When Volvo Penta released its IPS propulsion system 13 years ago, it truly revolutionized the power-yacht market. The pod drives made yachts of all sizes more maneuverable, plus the system consumed less fuel. Furthermore, the system’s compact size increased usable relaxation space. Amer Yachts designed its Amer 94 series around IPS and hasn’t looked back. In fact, it continues to adapt the series to advances that Volvo Penta makes. The Amer 94 Twin is the latest to do so, featuring (as the name states) two IPS units. Specifically, they’re the most powerful IPS units to date.
Previously, Amer Yachts has delivered a few triple-engine Amer 94s. Each of those, though, featured the then-highest-horsepower package, the 900-hp D13-IPS1200. The Amer 94 became the first European-built yacht larger than 90 feet (about 27.4 meters) to employ the package, too. The new Amer 94 Twin, which launched last weekend, incorporates the D13-IPS1350. It’s the first IPS model to hit the 1,000-hp mark. More important, Volvo Penta says, it packs the power equivalency of a 1,350-hp standard engine. (On a related side note, the IPS1350 suits megayachts to 120 feet/36.6 meters.)
Amer Yachts designed the Amer 94 Twin hull to accommodate the IPS1350. “The new Amer 94 is born from a continuous desire to challenge ourselves,” explains Barbara Amerio, owner of the shipyard. “We want to break the 3.5-liter-per-mile threshold of fuel consumption we have set in the past.” That fuel burn is just shy of 0.93 gph.
The lower fuel consumption, naturally, allows owners and guests to cruise longer. The Amer 94 Twin can reportedly cruise at 9 knots from Sanremo, Italy to Venice without refueling. That’s a distance exceeding 1,600 nautical miles. Even if you like speed, you can cruise good distances. The Amer 94 Twin should achieve 380 nautical miles at 23 knots, burning just 3.7 gph (14 lph). Even at her 27-knot top speed, the megayacht should consume just shy of 4 gph (15 lph).
Because of the fuel efficiency and other eco-minded approaches, the Amer 94 Twin has the RINA Green Plus classification notation. To underscore the “green” philosophy, the megayacht employs the tone in special graphics outside as well as through aspects of the interior decor.
Available on a semi-custom basis, the Amer 94 Twin can feature four or five staterooms. The original 94 is available the same way—and still available for commissioning.
You can see the new megayacht at the Cannes Yachting Festival in two weeks.
Edison zheng
There seems to be some data error here:
“Even at her 27-knot top speed, the megayacht should consume just shy of 4 gph (15 lph).”
It’s unlikely to consume so little fuel~~~
Diane M. Byrne
The shipyard stands by the numbers, adding, “As you can notice both cruise and max speed have a similar consumption. We are investing in automotive and aeronaval fields in the weight saving research.”