2023 TYDE 'THE ICON'

Built by German start-up TYDE and penned by BMW’s Designworks, its stated mission is to 'disrupt the luxury leisure world' and be 'a radical change for good'. Aptly named ‘THE ICON’, the foiling electric yacht was launched in the full glare of the world’s media at the 2023 Cannes Film Festival. 

It worked a treat, hoovering in column inches like a publicity-hungry starlet. The first battery-powered marine craft of its kind, the 13.15 meter (43ft 2in) foiling yacht uses a pair of 100kW electric motors that convert the 240kWh of energy supplied by six 40kWh batteries from the BMW i3 into nautical power, speed, and range. As such, THE ICON prototype has an impressive range of over 50 nautical miles (93 kilometers) at 24 knots (44 km/h / 28 mph), with a maximum speed of 27 knots (50 km/h / 31 mph). 

One of its remarkable points is that the boat is almost silent and barely produces waves or wakes. It evokes the epitome of luxury voyage experiences, and this is only enhanced by the Hans Zimmer-produced soundtrack that has been applied to the functionality and drive notes of the boat.

THE ICON’s design is characterized by a flat trimaran-style hull with “prism-like” layout and a central support for the superstructure. The hull is made of conventional molded GRP and looks to have more in common with a modern racing yacht than a traditional planing powerboat. Hydrofoils aim to improve efficiency by up to 80 percent compared to a conventional hull and contribute to improved speeds and enhanced comfort while underway. The Icon features a wide, flat stern with a maximum beam of 4.5 meters (14ft 9in) that tapers towards a knife-like reverse-angled bow. As a result, its waterline length of 12.95 meters (42ft 6in) is only a few inches short of its length overall. The sea-inspired two-tone exterior is enhanced by strips of LED lights, which carve out the boat’s profile at night.

Designed from the inside out, the idea is to redefine the concept of luxury living by giving passengers the space, light and views to enjoy the unique sensory experience of flying above the water in a near-silent foiling boat. The cabin is flanked by glass panels which promote a continuous connection to the water. This ethos is extended to the swim platform on the aft, which spans 4.5 meters (14ft 9in) and creates an exceptionally spacious entrance to the cabin. 

Step inside, and the interior of the yacht has good head heights thanks to an 'origami' style design which allows passengers to remain upright across the cabin. The cabin, separated into two lounge areas with a BMW-designed helm station, features rotating helm seats that allow the space to function either as part of the social area or independently. Each individual furniture piece is made of grainy metal which reflects sunlight around the cabin like waves on the water. At the center of the helm station is a 32 inch touch digital control unit with 6k resolution that has been designed to look and feel like the BMW iDrive operating system, with voice control also integrated into the system.

THE ICON foiling electric yacht presents a unique opportunity to acquire what can only be described as an architectural spectacle.

This is ‘THE ICON’ foiling electric yacht. The first marine craft of its kind, THE ICON features two 100kW electric motors, supplemented by six batteries, providing a total capacity of 240kWh. The luxury electric yacht can cover 50 nautical miles (93 km / 58 mi.) between charges, using a hydrofoil-style setup to glide smoothly at up to 33 knots (61 km/h / 38 mph).  

THE ICON foiling electric yacht is a joint project between German luxury automaker, BMW and German luxury yacht manufacturer, TYDE. The 13.15 meter (43-foot) luxury electric is neither a mock-up or prototype, but instead a fully-functional motorboat ready for use.

 The original specifications include a sea-inspired two-tone turquoise exterior, with other notable features including:

• Flat trimaran-style hull
• 'Prism-like' layout
• Central support for the superstructure
• LED lights

 Interior features include: 

• Standing room for up to eight passengers
• 360 degree rotating seats
• BMW-designed helm station
• 32 inch touch digital control unit with 6k resolution
• Voice control
• Dolby Atmos system