Italian yachting giant Benetti has used the Cannes Yachting Festival as an opportunity to introduce its latest concept to the market. Named B.Neos, the motor yacht draws on the purity and restraint of sailing yachts and aims to appeal to a generation of yacht owners who value proportion, silence, simplicity and authenticity over size and excess.
The name B.Neos is derived from the Greek word néos, meaning new, young and fresh. With that spirit in mind, the yacht has been tailored to offer fluid layouts alongside smart use of space and minimalist interiors that let the yacht’s core design speak for itself.
Interestingly, hybrid propulsion comes as standard on this yacht model. That means that if a client wants a less eco-conscious, non-hybrid propulsion system, they’ll have to choose it specifically.
Sailing yacht designer Malcolm McKeon Yacht Design is responsible for the exterior. The studio has incorporated sleek low-slung proportions more often associated with sailing yachts into the motor yacht format, along with extensive use of glass. The result is a retro profile that still retains a contemporary appeal.
“B.Neos represents a new approach that looks ahead,” says Giovanna Vitelli, chair of the Azimut|Benetti Group. “We chose a leading designer from the sailing segment to bring the sleek proportions of sailing yachts to a motor yacht, avoiding the pursuit of volume at any cost.”
Internally the yacht has been shaped by FM Architettura under Francesca Muzio. Her studio has balanced simplicity and warmth without ornate decoration, reinforcing Benetti’s concept of ‘essential’.
The B.Neos will join the Benetti portfolio, which already includes the B.Now, Oasis and still-concept B.Loft . Each of these ranges demonstrates Benetti’s evolving design language through lifestyle-driven choices, expansive glazing and open interior-exterior transitions and innovative social spaces.
Though many technical details remain under wraps, the B.Neos represents a shift in design philosophy for Benetti.
Other concepts from Benetti’s line include the B.Loft, a yacht design that’s proved popular for its radical headheights (the height from floor to ceiling) and wide swathes of pure glass. It’s designed to feel like a floating loft at sea, and, if built, will represent a completely new direction for Benetti. The yacht builder appears committed to exploring quieter, more purposeful luxury over grandeur and traditional measures of scale.