PERSHING GTX70

Want the kudos of owning a Pershing without the daunting size and complex drivability? Meet the new GTX70...

- WORDS: Hugo Andreae

Pershing has built some very cool boats over the 40 years it has been in business.

From the outrageous jet-engined Pershing 70 of the 1990s to the lavish 140 superyacht of recent years, they have all been sleek, powerful, macho machines that positively demand attention, from the skipper as much as guests and onlookers.

A bit like the Ferraris and Lamborghinis of the 1980s and '90s, you needed to know what you were doing to get the best from them, particularly the sensitive early surface drive craft, which required careful trimming at speed and a cool head and steady hand when berthing.

The launch of the new GTX range of sportsbridge boats in 2023 was as much about demystify the business of driving a Pershing as it was about broadening its appeal. Like the Lamborghini Urus and Ferrari Purosangue, you could now own one without having to sacrifice space and comfort on the altar of performance. You could also drive one without needing hours of tutoring. Admittedly, the original GTX116 was too big for most owners to handle on their own, even if they had the necessary qualifications, but the GTX80 with its Volvo IPS-1350 drives and joystick controls was a perfectly viable option for a confident owner driver. This new GTX70 makes it even more accessible. With a starting price of €4.2m, we'd hardly call it democratising Pershing ownership but it certainly makes it a less daunting prospect for those with deep enough pockets.