Brabus’s New Flagship Is a Loud, Speedy 45-Foot Dayboat. We Hopped Onboard.
Brabus is a familiar name in the high-performance automotive world. The German firm built its reputation tuning AMG supercars, G-Wagons, Maybachs, and even the occasional Smart Car. Brabus entered the boating world in 2019 in a collaboration with Finnish boat builder Axopar. Nearly five years later, its Marine lineup includes 16 models across four size ranges from 25 to 45 feet.
The latest is the Brabus Shadow 1200 Sun-Top Phantom Gray Signature, which was introduced last week in Palma de Mallorca as a prelude to the Palma International Boat Show. We had a chance to run the new flagship as well as its sistership, the 1200 XC Black Ops, in the Med around Mallorca.
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The Shadow lineup is based on Axopar’s existing hulls, but with the superior fit and finish that Brabus is known for. The name could be mistaken for a shadow vessel—a boat that trails a superyacht and carries its toys, tenders, and crew. But the Shadow 1200 is likely to be a tender or, even more likely, a fast, showy dayboat.
Powered by three 400 hp Mercury V10 outboards, the 1200 is capable of a top speed of 55 knots, or 63.2 mph. The 45-footer joins a crowded field of fast, luxurious outboard-powered dayboats from Europe and the U.S. that include the Cigarette 41 Nighthawk or even the recently launched Azimut 48 Verve.
What differentiates anything carrying the Brabus name is attention to detail. In this new 1200, that meant the hand-stitched, diamond-patterned, red-leather upholstery, as well as the carbon-fiber accents and dashboard and high-end floor carpeting. The 1200 had plentiful seating fore and aft, capable of carrying 12 passengers, along with a nice selection of gizmos, including dual electric sunroofs, gullwing doors, and side-platform doors with windows.
The helm included Simrad multifunction displays, with an “intelligent” steering module—meaning controls for audio, trim tabs. and bow thrusters integrated into the leather-covered wheel (which bore a striking resemblance to a converted Brabus car). The 1200 also had dimmable interior lights and even lights under the hull, along with an echo sounder for reading depths. All in all, a nice list of standards.
With the Phantom Gray exterior, Brabus Red upholstery, roof racks, and overall stealth profile, it looked like a cool sport-yacht at the dock. It looked even better running at speed, where we spent much of our time during the sea trial. The double-stepped hull lifted the boat quickly onto plane, without any chine-walking or wavering.
There were five of us on board, and we all agreed the ride was remarkably stable. I’d been in 45-footers that shaked, rattled, and rolled, but this was clearly a higher caliber. I’d tested the 1200 XC sistership the day before in a two-foot chop and the results were the same: The bow stayed level, and the boat felt under control at all times, even when jumping from the 45 mph cruise to the top end at 56. Turns were handled with precision and civility—enough G force to make it lively, but nobody was thrown out of their seats. The three Mercury outboards were powerful and relatively quiet.
We spent about an hour on the water, and back at the dock, I had more time to walk through the boat. The opening sunroofs, stylized red racks for water skis and wakeboards, two wetbars (one with a hot plate, the other a barbecue), and a forward cabin with head and berth were all solid features. The JL Audio system includes speakers around the boat which provide clear, loud music, while adding to the festive look.
This model also had the optional rear cabin with a bed and television. The cabin window was almost at the waterline, which meant the view was obscured by outboards or passing legs, but it makes a good spot for sun-tired kids or even overnights in an anchorage.
Each 1200 is built as a semi-custom project, with options and layouts mandated by the owner, and several leather choices that are official Brabus colors.
My final takeaway: A fine dayboat that will definitely turn heads, but it’s mislabeled. The name reflects its stealth look—especially the black ops version—but with its aggressive hull and loud, red interior, it’s anything but a shadow.
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