BRABUS ULTIMA 55: Sunreef Yachts and BRABUS Redefine High-Performance Luxury Catamarans

 

Jean-Philippe David & Irina Matei – Journalistes, Le Guide du Luxe. Rédigé le 2 septembre 2026.

Sunreef Yachts and BRABUS have unveiled the BRABUS ULTIMA 55, a 17-metre high-performance luxury catamaran that marks the first product of a new collaboration between the Polish shipyard and the German design house. Built on Sunreef's ULTIMA platform and fitted with an advanced foiling system, the yacht pairs twin 725 hp engines with a top speed exceeding 40 knots — a rare combination of multihull comfort and monohull-like agility.

A new chapter for two luxury houses

Unveiled in late July 2026, the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 is the first result of a partnership announced between Sunreef Yachts, the Gdańsk-based specialist in custom luxury multihulls, and BRABUS, the Bottrop design house best known for its work on high-end supercars. The base platform is not entirely new: it is a "Brabusized" evolution of the Sunreef Ultima 55, the shipyard's first model built at its production facility in Ras Al Khaimah, in the United Arab Emirates, which had already made its debut at the Dubai International Boat Show. What changes here is the depth of the collaboration — exterior design, interior architecture, materials and finishes have all been reworked to carry BRABUS' signature identity onto the water for the first time in this segment.

"The BRABUS ULTIMA 55 is fast, bold and truly unique. The moment she lifts above the water, you feel the difference," said Francis Lapp, founder and CEO of Sunreef Yachts, describing a yacht designed, in his words, to let owners "leave everyday life behind."

Constantin Buschmann, CEO and owner of BRABUS, framed the launch as an expansion into an entirely new category for the brand. The ambition, he explained, was to give the ULTIMA 55 "a clear identity of its own," built around real performance and what BRABUS calls its "One Second Wow" philosophy — the idea that a design should make an immediate, unmistakable impression.

Foiling technology built for comfort as much as speed

Measuring 55.8 feet (17 metres) in length with an 18.4-foot (5.6-metre) beam, the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 is powered by twin six-cylinder engines rated at 533 kW / 725 hp each, for a top speed above 40 knots. The headline technical feature is its advanced hydrofoil system: as speed increases, submerged foils generate lift beneath the hulls, raising the catamaran higher above the surface. The effect is a significant reduction in hydrodynamic drag and near-zero heel, translating into a smoother, quieter and notably more stable ride than a conventional power catamaran of similar size — closer, in feel, to flying just above the waterline than to sailing on it.


Carbon-fiber design language borrowed from the racetrack

BRABUS' automotive DNA is most visible in the exterior treatment. The hull is finished in a signature "Graphite Black," with an optional "Phantom Grey," and wrapped in exposed carbon-fiber elements — front and rear wings, pillars with illuminated BRABUS logos, side ventilation trims and a dedicated roof rack topped with carbon-fiber LED lighting. Custom exterior upholstery is offered in BRABUS Graphite, BRABUS Red or BRABUS Pearl.

Life on board centres on a reconfigurable aft deck, the yacht's primary outdoor living space. Lateral folding platforms extend the overall beam from 18.4 feet (5.6 metres) to 24.9 feet (7.6 metres), creating a considerably wider open-air area at the stern. The deck itself is finished in Esthec, chosen for its durability and secure footing in wet or dry conditions. Transformer sunpads can be folded into settees for more upright seating, while an extendable carbon-fiber table adapts the space for dining or leaves it clear for lounging. An electric barbecue and wet bar modules complete the aft entertainment area, while a large sunpad at the bow offers a separate, quieter relaxation zone.

BRABUS Masterpiece interiors

Inside, the saloon draws directly on BRABUS' supercar interiors. Seats and surfaces are upholstered in "Moonstone" Masterpiece leather with the brand's signature triangular stitching, the ceiling is trimmed in Alcantara, and exposed carbon fiber runs through the helm station and helm seats. Aluminum floor accents with illuminated BRABUS logos and adjustable ambient lighting complete the atmosphere. At the helm, a widescreen navigation and control display centralises vessel monitoring and onboard systems within a dedicated BRABUS interface.

