World premiere at the 76th Cannes Film Festival for The Icon, a project born from the collaboration between Bmw, Tyde and Designwork. The Icon is an all-electric, foil-equipped hull that combines luxury with emission-free travel. It is 13.15 metres long and has a top speed of 30 knots. (Here all our posts about Bmw).
The Icon: from land to sea
When it comes to the development of a new model or platform in the automotive industry, ideas and know-how are brought into play. BMW has tried to transfer this experience to the sea, and this attempt now has a name: The Icon. In addition to the batteries, Tyde provided its technical know-how for the construction of a completely new boat
Just as the tides arise from the interaction between the earth and the moon, the interaction of two factors was crucial in this shared vision: a focus on innovation and a desire for sustainable mobility.
Lack of fully electric boats
Because, according to Peter Dengler, project manager of The Icon, this dream can be realised in all segments. “Mobility on water is almost ten times more energy-intensive than mobility on land. From the world of professional sailing, however, the way has long since been cleared for climate-friendly solutions that allow significant energy savings. In some sectors, the decarbonisation of mobility is already underway, unlike other sectors, which have not yet been touched by innovation.
At the moment, the offer of luxury electric vehicle equivalents such as the Bmw i7 on water is not available.”
The Icon, an experience more than a boat
During the development and design phases, the team broke free from established conventions, intent on designing an experience on water, not just a boat. Bmw’s experience and long-standing involvement in sailing, for example in the America’s Cup, the most important class of boat racing comparable to Formula 1, played a key role
The Icon also designed by Guillaume Verdier
In collaboration with a team of engineers, the first bridge was built between nautical technology and state-of-the-art electric mobility. Top experts from around the world were involved, including Guillaume Verdier, world leader in the design of the fastest and most efficient sailing yachts, foil expert, and responsible for the hull of the last America’s Cup winning boat.
The development of the first luxury maritime electric vehicle has been an exciting journey for all involved because The Icon contains a number of pioneering innovations that will consolidate climate-friendly mobility even in the high-end segment. The yacht is available as a standard product and the developed technology platform allows the model range to be easily extended.
