The Aston Martin speedboat
Quintessence Yachts presents the first official Aston Martin speedboat called the AM37. The Netherlands-based company has announced that potential owners of the boat will have access to specific details on a confidential one-to-one basis.…
At a pre-launch event within Aston Martin’s headquarters,
Netherlands-based Quintessence Yachts unveiled the first official Aston
Martin speedboat. The 11.2m AM37 was created in collaboration with Aston
Martin’s in-house design team and Mulder Design.
While the AM37 is not the first boat to take inspiration from the famous automotive brand, the AM Voyage 55 by Luiz de Basto being an example, this new 11.2m is the first official boat design to come from Aston Martin. “Since the license agreement was signed, the Aston Martin Design department has been working seamlessly with the Quintessence R&D unit and naval architect Mulder Design in Amsterdam to achieve a true example of design purity.”
With the framework and engineering provided by Mulder Design, Aston Martin set out to create two versions of the boat, working on the exterior and interior to ensure it identify with the ethos of the brand. The AM37S is a speedboat offering a maximum speed of 60 knots. With a slower top speed of 50 knots, the AM37 is more of a granturismo and provides a greater feeling of luxury and leisure in its finish.
“We were approached by Quintessence Yachts in June/July to help them in the development of this project,” explained Bas Mulder, naval architect and owner of Mulder Design. “We developed a design brief that looked at the length and performance of the boat and so on. Obviously the performance of the boat was one of the key focuses for us but there are a number of exciting features on this boat, which we call the ‘Q elements’.
“There are some incredible features on this boat,” said Aston Martin’s design director Marek Reichman, who emphasised the importance of balance and in incorporating the brand’s ethos of ‘Power, Beauty and Soul’. “There is a simplicity to the design as well. We started with a scale model, just as we would with a new car design, using a clay model to give us an idea of the relevant proportions of the boat.”
Although still under development, Mulder revealed that once the major technical criteria of the boat had been reached, Reichman and his team worked hard to style the boat in a way that would enhance performance while achieving the level of beauty they were after. “They really understood why things were a certain way, as they are bound by similar rules such as centre of gravity and so on.”
When questioned about the power options for the AM37, Mulder said that there would be an upper limit option of two 660hp Mercury engines. However, the initial engines to be used in the first model will be two 520hp petrol engines with the option to have diesel engines. With the 520hp version, the expected top speed is in the range of 50-55 knots. “It will offer the performance needed but it will also ensure comfort — it is a GT,” he said.
When questioned about the possibility of using an Aston Martin engine in the future, Mulder didn’t discount the possibility. “At this point Aston Martin engines are not marinised and that takes a long time to do, but it would be ideal if they were and it is something we will look into for the future,” he said. “Developing an engine at the same time as a new boat concept is too much to take on.”
A dedicated building facility on the south coast of England will construct the composite boat, which will include elements of carbon fibre. The production process will utilise state-of-the-art vacuum infusion technology.
Quintessence Yachts is passionate about exploring new designs and offering something fresh to the luxury marine market. The AM37 and the AM37S are the first step in a strategic venture between the young company and Aston Martin that will result in a wide range of high quality speedboats. “It is a logical move for Aston Martin, as it shares many of the same clients that own and love boats,” said Henk de Vries, director of Feadship and chairman of Quintessence Yachts' supervisory board.
Potential owners of the AM37 powerboat will be given more details about the project on a confidential one-to-one basis but we hope to bring you more news on the project in the coming months.
While the AM37 is not the first boat to take inspiration from the famous automotive brand, the AM Voyage 55 by Luiz de Basto being an example, this new 11.2m is the first official boat design to come from Aston Martin. “Since the license agreement was signed, the Aston Martin Design department has been working seamlessly with the Quintessence R&D unit and naval architect Mulder Design in Amsterdam to achieve a true example of design purity.”
Bird's eye view of AM37
With the framework and engineering provided by Mulder Design, Aston Martin set out to create two versions of the boat, working on the exterior and interior to ensure it identify with the ethos of the brand. The AM37S is a speedboat offering a maximum speed of 60 knots. With a slower top speed of 50 knots, the AM37 is more of a granturismo and provides a greater feeling of luxury and leisure in its finish.
“We were approached by Quintessence Yachts in June/July to help them in the development of this project,” explained Bas Mulder, naval architect and owner of Mulder Design. “We developed a design brief that looked at the length and performance of the boat and so on. Obviously the performance of the boat was one of the key focuses for us but there are a number of exciting features on this boat, which we call the ‘Q elements’.
Cockpit interior
While
there are aspects of the project yet to be disclosed, the team has
revealed that features within the hi-tech composite structure will
include interactive voice control and activation systems, an
HD-integrated touch screen with navigation and multimedia system and
remote controlled functions.“There are some incredible features on this boat,” said Aston Martin’s design director Marek Reichman, who emphasised the importance of balance and in incorporating the brand’s ethos of ‘Power, Beauty and Soul’. “There is a simplicity to the design as well. We started with a scale model, just as we would with a new car design, using a clay model to give us an idea of the relevant proportions of the boat.”
Outside Aston Martin's headquarters in Gaydon, UK (image by Andrew Johansson)
Although still under development, Mulder revealed that once the major technical criteria of the boat had been reached, Reichman and his team worked hard to style the boat in a way that would enhance performance while achieving the level of beauty they were after. “They really understood why things were a certain way, as they are bound by similar rules such as centre of gravity and so on.”
When questioned about the power options for the AM37, Mulder said that there would be an upper limit option of two 660hp Mercury engines. However, the initial engines to be used in the first model will be two 520hp petrol engines with the option to have diesel engines. With the 520hp version, the expected top speed is in the range of 50-55 knots. “It will offer the performance needed but it will also ensure comfort — it is a GT,” he said.
When questioned about the possibility of using an Aston Martin engine in the future, Mulder didn’t discount the possibility. “At this point Aston Martin engines are not marinised and that takes a long time to do, but it would be ideal if they were and it is something we will look into for the future,” he said. “Developing an engine at the same time as a new boat concept is too much to take on.”
Aston Martin 6.0 V12 engine (image by Andrew Johansson)
A dedicated building facility on the south coast of England will construct the composite boat, which will include elements of carbon fibre. The production process will utilise state-of-the-art vacuum infusion technology.
Quintessence Yachts is passionate about exploring new designs and offering something fresh to the luxury marine market. The AM37 and the AM37S are the first step in a strategic venture between the young company and Aston Martin that will result in a wide range of high quality speedboats. “It is a logical move for Aston Martin, as it shares many of the same clients that own and love boats,” said Henk de Vries, director of Feadship and chairman of Quintessence Yachts' supervisory board.
Potential owners of the AM37 powerboat will be given more details about the project on a confidential one-to-one basis but we hope to bring you more news on the project in the coming months.
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