New 55ft sportscruiser is set for sea trials next month
These are the first images of Azimut’s stunning new 55ft sportscruiser.
The 55S has been kept a closely guarded secret until now but the first production model is already well advanced with sea trials due to take place in May.
The reason for the secrecy appears to be a step change in the styling of the S-series range with the introduction of a slender vertical box stem in place of the previous blunt nose.
In fact it’s not a true axe bow because the vertical section, complete with its Alfa Romeo-style triangular chrome grille, stops some way short of the water line before morphing into a conventional flared bow.
Presumably this is to ensure sufficient buoyancy and volume is retained in the bow area while avoiding the wet ride which true wave-piercers suffer from.
Other innovations include a walkthough seating and sunlounging area on the foredeck, a strip of glass running most of the length of the topsides and a huge opening glass sunroof over the helm and deck saloon area.
Three-section sliding glass doors separate the enclosed saloon from the open aft cockpit.
Below decks there are three guest cabins with berths for six and a small crew cabin located, somewhat unconventionally, in the bow.
The owner’s suite is located amidships and stretches across the full beam of the boat with the bed offset at an angle and its own ensuite bathroom.
The two guest cabins share a second heads compartment.
The other big surprise is the introduction of triple IPS drives in place of Azimut’s usual shaftdrive set-up.
The three 435hp Volvo IPS600 pods should be good for an estimated top speed of 35 knots.
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