Porsche to conquer waterways with its $655,000 electric speedboat

The German automaker announced on June 23 that it would develop an electric speedboat with the Austrian shipbuilder Frauscher.

Set for delivery in 2024, the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air is an 8.7-metrw day cruiser based on the Frauscher 858 Fantom Air. Studio F.A. Porsche will design the helm stand and outfit the interior trimmings including seats and upholstery while the boat will share its drive technology with the upcoming electric Porsche Macan. It will be built in the Frauscher Shipyard in Ohlsdorf, Austria.

The vessel isn’t Porsche’s first foray into watercraft. In 2008, Porsche Design, the studio and brand Ferdinand Alexander Porsche founded in 1972, released the Porsche Fearless 28, a speedboat made to resemble the Porsche Carrera GT supercar. That one was powered by the same V-10 engine used in the Dodge Viper. Volkswagen’s most profitable marque has also promoted a 22-foot boat made by Seven Seas Yachts called the Hermes Speedster, which was made to evoke the Porsche 356 vintage car.

Automotive brands from Aston Martin and Bugatti to Jaguar, Lexus, Mercedes-Benz and Maserati have collaborated on oceangoing crafts as well. Henrik Fisker, who developed the Fisker Karma EV, designed a $37 million superyacht with Benetti in 2016. Last year, Lamborghini created a $3.5 million yacht with Technomar. Those partnerships focused largely on combining aesthetics and branding.

Porsche is promising something different: a boat using electric technology designed for roadgoing vehicles. The Porsche Fantom Air, which is limited to 25, uses the same electric platform – what Porsche calls its Premium Platform Electric (PPE) – as the Macan EV due at dealerships in 2024; that includes a lithium-ion battery with a total capacity of around 100 kilowatt-hours, an electric motor and other related power electronics linked to the 800-volt technology. The Macan is Porsche North America’s most popular vehicle, selling 23,688 units last year, or 33% of total sales.The boat will accommodate nine people, who can enjoy a swimming platform, sun lounge, premium sound system and refrigerator while on board. As with the future Macan EV, owners of the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air can charge it at DC fast-charging stations or via AC charging.