Design Unlimited - Infiniti Powercats Unveil New 60ft Model
The Infiniti 60 Powercat is an 18.3m power catamaran available in two principal configurations. The standard Coupé model, which offers an opening skylight panel in the roof, and the Grand Tourer version, which features a flybridge with optional hard top.
With interior and exterior styling from Design Unlimited, an award-winning studio renowned for their impressive superyacht projects, the Infiniti Powercat can claim a top pedigree status, benefiting from their 20 plus years of expertise.
Harnessing the latest retractable foil technology, developed by Infiniti Yachts and designer Hugh Welbourn, the 60 Powercat offers impressive speed and a reduced fuel consumption of up to 35%. The catamaran hull configuration provides a more stable ride with much dampened pitching.
“This is a boat that will turn every head in port and along the coastline,” comments Mark Tucker, Creative Director at Design Unlimited. “We have purposely given the Powercat a dynamic and aggressive exterior line, with angular cuts that accentuate the brand’s progressive thinking. This is a boat about speed, fun, and flexibility. I think it ticks all the boxes.”
Three interior schemes have been developed to suit client tastes. They vary in colour palette and finish, but all strive to soften the geometric look of the exterior and add a high level of comfort. “The vessel’s architectural lines run through to the interior and these structural elements have been defined as design details in themselves,” adds Tucker.
We have opted for encased furniture and panelling to ensure that internal space is optimised, and full-height glass doors allow the interior to be closed off or opened up to the aft deck as desired, with flush decking underfoot.
Each aspect of the interior, such as the galley, dinette seating and helm, have been designed to visually stand alone as striking individual features, but also with clever use of carbon fibre surfaces and leather touch points, feel connected to each other, as well as to the exterior spaces and architecture itself.
Uniting the exterior and interior spaces is the consistent use of carbon fibre. Not only is the use of carbon fibre integral to the catamaran’s structure, but an important design detail that reminds those aboard of this vessel’s advanced nature.
As a standalone fast cruiser, the Infiniti 60 Powercat comes with a variety of accommodation layouts. All have an ensuite primary stateroom in the starboard hull with an optional crew cabin forward. The galley area can be positioned on the port side of the bridge deck saloon, opposite the dinette, or midships in the port hull – with this latter arrangement lending itself well to a crew run boat.
As a private day boat or sports fisher, the Grand Tourer option (with flybridge) is ideal, providing good visibility into the water and an aft deck where fishing rods can be mounted and fighting seats installed. “Versatility of use was the leading requirement for design of the exterior spaces,” says Tucker. “The Infiniti Powercats adopt a modular design that allows clients to configure deck spaces as would suit their usage requirements. Many aspects are interchangeable between the power and fisher models, such as the aft wet bar and lounge seating, and cushioned sun pads can be added to the foredeck.”
Both models feature fold-down sections to aft on the port and starboard sides, increasing available deck space and enhancing versatility of function further still. A hydraulic aft platform allows for a tender to be easily launched, recovered, and stowed, and provides easy access to and from the water for other water sports.
Arguably, the Powercat has yet another service capability with potential to serve as a superyacht tender. The Coupé model offers maximum space and comfort for guests if they wish to be taken ashore, to and from the beach, or another yacht. The foils can be retracted and the outboard engines trimmed up, making the Infiniti 60 Powercat fully ‘beachable’.
The Infiniti 60 Powercat is driven by twin 7.6lt 600hp V12 Mercury Verado outboard motors. These outboard motors are unique in having steerable lower units, while the outboard’s engine remains fixed. This setup, combined with a strong lightweight construction in infused carbon fibre, means the boat can be driven at speeds up to 40 knots. A twin diesel outboard motor option will also be available as will electric drives.