A low-slung black hull, two Mercury Racing V8 outboards bolted to the transom, and 1,000 horsepower able to push the boat to nearly 60 knots: the Brabus Shadow 1000 XC Cross Cabin is set to land on the French Riviera in autumn 2026. World premiere announced at the Cannes Yachting Festival from 8 to 13 September, then the Monaco Yacht Show from 23 to 26. The German tuner brings its automotive DNA into the world of super-boats.
1,000 horsepower, 60 knots: the specs
The Shadow 1000 sits on a 11.60-metre Axopar hull, 3.35 metres wide. The double-step hull, signed by the Finnish shipyard, is calibrated to handle speed in rough seas. Astern, two Mercury Racing 500R V8 outboards of 4.6 litres each deliver a combined 1,000 hp. Top speed announced: close to 60 knots, roughly 110 km/h. With its 730-litre fuel tank, the boat can target fast, long crossings, typically a Cannes-Saint-Tropez in under an hour, bay to bay.
Sporty SUV of the sea
Brabus likes to describe the Shadow 1000 as a "sporty SUV of the sea." The format is that of a 38-foot day-boat, neither a mini-yacht to live on, nor an entry-level RIB. The enclosed Cross Cabin offers an air-conditioned cocoon for the pilot and guests. On board: 10 passengers under Class B "Offshore," 12 under C "Coastal," two standard berths, up to four with the optional aft cabin. Layouts convert into an outdoor lounge or sun pad as required. Weight comes in around 6.3 tonnes including engines.
The Shadow 38 line-up: 850 or 1,000 hp
The Shadow 1000 does not arrive alone. The new Shadow 38 range from Axopar Boats, Brabus Marine's Finnish industrial partner, includes two versions, replacing the previous Shadow 900 and 1000. The Shadow 850, equipped with two Mercury Verado 425 V10 outboards, totals 850 hp and reaches around 55 knots. Base price: €429,000. The Shadow 1000 XC Cross Cabin, the most extreme model, starts at €479,000, excluding transport and local taxes. Both share the same 38-foot platform but target slightly different profiles: versatile comfort for the 850, pure performance for the 1000.
Brabus, from Mercedes engines to super-boats
The visual signature is recognisable at first glance: tailored leather upholstery, carbon inserts, Masterpiece badges, matte black hull, the Brabus codes that defined the German tuner's most extreme Mercedes builds, transposed to the sea. Before this new generation, the Signature Phantom Gray edition of the Shadow 1000 had already set the standard with a level of finish close to prestige automobiles. The Shadow 38 range pushes it further, integrating docking joystick, autopilot and the latest electronic assistance.
Who is it for? Superyacht chase-boat
At this performance and budget level, the Shadow 1000 clearly targets two profiles. First: superyacht owners looking for a spectacular chase-boat, a fast tender able to rally the coast from anchorage in minutes, transporting guests or crew between the yacht and Riviera hot-spots (Pampelonne, Eden Roc, Monte-Carlo). Second: experienced boaters who want a day-boat as fast as a supercar, capable of chaining Cannes, Saint-Tropez, Porquerolles in a day, without giving up air-conditioned comfort.
World premiere in Cannes in September
The public unveiling of the Shadow 1000 XC Cross Cabin will take place at the Cannes Yachting Festival, 8 to 13 September 2026, on the pontoons of the Vieux Port and Port Canto. The boat will then move on to the Monaco Yacht Show from 23 to 26 September, a programme aligned with its target clientele, who often split their summers between the two Riviera ports. First deliveries are expected shortly after for the 2027 season.
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