Porsche's Latest EV Can Walk on Water
Image Credit: Frauscher/Porsche.
Well, folks, Christmas is just around the corner, and what better gift for a Porsche Macan Turbo owner than… another Porsche. Even better - one that can make waves. Mad idea? Clearly, not mad enough for those wacky engineers at Porsche. Just when you thought they couldn't get any fancier, they've gone and built an electric boat. A Porsche boat. This thing is basically a floating Macan Turbo with a price tag that'll make your eyes water.
It is called the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom, and it's essentially a spruced-up version of last year's 850 Fantom Air. So - is this some sort of a marketing exercise? Or is this actually a proper boat? It's the latter, thankfully. Porsche actually teamed up with Frauscher on this project, a company that knows a thing or two about building boats, to create this electric marvel.
Image Credit: Frauscher/Porsche.
Under those swanky lines, this floating Porsche hides the same powertrain as the electric Macan Turbo. That means you get a 100 kWh battery pack and an electric motor pushing 536 horsepower. That's enough juice to propel this 28.4-foot-long behemoth to a top speed of 56 mph. Not too shabby for a vessel that weighs way more than your average SUV.
But there's a catch - there always is one. If you thought that Macan was a bit pricey, its floating cousin takes things to another level. This thing costs over $600,000. That's one heck of a catch. For that kind of money, you could buy a small island in the Pacific or a fleet of electric cars. But where's the fun in that? With the Porsche-branded 850 Fantom, you can cruise around in style and tell everyone you own a Porsche that can walk on water.
Image Credit: Frauscher/Porsche.
You'd think that $600,000 can get you far these days. But no, not on water. 62 miles - that's all you get. And, to be fair, that's at low speeds. If you're planning on zipping around at 25 mph, you'll only get about 28 miles before you need to recharge. Thankfully, with DC fast charging capabilities, you can juice this thing up in no time.
Of course, no Porsche would be complete without a luxurious interior, and the 850 Fantom doesn't disappoint. You get all the bells and whistles you'd expect from a high-end boat or a car, including a Porsche steering wheel, a car-like instrument cluster, and enough wood trim to make a lumberjack blush. There's also a 12-inch infotainment system, a front passenger display, LED ambient lighting, and even underwater lights.
But here's the thing that really gets me excited about this electric boat: it's a sign of things to come. We're going to see more and more electric vehicles, both on land and on water. And if Porsche's latest creation is anything to go by, the future of electric boating is looking pretty darn good. Expensive, but good.
If you've got a spare $600,000 lying around and you're looking for a unique way to experience the joys of electric mobility, the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom might just be the boat for you. Just don't forget to pack your sunscreen and a sense of humor. You're going to need both when you're cruising around in this electric extravaganza. And me? I'm off to find a winning lottery ticket. Because let's face it, this boat is just begging to be taken for a spin.
