Photo: Mercedes-Benz
Mercedes-Benz Style is that special division of the company's design department that every once in a while comes up with something totally non-auto, and yet absolutely Mercedes-Benz. That's the beauty of design - especially of the good sort: you can translate it from one field to another with ease.
We've seen these guys come up with luxurious apartments and interior lighting pieces, and now they've ventured into the world of luxury yachts. Well, "now" isn't exactly the right word, since they've been at it for two and a half years, but their creation has just had its maiden voyage, and it's a thing of beauty.
We don't know that much about boats, but we do know a beautiful design when we see one. And it's not as if the Arrow460-Granturismo (that's the boat's name) doesn't have a lot of things in common with the car industry. Just look at that shape, at those proportions: they scream "Mercedes-Benz coupe" all day long.
If you hid the front end's pointy tip and looked at the boat from the side, you could think this was just another crazy Mercedes-Benz concept car with hidden wheels or something. Of course, it would have to be taken out of context. Otherwise, this would have been the world's first 14-meter (46-foot) long concept.
The impressive size comes with its share of benefits: it can accommodate up to ten people, it's got retractable tables and beds, a luxurious bathroom (for ten people? Good thing the sea is near...), a dressing room (gee), and even a wine cellar (double gee).
Apart from that, it's perfectly equipped for parties with an ice-making machine, retractable side windows and a windshield that opens to let the salty air in or an air conditioning unit for those times when you need to finely adjust the inside atmosphere.
Speaking of parties, it's got a rather small rear deck, but at least it comes with a smashing audio system - and since out on the sea there are no neighbors to complain about the noise, it makes it a perfect fit for such activities. Not that the people who can afford this thing have any neighbors within a one-mile radius where they live anyway...
Since Mercedes-Benz Style only provided the design, they needed somebody actually capable of building the ship. That somebody was Silver Arrows Marine, a UK-based company with a name predestined for a Mercedes-Benz collaboration. The Arrow460-Granturismo's streamlined looks are matched by two Yanmar diesel engines pumping out 480 hp each, which gives it a top speed of over 40 knots (46 mph or 74 km/h).
But the Arrow460-Granturismo isn't primarily about performance, but luxury and style. The finest materials have been used for the interior so that, if you do get seasick, you'll think twice before emptying your stomach all over the expensive finely-grained eucalyptus essence. That's the thing with good designers: they think of everything.
We don't know that much about boats, but we do know a beautiful design when we see one. And it's not as if the Arrow460-Granturismo (that's the boat's name) doesn't have a lot of things in common with the car industry. Just look at that shape, at those proportions: they scream "Mercedes-Benz coupe" all day long.
If you hid the front end's pointy tip and looked at the boat from the side, you could think this was just another crazy Mercedes-Benz concept car with hidden wheels or something. Of course, it would have to be taken out of context. Otherwise, this would have been the world's first 14-meter (46-foot) long concept.
The impressive size comes with its share of benefits: it can accommodate up to ten people, it's got retractable tables and beds, a luxurious bathroom (for ten people? Good thing the sea is near...), a dressing room (gee), and even a wine cellar (double gee).
Apart from that, it's perfectly equipped for parties with an ice-making machine, retractable side windows and a windshield that opens to let the salty air in or an air conditioning unit for those times when you need to finely adjust the inside atmosphere.
Speaking of parties, it's got a rather small rear deck, but at least it comes with a smashing audio system - and since out on the sea there are no neighbors to complain about the noise, it makes it a perfect fit for such activities. Not that the people who can afford this thing have any neighbors within a one-mile radius where they live anyway...
Since Mercedes-Benz Style only provided the design, they needed somebody actually capable of building the ship. That somebody was Silver Arrows Marine, a UK-based company with a name predestined for a Mercedes-Benz collaboration. The Arrow460-Granturismo's streamlined looks are matched by two Yanmar diesel engines pumping out 480 hp each, which gives it a top speed of over 40 knots (46 mph or 74 km/h).
But the Arrow460-Granturismo isn't primarily about performance, but luxury and style. The finest materials have been used for the interior so that, if you do get seasick, you'll think twice before emptying your stomach all over the expensive finely-grained eucalyptus essence. That's the thing with good designers: they think of everything.
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