Although Aston Martin and Mercedes-Benz have partnered up in the recent past, the longtime luxury automakers are still competitors at heart.
If a pair of recently announced yachts is any measure, that competitive spirit extends to the seas as well as the roads.
After Aston Martin and Quintessence Yachts announced they’d teamed up to launch the new AM37 powerboat, it surfaced that the Arrow460–Granturismo luxury motor yacht from Mercedes and Silver Arrows Marine had made its maiden voyage off the coast of Nice.
Here’s the tale of the tape:
Images via Aston Martin/Mercedes-Benz
| Spec | Aston Martin AM37 | Mercedes Arrow460–Granturismo |
|---|---|---|
| Length | 37 feet long | 46.5 feet long |
| Engine type | Dual gas or diesel engines | Dual diesel engines |
| Color scheme | Wood paneling over royal blue | Bladerunner chrome |
| Horsepower | 1,140, 860 and 740 HP versions | 960 HP |
| Max speed | 52 knots | 38 knots |
| Amenities | Air conditioning, generator, underwater lights, cocktail bar, sun beds, sliding deck system | Air conditioning, generator, JBL and BOSE sound system, built-in chilled wine storage |
| Most innovative feature | A fingerprint recognition system ensures only authorized users can sail | Retractable windows and windscreens provide 360° views |
| Max capacity | Maximum capacity of eight | Maximum capacity of 10 |
| Price | Pricing information unavailable | Anticipated price of at least $1.7m |
| In their own words | “The boat represents the ideal combination of luxurious and technical materials, generating a powerful yet understated finished product. A beautiful shape is critical to a product’s success but it must also have drama.”- Aston Martin creative officer Marek Reichman | “The yacht embodies the Mercedes-Benz’s progressive, dynamic design philosophy of sensual purity on the water. Or, to put it another way, it is hot and cool in one, and stands for emotion and intelligence.”- Daimler AG design VP Gorden Wagener |
Winner: Although the Mercedes will be more rarefied (they plan on making just 50), we’ll take the Aston. Its timeless wood-over-blue color scheme beats out the sci-fi silhouette of its adversary, and the fact that it can be equipped with enough horsepower to push 60 knots (the S version can be customized with dual 600-horsepower engines) makes it one of the most powerful luxury yachts to hit the water. And when you’re talking Aston Martin v. Mercedes, power matters.
Main and social image via Mercedes-Benz
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