Driving Performance On Land And On Water

February 14, 2019 by Mercedes-Benz

Stronger and lighter: the eleventh boat from Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing sets new benchmarks through extensive use of carbon-fiber

Today Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing presented the '41' AMG Carbon Edition' at the Miami International Boat Show. As the eleventh boat jointly developed in this longstanding partnership, this special edition sets new standards in terms of performance, handling and versatility. Its systematic lightweight construction and design are inspired by the current Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-door Coupe. Robust, lightweight carbon-fiber components are installed in the 41' AMG Carbon Edition which creates an optimized center of gravity for ideal handling.

'For twelve years we have been exploring the limits of performance on land and at sea with Cigarette Racing. Inspired by the incredible new Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4- door Coupe, the 41' AMG Carbon Edition impresses with its extremely high performance and its expressive design,' said Tobias Moers, Chairman of Mercedes- AMG GmbH.

To achieve dynamic performance coupled with versatility, the Cigarette Racing team engineers followed a single design aim in their development work: weight reduction. Compared to the GT R Performance boat of 2017, the engineers were able to reduce weight by approximately 500 pounds thanks to an optimized mixture of lightweight materials which includes carbon-fiber. The hull of the 41-foot long vessel uses innovative sandwich construction with carbon-fiber structural laminates on both sides of a lightweight core. This allows a more rigid structure of considerably reduced weight. Furthermore, the deck, rudder, roof lining and hardtop of the 41' AMG Carbon Edition are also made of carbon-fiber. This lightweight construction also ensured it was possible to lower the boat's center of gravity, improving the handling during high speed maneuvers.

High performance on water

The 41' AMG Carbon Edition is powered by four Mercury Racing 400R outboard engines. Together they generate 1,600 horsepower, giving the boat a top speed of 83 miles per hour. These are extraordinary performance figures in this boat class, which combines the user-friendliness of outboard engines with a spacious interior. It also allows larger passenger groups to be accommodated in luxurious surroundings. For example, the 41' AMG Carbon Edition is able to carry eight passengers at maximum speed or up to 20 passengers at cruising speed. Thanks to lightweight construction and power, the 41' AMG Carbon Edition offers an attractive combination of performance, excellent handling and versatility, attributes it shares with the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S 4-door Coupe.

The design of the 41' AMG Carbon Edition

'The new Cigarette Racing boat underlines the current brand aesthetics of Mercedes- AMG, which makes the passion for aesthetics and power noticeable. The strong brand graphics become symbolic for this experience,' said Gorden Wagener, Chief Design Officer Daimler AG. 'Thus, the Performance Luxury by AMG can also be experienced at sea.'

The striking design of the boat is the result of close collaboration between the Cigarette Racing Team and Mercedes-Benz designers, who developed the paint finish and the graphic design of the hull. The hull is painted in designo graphite grey magno, a finish developed exclusively for the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe. The hallmark graphic design derives its special appeal from the contrast between matte and high-gloss areas interacting with bright red.

These central design features are continued in the interior of the boat, where they create an unmistakable Mercedes-AMG interior. For example, the tailored seat upholstery is color-coordinated with the exterior and seam patterns exclusively designed for this special edition. Additionally, the interior features innovative 'Cigarette Cool' upholstery which is able to reflect up to 30 percent of the absorbed heat. This technology made a darker color choice possible in the interior, while retaining a comfortable and luxurious atmosphere. The cockpit is equipped with three multifunctional 17-inch full-HD Garmin displays with touchscreens. The displays show GPS coordinates, navigation charts and engine/operating data. They can also be used to control the onboard ambient lighting.

The land-based role model: the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe

The land-based role model for the Cigarette Racing 41' AMG Carbon Edition is the Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe, which is also prominently displayed at the Miami International Boat Show. The Coupe is the third vehicle and the first four-door sports car to be developed entirely in-house by the performance brand. Technical highlights of the new Mercedes-AMG GT 4-door Coupe include active rear-wheel steering for great agility and stability, an electronically extendable rear spoiler for optimum downforce at different speeds, an electronic rear axle with limited slip differential and a specially adapted AMG Ride Control sport suspension based on Air Body Control.

The Mercedes-AMG GT 63 is powered by a hand-built AMG 4.0-litre V8 biturbo engine developing 577 horsepower and 590 lb-ft peak torque; the Mercedes-AMG GT 63 S develops 630 horsepower and 664 lb-ft peak torque. This addition to the AMG GT family opens the segment up to customers seeking a vehicle which offers the impressive Driving Performance of the two-door AMG GT sports car combined with day-to-day suitability and ample space for four passengers.

Cooperation between Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing

Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing have worked together since 2007, above all with joint customer and marketing activities. Whether on water or on land, Mercedes-AMG and Cigarette Racing share similar DNA. Both companies have their roots in racing, and both are inspired by the same values. This makes them ideal partners who are jointly redefining the limits of design and performance. These 38 (11.6 m) to 60-foot (20.m) long motor boats by the American specialist are among the world's fastest and most exclusive racing boats. Customers receive tailor-made, hand-finished quality that has been tested under extreme conditions – both by Mercedes-AMG and by Cigarette Racing.

The Miami International Boat Show is open to the public from February 14-18, 2019 at the Miami Marine Stadium Park & Basin. For more information, please visit miamiboatshow.com.

Photo credit: Mercedes-Benz
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