Frauscher X Porsche Fantom 850 (8.5 m). Test and price

The Austrian shipyard Frauscher, after the Fantom Air, also offers a runabout version of its electric powerboat: we tested the Frauscher X Porsche 850 Fantom, on trial with other models in the Frauscher fleet at Cantiere Nautico Feltrinelli in Gargnano.

A boat with the performance of a Porsche

First of all, it is best to clarify one thing: this is a fully electric-powered boat. What does Porsche have to do with it? It provided batteries and electric motor, borrowing them from the Macan Turbo. The power is 400 kW, about 540 hp, and the battery has a capacity of 100 kW. The boat is a very sleek and streamlined powerboat with a dark green metallic color scheme.

The family feeling with the Porsche brand is present everywhere on board; lovers of the Stuttgart brand will immediately recognize the helm, or rather, the steering wheel found aboard German sports cars, just as the graphics recall Porsche styling. Other details, such as some profiles covered in the classic white houndstooth fabric used on the most iconic Porsches complete the picture. Let’s start by describing the strange sensation we felt upon hearing a simple hissing sound as we maneuvered out of the harbor: not hearing the conventional mechanical “whizzing” behind us left us curiously interdicted, not least because the boat at low speeds, seems to glide on the water.

As soon as we got out of the harbor, however, the temptation to sink the throttles was very strong, and so we immediately gave it all “gas”; acceleration was lightning fast, aided by the torque typical of electric motors, which have the switch effect: as soon as you turn them on, they give full throttle.

Although the water surface was not exactly flat, we still wanted to try the top tip, which approached 50 knots (49 to be exact) in no time. Unfortunately, you can’t overdo it for too long with the 850 Fantom, because therange is limited: 20 miles if you fly fast on the water, to a maximum of about 50 miles if you don’t push too hard. On the wave, the 850 Fantom behaves like a blade, and we loved the fact that we were well protected by the windshield, which does not let a single drop of water on board. Once back at the berth, we hold on to see the engine room; the battery is arranged amidships, suspended on springs that prevent its too harsh vibrations that would damage the lithium-ion cells. At the stern, however, camps the Porsche signature electric motor, coupled with a stern foot.

How much does the Porsche boat cost

This Frauscher X Porsche 850 Fantom will be produced in only 25 examples, 13 of which have already been sold at a price starting at 630,000 euros.

This is not the first time Porsche

Perhaps not everyone knows, however, that the Stuttgart-based manufacturer is not the first time it has ventured into the nautical world. Among automotive engines repurposed for marine use, the Porsche Typ 729 represents a particularly fascinating case. The project took off in the mid-1950s, when Porsche decided to experiment with a depowered engine from its famous 356. The first tests took place on the waters of small Lake Max Eyth near Stuttgart. The first boat equipped with the Porsche powerplant was unveiled to the public in 1959 and was able to reach a respectable top speed of about 25 knots.

It is a 4-stroke engine characterized by an extremely compact architecture: the famous boxer with opposed horizontal cylinders. The main specifications of Porsche’s first marine engine can be summarized as displacement of 1,582 cc, power output of 52 hp at 3600 rpm, and air cooling, Porsche’s true trademark. Its versatility also allowed its use as an inboard engine (in V Drive configuration), thanks to the possibility of inverted mounting. Despite great interest, Porsche’s experience in the marine industry was short-lived, making the Typ 729 a unicorn of the marine world.

TECHNICAL DATA SHEET – Frauscher X Porsche 850 Fantom

Overall length: 8.57 m

Width: 2.49 m

Displacement: 2.8 t

Battery capacity: 100 Kwh

Power: 400 kW

Federico Lanfranchi