BMW’s ICON
Something Completely Different
The team of engineers behind the ICON insisted that their goal was not simply to build a boat, but rather “to create a completely new experience on the water.” And when it comes to its exterior design, there is no doubt: the ICON looks unlike anything else moving across the sea.
The inspiration came from the BMW i7, the brand’s all-electric flagship luxury sedan. The i7 is essentially a high-end lounge on four wheels—packed with technology, lavishly appointed, and impressively powerful for its size. It accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.7 seconds, reaches a top speed of 240 km/h, and offers an electric range of about 600 kilometers.
BMW’s designers set out to translate the i7 driving experience onto the water—comfort, luxury, advanced technology, innovation, and, according to the brand, sustainability. In short, the idea was to create a distinctive sport-luxury yacht capable of turning heads, even when cruising alongside a Saudi sheikh’s superyacht. To bring the concept to life, BMW partnered with the German shipyard Tyde, a specialist in high-end yacht construction.
The exterior design echoes the bold, squared proportions of the i7, but with softer lines. A large canopy covers most of the vessel, surrounded by expansive glass panels. Beneath the hull, two hydrofoils lift the boat above the water, allowing it to glide smoothly with virtually no contact with the waves. According to its creators, the intention was for the ICON to hover above the water just as the i7 seems to float over the road—well, perhaps over the roads of Germany.
Measuring 13.15 meters in length and 4.5 meters in width, the deck offers ample space to host up to eight guests, who can relax in exceptionally comfortable lounge seats. From the outside, the ICON resembles a sleek, designer aquarium gliding effortlessly across the water. It reaches about 33 knots (approximately 55 km/h)—fast, but not excessively so. This is a vessel designed primarily for those seeking a truly unique cruising experience—and for everyone who encounters it to ask: “What on earth is that?”
Price: $2.6 million
