap all that heat.
So that means this thing must have air conditioning, which…. if you’ve ever tried to build an off grid system or a bus/rv/van with electric powered AC, oh man are you in for a rude awakening on how much power that requires.
TDLR: Boats have existed long before cars. When there’s a ‘stunning new shape’ on a boat that looks different than most boats you’ve ever seen before, it’s for a reason, and the reason is that it’s most likely a stupid idea.
All for more boat content on here tho! No speed limits, bikinis, boats are more fun than cars for the most part.
Also… 30 knots. lmfao. An aluminum boat with a 30hp outboard would be faster than this turd. If you guys need a boat expert to pick apart boat concepts on this site lmk.
I kept waiting for them to mention solar panels on the roof. Six i3 battery packs can’t possibly be enough, and the roof has plenty of space… Why wouldn’t there be anything up there to charge them?
I have a big hatred/slight fear or boats with roofs that aren’t ferry sized. Add a glass enclosure and you are simply making a glass ocean coffin, so in 50 years divers and tourists can see your skeleton picked clean by all the fishes.
Would the boat need A/C though? Its floating in a giant sink of probably cold water. A heat exchanger would probably do the trick.
complete with propulsion noises by Hans Zimmer.
Is this for real???
Oh my, my single firing neuron went directly to the gutter on what I would do on this pontoon.
After paying out royalties, will it pay for itself?
On the bright buy it zero down low payments as possible insurance will pay for the boat when it sinks
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The Icon is an all-electric boat shaped by BMW in collaboration with boatbuilder Tyde
With its high-tech, luxurious interior, The Icon all-electric boat glides across the Cannes coast, bringing BMW’s design aesthetic to the waves
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BMW brought a new form of transportation to the 76th Cannes Film Festival . The Icon is an all-electric boat developed in collaboration with Tyde, billed as ‘a new kind of flagbearer for sustainable mobility on water’.
The 13.15m vessel splices BMW battery tech with Tyde’s foiling technology, creating a craft that raises itself out of the water at speed to avoid drag and increase range.
The Icon all-electric boat
Six batteries sourced from BMW’s trailblazing i3 provide 240kWh of power to twin 100kW motors, enough to give the boat a range of 50 nautical miles and a top speed of 30 knots (100km and 55 km/h respectively).
BMW isn’t the first company to pair with an electric boat maker. Polestar’s batteries found their way into Candela’s C-8, a sleek hydrofoil designed by the Swedish boat builder. Where The Icon differs in its superstructure.
BMW has helped shape a deluxe, luxurious cabin experience, building on the smooth, near-silent propulsion system. Drawing on the sound architecture deployed in its high-end cars, like the BMW i7, shown here, The Icon has its own on-board ‘soundscape’, composed by regular BMW collaborator Hans Zimmer and delivered through a Dolby Atmos powered system.
The prism-shaped cabin combines extensive glazing and folded metal forms, with unrivalled transparency, giving passengers an extraordinary view from above the waves. The interior contains rotating upholstered seats and a big-screen entertainment system.
Cannes was an appropriate waterside venue for The Icon’s debut, with its connotations of starry glamour and BMW’s own long-term relationship with cinema and the big screen – the company’s new short film, The Calm , starring Pom Klementieff and Uma Thurman, is the first in the BMW Film series for eight years.
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For now, The Icon is a one-off, but it shows a desire to apply the lessons learned in developing electric cars to new sectors of mobility, particularly luxurious ones.
Jonathan Bell has written for Wallpaper* magazine since 1999, covering everything from architecture and transport design to books, tech and graphic design. He is now the magazine’s Transport and Technology Editor. Jonathan has written and edited 15 books, including Concept Car Design, 21st Century House, and The New Modern House. He is also the host of Wallpaper’s first podcast.
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BMW Just Unveiled a New 43-Foot All-Electric Foiling Yacht for Zero-Emission Cruising Christened the Icon, the zero-emission vessel can hit 30 knots at full tilt. Modified on May 19, 2023 ...
