BRABUS has never built its reputation on restraint. Whether the German design house is transforming a high-performance automobile or expanding its increasingly ambitious marine portfolio, the objective is usually the same: create an immediate visual reaction and give the machinery enough substance to justify the spectacle.

The new BRABUS ULTIMA 55 follows that formula on a much larger scale. Developed with Sunreef Yachts, the 55-foot luxury catamaran produces a combined 1,450 horsepower, exceeds 40 knots and uses an advanced foiling system designed to make all that performance feel smoother, quieter and more controlled on the water.

It is also the first exclusive product to emerge from the Sunreef Yachts and BRABUS collaboration. Rather than simply applying BRABUS badges, black paint and carbon-fiber trim to an existing yacht, the companies created a new model intended to combine the space and stability of a multihull with the performance and agility associated with a modern monohull.

A Catamaran With Supercar Intent

Power comes from two six-cylinder engines producing 725 horsepower each. Their combined output allows the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 to exceed 40 knots, placing it firmly within the performance-yacht category despite its substantial dimensions and luxury accommodations.

The more meaningful engineering story, however, sits beneath the surface. An advanced hydrofoil system generates lift as the catamaran gains speed, raising its hulls higher above the water. This reduces hydrodynamic drag while improving efficiency, stability and ride comfort. The system also produces virtually zero heel, limiting the side-to-side lean passengers can experience as a vessel accelerates or changes direction.

“The BRABUS ULTIMA 55 is fast, bold and truly unique,” Sunreef Yachts founder and CEO Francis Lapp said. “The moment she lifts above the water, you feel the difference. The ride becomes smoother, quieter and incredibly enjoyable. It’s a yacht that lets you leave everyday life behind and make the most of every moment at sea.”

That distinction matters. Plenty of luxury yachts offer enormous horsepower figures, but the ULTIMA 55 has been engineered to make its performance more usable rather than simply giving owners another impressive number to discuss at the marina. The foiling system is what elevates the vessel beyond a large catamaran with oversized engines, creating the sensation of flying above the water while maintaining the inherent stability of a multihull platform.

The Full BRABUS Treatment

Visually, the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 is unmistakably connected to BRABUS’ automotive work. The catamaran is presented in the company’s signature Graphite Black finish, with Phantom Grey available as an alternative for owners interested in something marginally less ominous.

Exposed carbon fiber appears across the front and rear wings, exterior pillars, ventilation trim and custom roof rack. Illuminated BRABUS logos have been integrated into the pillars, while exposed carbon-fiber LED roof lights provide functional illumination and create a distinctive lighting signature after dark.

Exterior upholstery is available in BRABUS Graphite, BRABUS Red or BRABUS Pearl, allowing owners to maintain the vessel’s stealthy monochromatic appearance or introduce the type of dramatic color contrast commonly found inside a customized BRABUS supercar.

The styling is aggressive without becoming disconnected from the yacht’s underlying architecture. Its wide stance, low roofline and collection of technical surfaces give the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 the appearance of a high-performance machine while preserving the proportions and usable space expected from a contemporary luxury catamaran. According to BRABUS CEO and owner Constantin Buschmann, the project allowed the company to extend its growing marine portfolio into a completely new category.

“We asked ourselves what a modern high-performance luxury catamaran should look and feel like,” Buschmann said. “The BRABUS ULTIMA 55 is our answer: a design with a clear identity of its own, real performance, uncompromising quality—and what we call the One Second Wow.”

The Stern Becomes A Private Waterfront

The BRABUS ULTIMA 55 measures 55.8 feet long and 18.4 feet wide in its standard configuration. Once its lateral platforms are lowered on both sides of the stern, the overall beam expands to 24.9 feet.

Those folding platforms significantly increase the available outdoor space, creating a broad waterfront terrace that brings passengers closer to the sea. The aft deck is finished in high-grade Esthec material selected for its durability, resistance, relatively low maintenance requirements and secure footing in both wet and dry conditions.

Large transformer sunpads anchor the relaxation area and can be repositioned into upright settees when additional seating is needed. An extendable carbon-fiber table can be arranged for dining and entertaining or retracted to open the deck further.

An electric barbecue grill and wet-bar modules add food-preparation, storage and serving functions directly beside the seating and dining areas. A separate central sunpad at the bow gives guests another outdoor setting away from the activity at the stern.

That flexibility prevents the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 from becoming a vessel that is thrilling only while moving. Once anchored, its expandable platforms, convertible furniture and multiple entertainment areas transform it into the type of floating social space expected at this end of the market.

A Supercar-Inspired Interior

BRABUS’ influence becomes even clearer inside the saloon. Selected surfaces, seats and sofas are upholstered in Moonstone Masterpiece leather and finished with the company’s signature Triangle stitching pattern.

Alcantara covers the ceiling, while exposed carbon fiber appears throughout the helm station, helm seats and individual trim components. Aluminum floor accents and illuminated BRABUS logos reinforce the technical atmosphere without overwhelming the interior.

Bespoke ambient lighting extends throughout the saloon and can be adjusted to create different settings throughout the day. At the helm, a widescreen navigation and control station consolidates navigation data, vessel monitoring and onboard functions within one central interface. The display also features a dedicated BRABUS user-interface design, helping the digital experience feel consistent with the rest of the yacht rather than appearing like generic marine equipment placed inside a customized cabin.

The BRABUS ULTIMA 55’s saloon includes a fully equipped galley with an induction cooktop, electric oven, sink, refrigerators, ice makers and integrated storage compartments. The layout allows meals and drinks to be prepared without separating guests from the main social area.

A 43-inch television rises electronically from the countertop and retracts completely into the furniture when it is not being used. Height-adjustable tables allow the cabin to be configured for dining, socializing or additional open space, while a Bowers & Wilkins Marine Series sound system completes the entertainment setup.

Room For Six And A Crew Member

Sunreef will offer the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 with two accommodation layouts. The standard configuration includes a master suite, a VIP stateroom and a separate crew cabin, providing accommodations for four guests and one crew member. An alternative layout replaces that arrangement with three guest cabins and one crew cabin, increasing capacity to six guests.

Curated wood veneers and carbon-fiber accents carry the design language from the main saloon into the sleeping quarters. The private spaces maintain the contemporary BRABUS aesthetic while offering owners and guests a more restrained environment for extended stays at sea. The vessel also features a 1,500-liter fuel capacity, a 330-liter water capacity and a maximum draft of 4.6 feet.

The Final Take

The BRABUS ULTIMA 55 could have easily become a styling exercise: an existing luxury catamaran finished in black, covered with carbon fiber and marketed almost entirely through its horsepower. Its advanced foiling system gives the collaboration a far more credible engineering foundation.

The 1,450-horsepower output and 40-plus-knot top speed will generate the headlines, but the ability to reduce drag, limit heel and improve ride comfort is what separates the BRABUS ULTIMA 55 from a conventional high-powered cruiser.

Add the expanding stern, convertible outdoor furniture, fully equipped saloon and accommodations for up to six guests, and the vessel begins to feel like more than an enormous floating expression of BRABUS’ automotive design language.

It is a genuine high-performance luxury catamaran that also happens to resemble the yacht a BRABUS supercar owner would commission after running out of space in the garage. Sunreef Yachts and BRABUS have not announced pricing or delivery information for the BRABUS ULTIMA 55.

Via BRABUS