Automakers and famed automotive designers have taken it upon themselves to step outside the world of vehicular creation lately, and while some produce private jets (I’m looking at you, Honda), others are trying their hand at a luxury yachts.
Mercedes-Benz revealed its Arrow460-Granturismo motor yacht concept this week off the coast of Nice, France. The German automaker calls it the “Silver Arrow of the Seas,” and claims it combines the performance of the brand’s most potent sports cars with the boat industry’s latest innovations. If you look carefully, the yacht even has car-like proportions.
The 46-foot-long Arrow460 is propelled by a 960 horsepower motor and can comfortably accommodate 10 people. The yacht’s large side windows can retract and feature adjustable windscreens so occupants can feel like they’re brave enough to sit outside while actually nestled within the Arrow’s cabin.
In calm waters, the Arrow460 cruises at 28 to 30 knots and can crest 40 knots (about 46 miles per hour) with a light load. In stormy seas, you’ll probably wish you were on a freighter. However, freighters don’t typically come with air conditioning, a high-quality audio system, a wine cellar, and an ice-maker.
Mercedes-Benz says the boat’s silver exterior is inspired by the automaker’s F015 and Concept IAA vehicles, contributing to what can be interpreted as a work of art as much as a piece of functional equipment. Similar to my methodology on even the most rare and expensive cars, I say why buy it if you won’t use it? Perhaps that’s just a simpleton’s opinion, however, as I’ll almost certainly never be able to afford such treasures.
How Mercedes-Benz’s Arrow460 stacks up against concepts like Rolls Royce’s 450EX or Aston Martin and Quintessence Yachts’ AM37 is a bit hard to nail down. Let’s just say that envy comes standard on all three, free of charge.