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Revolutionary in its concept and design, the new flagship of Pershing’s new GTX range interprets the trends of the moment to create the first sport utility yacht – a unique product designed for extreme liveability and high performance by Bryony McCabe - ph. courtesy by Pershing
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nnovation is a frequently used term in the yachting industry, yet it is rare for a new yacht design to come along that is truly disruptive. The flagship of Pershing’s new GTX range, however, can justifiably claim this accolade. Offering generous open spaces, intrinsic contact with the water and exceptional onboard liveability, all without making any compromises in terms of performance, the GTX116 sees the pioneering introduction of the sport utility yacht. The result of a collaboration between the Ferretti Group Product Strategy Committee led by Piero Ferrari, Fulvio de Simoni Yacht Design and the Group’s Engineering Department, the hull brings together advanced technologies and Pershing’s signature craftsmanship. Further innovation emerges within the elegant and aerodynamic exterior styling: some of the external features, such as the ventilation grills and windshield visor, were produced using 3D printing technology for the first time to obtain subtly unconventional geometries. The layout of the yacht comprises of two decks and an upper sportbridge that can comfortably accommodate up to 10 guests across a new five-cabin layout, plus three cabins for five crewmembers. With a design approach that ensures seamless interconnection, the exteriors and interiors of the new Pershing GTX116 become part of the same space, enhancing the liveability on board. Stretching across two levels, the main deck is the focus of innovation on the new GTX model. The first level is designed for outdoor life in contact with the sea, featuring a spacious beach club area at the water’s edge. This space consists of an extended stern platform and sundeck separated by lateral gunwales, complete with hydraulic mechanism to merge the two areas into a single space. The second level is destined for socialising and conviviality. Leading up from the beach club, the cockpit is a truly panoramic space with an external social and dining area. The cockpit also leads into the lavish main saloon, which offers seamless contact with the water due to extensive glazing. At the entrance to the saloon, a large living space offers breath-taking sea views thanks to the possibility of a lateral sliding door opening onto a terrace extending over the water. The sportbridge is another of the innovations introduced into the sport superyacht segment by the GTX116. A deck of over 40sqm is partially covered by a hardtop and features a fully equipped bar area with seating built into the main structure. Forward is the exterior helm station, with up to three sport seats offering guests a thrilling hands-on experience underway. This spaciousness and liveability does not impede performance. Emerging from a significant design effort by the product team to fit all the components into a smaller space, the engine room contains a triple waterjet propulsion system, thus providing more room for the garage and beach area. This hightech engine room demonstrates how innovative systems can be concentrated, while also achieving extraordinary performance levels – the Pershing GTX116 can achieve a top speed of 34 knots and a cruising speed of 29 knots. Sporty by nature and extraordinarily liveable, the Pershing GTX116 opens up a new dimension of yachting.
www.pershing-yacht.com
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The Pershing GTX116 model is characterised by a streamlined profile and Montecarlo grey exterior, reflecting the yacht’s sporty capabilities and design cues borrowed from Gran Turismo automotive imagery. Connected by two stairways built into the superstructure, the yacht has two decks and an upper sportfly
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Above left, forward on the sportbridge is the exterior helm station. Above, the main saloon is a large living space providing panoramic sea views with its lateral sliding door that opens onto a terrace. Left, the exterior main deck is stretched over two levels, the first of which is designed for direct contact with the sea and the second for socialising and conviviality. Right, the bridge is characterised by a futuristic console, black leather upholstery and a carbon fibre pilot seat
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Exterior Design Fulvio De Simoni
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Above, Fulvio De Simoni’s team. Top, Pershing GTX116 has a modern design with a strong personality. Volumes are shifted further forward to offer more open spaces aft. To camouflage the asymmetry of the superstructure, the designer closed off the forward section of the yacht’s port side with a panel which reproduces the continuation of the starboard hull side
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here’s no doubt that the exterior design of the Pershing GTX116 is powerfully conditioned by the boat’s unusual architecture, in which the volumes are shifted further forward to offer more open spaces aft. This has allowed us to develop an absolutely original modern design with a strong personality. Another problem was the need to camouflage the asymmetry of the superstructure, which we did by closing off the forward section of the yacht’s port side with a panel that reproduces the continuation of the starboard hull side. We worked on the surfaces of the superstructure to confer a certain majesty on the boat, accompanied by a dynamic and muscular style that introduces strong design elements and bold shapes. The unusual configuration of the stern accommodates a hangar for the tender and jet ski, so that the cockpit is always unencumbered even when the yacht is under way. The bow-on view is unmistakably aggressive thanks to the low, wide windows and the shield integrated into the stem post. The attention to detail can be seen, for example, in the solution adopted to completely hide the wipers from view behind a casing at the bottom of the windshield, perfectly integrated into the design of the superstructure. The design is highly organic and, right from the outset, we wanted to ensure as much communication as possible between the indoor and outdoor spaces. The stern portal and the large side opening transform the lounge into a sort of covered seaview terrace that can be extended even further out over the water by opening the balcony integrated into the hull side.
