Since it started operations in 2014, the Finnish Axopar brand has grown into the largest boating company in the Scandi countries. In that time it has sold over 2,200 boats which are now active in some 70 countries and another 500 or so are on order. The company has developed into a €60m business and this success was recognised at boot Düsseldorf 2020, where five new models had world premieres.
Three of these models centred on a complete reworking of the Axopar 37 model series, while the other two were the latest additions to Brabus Marine, the associated company of Axopar working with the Brabus car business in Germany. The Brabus Marine models are based on Axopar hulls but offer a high-end presentation in line with the distinctive features of Brabus road vehicles.
The Axopar 37 series second generation rework, after only four years since the very first models were launched, is described by the company as ‘revolutionary’. The three Axopar 37 models comprise the 37 Spyder, 37 Sun Top and the totally-new and innovative crossover Axopar Cross Cabin model.
The Axopar 37 is a key ingredient in Axopar’s game-changing impact in the market for outboard-powered sports weekenders and cabin boats with its unique concept. The company, which builds all its boats at two OEM facilities in Poland including a dedicated zone for the Brabus models, has a multi-functionality and versatile ‘One Model – One Word’ approach to the market place.
With more than one Axopar 37 leaving the factory every day and over 1,000 Axopar 37s sold to date, the global demand for this award-winning concept remains strong. Over 100 Axopar 37 second generation models were sold to customers prior to its world premiere at Dusseldorf.
To cope with current demand, the company has recently expanded production to a second site together with a new OEM partner located in Poland.
Co-founding partner, Jan-Erik Viitala, says: “The joint passion shared with Axopar owners all over the world keeps us motivated to develop the best possible products and ensure we stay ahead of the game at all times. We have listened to our customers and we are excited to reveal the new revolution of the Axopar 37 range.” He pointed out that the cost of developing the second generation Axopar 37 models was twice that of the original cost of developing the first generation models.
Axopar says that by listening to customer feedback and interacting with current Axopar owners, it has improved functionality and practicality on board, resulting in a completely new space-experience, and all at the right price-point. The company’s R&D team set out on a course to revolutionise the 37 concept all over again. With an array of features and benefits never seen on a boat within this field, the company has enhanced everything that you can touch and feel on the boat. The clever thing about the concept is that the new 37 clearly feels and looks like a bigger boat than its predecessor, but in reality, through extensive development, the company has been able to keep the same nimble and agile size.
As to Brabus Marine, the two new models that had world premieres at Düsseldorf were the Brabus Shadow 900 and the Brabus Shadow 900 Black Ops, with the latter being a limited edition of the 37. Packed with technical innovation and with enhanced power to match, the Brabus Shadow 900 and Shadow 900 Black Ops Limited Edition versions are the new flagship models for the Brabus Marine range.
Looking every inch the glamourous superyacht shadow boat it is, the Shadow 900 Spyder in Platinum Grey gelcoat, presented in an optional ’camo-wrap’ livery, is an ideal choice for purists seeking the kind of adrenaline-fueled excitement that only a full-open centre- console boat can bring.
All Brabus Shadow 900 models are hand-built with a focus on precision and high-quality fit and finish. In addition, the Brabus Shadow 900 Black-Ops ‘1 of 37’ goes through a painstaking and highly labour intensive process to fulfil the quality requirements of its renowned fairing, painting and polishing level and with no automation involved, this process can take up to six weeks to reach the required finish of the paint-job alone.
Pre-eminent amongst the many changes on the new Shadow 900’s is a complete evolution of the hull and its hydrodynamics. Hours of R&D, CFD test-data analyses, hull visualisations and, of course, physical sea-trials have been poured into these distinctive and assertive new creations. The result of this exhaustive process is increased performance and a top speed of over +10 knots, lowered fuel consumption, and flexible cruising speed-range in comfortable speeds of 30-40 knots and up to blistering 50 knots cruising speeds for those seeking thrills as well as fast and safe passage.
The Shadow 900 range benefits from Mercury Marine’s latest dual 450R Verado XL 4.6 litre V8 FourStroke engines with Joystick Piloting for easy docking and manoeuvring. At just 320kg a piece, these masterpieces of technology weigh some 135kg less than their nearest competitor and have 40% more torque than their 400hp equivalent, the perfect engines for the Shadow 900’s. The power-to-weight ratio for each engine is best in class, improving hole-shot acceleration and creating the renowned driving experience of a Shadow 900.
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