The galley is fully equipped with an induction cooktop, electric oven, sink, refrigerators and ice makers, allowing meal service without leaving the main social area. A 43-inch television rises electrically from the countertop and retracts flush when not in use, while height-adjustable tables let owners reconfigure the saloon between dining and open lounge layouts. Sound comes courtesy of a Bowers & Wilkins Marine Series system.

Two accommodation layouts

The BRABUS ULTIMA 55 is offered in two configurations. The standard layout pairs a master suite with a VIP stateroom and a crew cabin, accommodating four guests plus one crew member. A second option trades the VIP stateroom for two additional guest cabins, raising capacity to six guests plus one crew member. Both layouts use curated wood veneers alongside carbon-fiber accents.

Technical specifications

  • Length overall: 55.8 ft (17 m)
  • Beam overall: 18.4 ft (5.6 m) / 24.9 ft (7.6 m) with platforms extended
  • Maximum draft: 4.6 ft (1.4 m)
  • Propulsion: twin 533 kW / 725 hp engines
  • Maximum speed: over 40 knots
  • Generator: 10.5 kW
  • Fuel capacity: 1,500 litres
  • Water capacity: 330 litres
  • Classification: B–12 / C–20
  • Berths: 4 or 6 guests, plus 1 crew


A signal for the high-performance multihull segment

Beyond its own specifications, the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 is a statement about where the luxury catamaran market is heading: toward foil-assisted platforms that borrow performance codes from monohulls and automotive design cues that give multihulls a sharper, more expressive identity. For Sunreef Yachts, already established as one of the world's leading builders of custom sailing and power catamarans, the partnership opens a new performance-oriented category alongside its explorer and superyacht ranges. For BRABUS, it marks the brand's most ambitious move yet into the marine world, following its existing Marine division, and its first collaboration of this scale with a multihull specialist.

Further models from the Sunreef x BRABUS partnership are expected to follow, extending the design language introduced by the ULTIMA 55 across other segments of Sunreef's range.


Lien Officiel





À lire également sur Le Guide du Luxe :


Les Figures de l'Excellence :


Les Institutions & Distinctions :

L'Agenda de Prestige à Saint-Tropez :


Signature

Jean-Philippe DAVID Journaliste | La Rédaction LE GUIDE DU LUXE 7, rue Royale, 75008 Paris / 700 5th Ave, New York, NY 10019  |  Instagram :  (13 000 followers)

Fondé en 2006, Le Guide du Luxe décrypte l'actualité des événements privés les plus exclusifs : Gastronomie étoilée, Palaces, Fashion Weeks, Private Parties & Art International.





















Posts les plus consultés de ce blog

Fondation Carmignac 2026 : L’Éclat du Pop Art et les Mystères Insulaires de Porquerolles

Image
Par Jean‑Philippe David & Irina Matei – Journalistes, Le Guide du Luxe, rédigé le 13 mai 2026. Mis à jour le  5 aout  à 10h36. Au cœur de la Méditerranée, là où les pins maritimes rencontrent les eaux turquoise du parc national de Port-Cros, la Fondation Carmignac s'impose une nouvelle fois comme l'épicentre d'un dialogue unique entre nature sauvage et avant-garde artistique. Pour cette saison 2026, l'institution de l'île de Porquerolles déploie une programmation ambitieuse qui résonne entre hédonisme solaire et réflexion environnementale, portée par deux expositions majeures : « SEA, POP & SUN » et « Les Géologies du rêve ». SEA, POP & SUN : Une Odyssée Chromatique à la Villa Carmignac Depuis le 25 avril 2026, la Villa Carmignac vibre au rythme de l’esprit Pop. L'exposition phare de la saison, « SEA, POP & SUN », orchestrée par les commissaires Dieter Buchhart et Anna Karina Hofbauer, propose une immersion totale dans l'énergie électrique de...
Read more »