In scenes seemingly designed for the opening credits of a James Bond film, the first Aston Martin powerboat, the AM37, recently took to the waves against the glamorous backdrop of the Monaco Yacht Show, says Rob Davies in The Guardian.
The 37-foot boat, which will set buyers back about £1.3m, was designed by the carmaker's "master craftsmen", who also worked on its DB11 and Vulcan models. The day cruiser will feature mood lighting, air conditioning, a fridge, microwave and coffee machine, with room for up to eight passengers. A sliding glass roof will cover the cockpit, familiar from the luxury cars and also decked out in polished metal and leather.
You want engines? It has some of those too, says Stephen Dobie on TopGear.com. You've got a choice between propeller or jet-thruster propulsion methods, and the base model will come with your choice of twin 370bhp diesel, or twin 430bhp petrol engines. The range-topping AM37 S will be equipped with twin 520bhp engines. So that's 1,040bhp or nearly as much as two V12 Vantages. Top speed? Fifty-two knots, or just shy of 60mph. That's "plenty when you're on water and you want to keep your fine seafood lunch in place".
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This is the first step in a plan to recast the carmaker as a luxury brand akin to Ferrari or Herms and hence help stem five years of losses, says Peter Campbell in the FT. Earlier this month Aston Martin opened a new store in London's Mayfair to show off its new wares, including designer handbags, leather jackets and even a high-end pram (price: £3,000).
CEO Andy Palmer has said the group could even move into designer apartments. "Wouldn't it be great," he told The Guardian, "if you're in a luxury harbour somewhere staying in an Aston Martin apartment, with your Aston Martin parked in the car park and your Aston Martin boat harboured outside?" Perhaps, but as Dobie points out, "AM37" is not hugely evocative as a name. "May we suggest Asty McAstonface?"
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