BMW teamed up with German tech start-up TYDE to present a new 13.5-metre foiling watercraft at the Cannes Fil Festival recently, called The Icon.
The battery-powered yacht has an a range of over 50 nautical miles at 24 knots, with a maximum speed of 30 knots.
Hydrofoils can improve efficiency by up to 80 per cent compared to a conventional hull and contribute to improved speeds and enhanced comfort while underway.
The boat has been designed as a series product with pioneering technology for private or even commercial use.
Beyond its slick glass exterior lies 360° rotating seats, a voice-controlled 32″ touchscreen and numerous other high-tech features including a Dolby Atmos sound system with an exclusive soundtrack by the Hollywood composer Hans Zimmer.
Its technology was initially used in yacht racing, the hydrofoil mechanism allows the boat to ride on wing structures positioned below the water while the hull floats above the surface.
Meanwhile, two 100kW electric motors convert the energy of six batteries into a range of around 100km, with an average operating speed of 27mph.
