There’s a new boat in town: Lexus has revealed it’s no longer just a luxury automaker. The move is part of the company’s larger vision to be a full-service purveyor of the luxurious lifestyle, one that doesn’t stop at owning nice cars. The original concept for the flagship boat, the Lexus Sport Yacht, was announced in 2017 as a concept vessel.
The majestic 13-metre (42-feet) fibre-glass body boasted two V8 engines and a 49-mph top speed, with room to charter up to eight guests. The concept won an award at the Japan International Boat Show last week where Toyota Motor Corp. took the opportunity to make an even greater splash by announcing that the Sport Yacht would receive also major upgrade.
The newer, even more premium version is a sport fly-bridge cruiser and is about 50 percent larger than the original. At 20-meters (65-feet), the futuristic boat can entertain up to 15 guests, and is designed to have three luxury staterooms, each of which contain their own private washrooms, as well as a separate area for crew quarters.
Lexus plans to outfit the boat with its connected services including smartphone integration, maintenance services, remote diagnostics and a high-end entertainment system. Leather interiors and handmade wood will come standard.
While Toyota did not share the price tag on the Sport Yacht, it did say it is on par with others in its class. Lexus’s design team will work with Toyota Marine Division, one of Japan’s biggest premium yacht manufacturers, to design and manufacture the new upgrade, which will be powered by two marine versions of the engine in the Lexus RC F coupe and LC 500 grand tourer.
So if you wanted a new toy for next summer, this might be just the thing. The luxury boat will be available in late 2019 in the US and in Japan in spring of 2020.
Find out more at lexus.com.hk/yacht