Interior Design Fulvio De Simoni
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he Pershing GTX116 is a boat that breaks the mould, created to take another step forward in the history of the shipyard and offer new ways to enjoy the sea on a high-performance boat. We worked to ensure that the innovation and modernity expressed in the exterior design also features in the interiors, which had to reflect the brand’s sporty DNA. When designing the interiors of a series-produced boat, you have to identify certain signature features right from the outset, while leaving the possibility of customising the boat according to the personal tastes of the customer, who can choose the colours and materials. We’ve managed to create an ambiance that’s at once classy, sporty and elegant, as well as being full of light and having much more headroom than usual on a sport boat. This gives both the cabins and the saloon an airy feel, ensuring that the boat is enjoyable and relaxing both to cruise and live on. One particularly successful idea is the asymmetrical lounge, which exploits the yacht’s full beam by eliminating the exterior passageway on the starboard side and opens out to starboard onto a broad walkway that can be turned into a huge terrace at the water’s edge by opening the swing-down bulwark. The interiors are bright and spacious, allowing dark wood to be used extensively on the walls and pointing up the clean lines of the furnishings. The precise, modern styling highlights the precious value of the carefully designed and produced furniture: the leather applied to the cabinets frames the wood used for the doors, giving the setting elegance and personality.
Above, Fulvio De Simoni. Below, the interior design concept is defined by a dialogue between dark wood in the verticals and pale colour tones on the ceilings. The innovation and modernity expressed in the exterior design also features in the interiors, which had to reflect the brand’s sporty DNA
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The Shipyard Representative Stefano de Vivo, CCO Ferretti Group
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ur goal with the Pershing GTX116 was to offer our own take on the trends of the moment and meet the needs of modern owners. The new flagship embodies a new concept of modern sport yacht, one designed to revolutionise the segment with concepts previously used only in other yacht categories. That’s why this model has generous outdoor spaces and numerous areas in direct contact with the water. Plenty of space and even more contact with the water are the result of various engineering solutions, such as the spacious beach area – 40 teak-clad square metres at the water’s edge – which can be extended by opening two lateral ‘wings’ fitted with a hydraulic mechanism to significantly increase the available surface area. This innovative and aesthetically sophisticated solution delivers over 35 square metres of extra beach space. Like a sophisticated sportscar, the Pershing GTX116 combines sportiness and the refinement
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of extreme luxury, a masterpiece of avant-garde naval design that takes the yachting experience into a new dimension by understanding customers’ needs as only Pershing can. Pershing’s new GTX series, and the new Pershing GTX116 in particular, are a clear expression of the brand’s capabilities, not only in terms of extremely high, sport-level performance or cutting-edge technology but also, and above all, of comfort, liveability and attention to detail. In developing this series, we worked hard to introduce elements from other yacht categories into a product that has always been characterised by its sporty attitude. It was also designed for cruising in relatively shallow waters, like those in the Bahamas for example. This is a high precision project that required meticulous attention to even the smallest details, but the result is truly excellent, and we’re extremely satisfied with it.
Revolutionary in its concept and design, the Pershing GTX116 is the first sport utility yacht – a unique product designed for comfort and extreme liveability
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