This Is What Happens When You Give Pirelli the Keys to the Dinghy

They’ve already shown a willingness to reinvent the wheel — or at least the tire — and now our paisanos at Pirelli have taken on the task of redesigning another piece of rubber: the dinghy.

Created in tandem with tender manufacturer Tecnorib for Pirelli’s Design division, the Pirelli 1900 is basically a 60-foot-long rigid inflatable boat (RIB) that ditches the aesthetic of a utilitarian dinghy in favor of the style and comfort of an entry-level yacht.

Made with seaworthiness and solidity in mind rather than speed, the Pirelli 1900 burns a little rubber nonetheless and has a pair of 800-HP MAN i6 engines mated with a T65 transmission that give it a top speed of more than 50 MPH.

Reasonably wide at 16 feet, the vessel’s interior space is covered by a carbon fiber roof that houses two cabins, two bathrooms, a living area, galley and a control room where the ship’s captain is able to handle navigation with a joystick.

While you’ll never mistake the inflatable rubber tubes of the craft’s hull with Pirelli’s most famous product, they are emblazoned with a tread pattern that recalls the one used on the brand’s Formula 1 tires.

We’re still waiting on a price for the boat, but should have a waterpark estimate after she makes her debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival this September.