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This boat is basically a floating Porsche Macan EV

The Frauscher 850 Fantom Air has the heart of one underneath

An electric luxury boat powered by a Porsche powertrain. That's all it is. PHOTO FROM FRAUSCHER

Porsche is mostly known as a carmaker, but like a number of other manufacturers, the Germans are also open to powering other modes of transportation. The Zuffenhausen-based firm is no stranger to water, having sold powerplants as boat engines as far back as the 1950s.

Maybe that’s why a return to the world of boating seems natural for the brand, which has teamed up with luxury boat maker Frauscher for an electric dream machine that lets you cruise along your favorite lake or ocean with the electric heart of the upcoming Porsche Macan EV.

You could say that if Porsche designed a boat, it might look something like this. PHOTOS FROM FRAUSCHER

Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air is the name of the elegant vessel that is 8.67m long and 2.49m wide. It weighs around 2,800kg and provides space for up to nine passengers who will all be transported along in almost complete silence thanks to the fully electric powertrain.

The same can be found in the upcoming Macan EV. To use it on water, a number of modifications had to be carried out, including changing the peak power output to 536hp. That’s slightly less than what the car has, but still enough to make reasonable progress.

It can't go as far as its land-based counterpart, but that makes sense considering it's traversing over water. PHOTOS FROM FRAUSCHER

The Frauscher website helpfully displays a couple of maps visualizing the range of the boat, and the choice of waterways used for them clearly demonstrates who this craft is aimed at. You’ll be pleased to know that a single charge of the 100kWh battery is enough to cruise for 45km at 22 knots. This means you can do the trip from Monaco to Saint-Tropez with just one charging stop at Cannes.

Alternatively, you can cross Lake Starnberg in Bavariaa famously posh part of Germany and the second home of the King of Thailandon a single charge. If you’re in a hurry, then a top speed of 85km/h can be achieved, but that will drain your batteries quicker than you can say filet mignon” with champagne at sunset.

It has all the luxurious appointments necessary for a boat of this price. PHOTOS FROM FRAUSCHER

Four different drive modes make sure the right amount of power is always at your fingertips, and a Porsche steering wheel reminds everyone onboard what an unusual pleasure craft the 850 Fantom Air really is.

Charging can be done at over 250kW (where available) to keep waiting times to a minimum, while a high-end audio system keeps everyone entertained, and a fridge drawer stores suitable refreshments.

All this environment-friendly luxury comes at a price, of course, and it’s quite a hefty one. Around €560,000 (P33.77 million) is the price tag of this electric cruiser. Maybe getting the new Macan EV and staying on dry land is the better option.



Frank Schuengel

Frank is a German e-commerce executive who loves his wife, a Filipina, so much he decided to base himself in Manila. He has interesting thoughts on Philippine motoring. He writes the aptly named ‘Frankly’ column.



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