Porsche has never been a brand content to stay in its lane. From the racetrack to the road, and now to the water, the Stuttgart marque continues to push the boundaries of performance engineering. In collaboration with Austrian boat manufacturer Frauscher, Porsche has unveiled the 850 Fantom Air — an electric speedboat that borrows its beating heart directly from the Macan Turbo.
The connection to the Macan Turbo is more than just a marketing exercise. The 850 Fantom Air uses the same electric drive system as the high-performance SUV, delivering a combined output of 560kW (approximately 760hp). That's enough to propel this sleek, carbon-fibre vessel to a top speed of 80km/h on water — a genuinely exhilarating prospect for anyone who has ever felt the thrill of a Porsche on an open road.
What makes this collaboration so compelling is the seamless transfer of automotive DNA to a marine environment. The 850 Fantom Air features a 100kWh battery pack, offering a range of up to 100 nautical miles on a single charge. The charging technology is equally impressive, with the ability to replenish the battery from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes using a high-power DC charger.
The interior is unmistakably Porsche. The cockpit features a curved digital display inspired by the Taycan, with haptic controls and a driver-focused layout that will feel immediately familiar to any Porsche owner. Premium materials, meticulous craftsmanship, and an obsessive attention to detail complete the picture.
The Porsche Frauscher 850 Fantom Air is more than a boat; it's a statement about the future of electric mobility. If Porsche can transfer this level of performance and refinement to the water, the possibilities for its automotive lineup are truly exciting. For South African enthusiasts who love both the open road and the open water, this is a collaboration worth watching closely.