BMW, together with world-leading experts and boat builder TYDE, has dared to do just that with THE ICON. And besides batteries, it has contributed its technical expertise for the construction of a completely new watercraft. 1 / 7. Electric range (WLTP) 488-560 in km. Power consumption 23,3-20,8 kWh/100 km (combined)
Tyde Icon specifications. LOA: 43ft 2in (13.15m) Draft: 14ft 10in (2.95m) Motor: 2x 100kW Torqeedo Deep Blue. Top speed: 30 knots. Starting price: €1,900,000 (ex. VAT) A joint project between BMW and Tyde has created an extraordinary new foiling electric craft called the Tyde Icon, what is it like to drive?
19 May 2023 • Written by Katia Damborsky. 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 ...
Instead of a boat show or auto show, BMW and Tyde debuted the Icon at this year's Cannes Film Festival, a vessel worthy of the big screen. BMW. 9 / 30. Piloting the Icon out at sea. BMW. 10 / 30.
The Icon by Tyde is a 42ft BMW-designed all-electric foiling superboat utterly unlike anything we've seen before.In this exclusive sea trial, Jack Haines get...
This dual-motor setup enables the posh boat to hit a top speed of 30 knots and provide an operating speed of 24 knots. With the battery fully charged, it can cover more than 50 nautical miles or ...
January 24, 2024. The Icon is intended to be functional as a yacht tender or as a high-end water taxi. Courtesy Tyde. The Icon is BMW and Tyde GmbH's first foray into the world of electric hydrofoil yachts. The Icon flies above the brine on three hydrofoils. These lift-generating appendages work in concert with the vessel's twin rudders to ...
With sweeping vistas from the interior space, the sleek boat looks more like a floating living room than a speedboat. BMW won't say what its top speed is, only that it takes 10-12 seconds from startup to hovering about one meter above the water. Two propellers on the rear foil provide propulsion.
It may seem like magic, but there's plenty going on below the surface to propel BMW's new electric boat. The Icon is powered by two 100 kW electric motors that feed from 240 kWh of energy ...
BMW has teamed up with boat maker TYDE to build a new battery-electric watercraft that debuted at the Cannes Film Festival. The ICON measures more than 43 fe...
BMW Group Designworks, in collaboration with German yacht builder Tyde, unveiled their newest creation — an all-electric hydrofoil boat called The Icon — during Cannes Film Festival in 2023 ...
Draft: 2'9" (on foils) Engines: 2/100-kW Torqeedos. Cruise Speed: 24 knots. Top Speed: 30 knots. This article originally appeared in the August 2023 issue of Power & Motoryacht magazine. Unidentified-Foiling-Object. The Icon by Tyde and BMW is a futuristic foiling electric boat that stunned onlookers at the Cannes Film Festival.
It's probably not the news you were expecting to hear, but BMW has launched the world's first all-glass flying yacht. Built in collaboration with yacht manufacturer, Tyde, it's a hydrofoil boat that looks like a supercar flying above the water. Interesting fact: it's called 'The Icon' as it's actually powered by the same batteries ...
Get ready to witness the most unusual BMW ever created! In this mind-boggling episode, we dive into the world of the BMW Icon—a boat that looks like a car th...
Say hello to THE ICON, an ultra-luxurious yacht built in collaboration with boat maker Tyde and powered solely by electricity. Deep within the hull sit six i3 battery packs. Yes, that i3. Connected to a pair of 100 kW motors, the batteries make for a cruising range of 50 nautical miles, or about 62 non-nautical miles, at an operating speed of ...
The Icon is an all-electric boat developed in collaboration with Tyde, billed as 'a new kind of flagbearer for sustainable mobility on water'. (Image credit: BMW and Tyde) The 13.15m vessel splices BMW battery tech with Tyde's foiling technology, creating a craft that raises itself out of the water at speed to avoid drag and increase range.
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We got to drive BMW and TYDE's brand-new futuristic flying yacht 'The Icon'! It's one of the most futuristic boats ever made with an interior that's taken st...
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