MOTONAUTISME YACHTS : AZIMUT BENETTI GROUP IN ITALIA

5 novembre 2015

Azimut|Benetti Group at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show 2015

An edition packed with previews for the Group's most important audience: the American market.

INFORMATION PRESS

With the European boat show season 2015 having drawn to a close, Azimut|Benetti Group heads to the most important boat show in the USA with a 19-vessel Azimut Yachts fleet, including four yachts making their American preview and two Benetti best sellers, the Veloce 140’ and the Delfino 93’. The US market continues to expand, as do the markets in Central America and Canada.

Avigliana, November 2015. A good 19 models will represent the Azimut|Benetti Group at the 2015 Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show (FLIBS), scheduled for 5-9 November 2015; foremost are the 46-metre “Cheers 46” by Benetti and four Azimut Yachts premieres for the American market. A real test of strength for the Azimut|Benetti Group, which has been able to conquer one of the most complex markets in the world.

Mature and demanding, the North American market absorbs more than 35% of Azimut Yachts production, 50% in the 50'/70' range. It is also the primary market for Benetti superyachts. Starting last year, Benetti sensed the importance of directly overseeing the USA and Central America market and opened new offices in Fort Lauderdale. This past year, Azimut Yachts reinforced its local after sale presence with 12 employees and a one and half million dollar plus parts warehouse, the highest of any foreign boat builder in the US. Supported in the US by the prestigious boat dealer, MarineMax, Azimut Yachts has experienced steady growth, not just in Florida and the Northeast (both historically oriented towards pleasure boating) but also in new areas including the Great Lakes region, Texas, and California. In addition to the US, Azimut Yachts has eight dealerships in as many countries, including Canada, which this year saw the signing of new partnership agreements, Mexico, where a new dealer registered significant growth (21 vessels sold in the last year), as well as Caribbean countries such as the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Guatemala, and Panama.

Faced with such a substantial market, Azimut|Benetti chose the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show as the perfect setting to launch its new models.

Four brand new models will be presented for the first time to the American market:

The Azimut 72, presented for the very first time at the Cannes Boat Show in September 2015, is the 3.0 revolution of the Flybridge Collection that marries its elegant yet revolutionary style with state-of-the-art construction techniques, with large use of fiber carbon.

The Azimut Magellano 76 which design goals are autonomy, the maximum cruising comfort even at low speeds and the freedom to go at higher speeds when necessary. In summary, the reinterpretation of traditional Italian trawler boats.

The Azimut Atlantis 43, bold and sporty on the outside, cool and refined on the inside, the latest Atlantis Collection offering is pure unadulterated Italian design and content.

The Azimut 77S embodies that special synthesis of stylistic innovation, technology, and functionality found in all the Italian shipyard’s latest S Collection models.

The Benetti shipyard will be showing Veloce 140’ from the Fast Displacement line, a best seller in the American market, as well as Delfino 93’ Ocean Drive, the “compact” superyacht.

The incredible popularity of Veloce 140’ MY Cheers 46’ from the Fast Displacement line bodes well for the success of the model among North, Central, and South American customers. The vessel is appreciated for its aggressive and appealing Italian design, and its D2P hull and carbon fibre superstructure mean it is also very high tech. The ability to travel at 12 knots in total comfort and the extended range (up to 1,250 nautical miles) make this vessel extremely well suited for beloved pleasure boating crossings such as St. Maarten-St. Barts. In addition, the reduced draught - only 7’8’’ at half capacity - is perfect for the waters around Florida, the Bahamas, and the Caribbean.

Benetti Delfino 93’ Ocean Drive sets the new standard for excellence in only 24 metres. It could be called a "compact" superyacht: it offers everything you would expect from something bigger, yet because of its size is registered as a pleasure craft. The exterior has a strong visual impact with large expanses of glass and exceptional living spaces for total comfort. The interior houses two large VIP cabins and two guest cabins. The owner suite is forward of the main deck. It is quite large and offers a king size bed, vanity area, lounge, and his and her bathrooms. The sun-deck includes a relaxation area with sofas, lounge chairs, a hot tub, and bar. It also has a second piloting station so the vessel can be driven without missing out on any of the fun.

Azimut Yachts at FLIBS 2015	Benetti Yachts at FLIBS 2015
Atlantis Collection: Azimut Atlantis 34 Azimut Atlantis 38 Azimut Atlantis 43 - USA PREMIERE Azimut Atlantis 50 Flybridge Collection:	VELOCE 140 “CHEERS 46” Delfino 93’ Ocean Drive
Azimut 42Fly Azimut 50Fly Azimut 54Fly Azimut 60Fly Azimut 64Fly Azimut 72Fly - USA PREMIERE Azimut 80Fly Azimut 88Fly

Magellano Collection:
Azimut Magellano 43 Azimut Magellano 53 Azimut Magellano 76 - USA PREMIERE
S Collection:
Azimut 55S Azimut 77S - USA PREMIERE

AZIMUT |BENETTI GROUP

Azimut-Benetti is the world's largest and most prestigious builder of yachts and mega yachts. With a presence in 68 countries and a network of 138 sales and service offices, the Group includes the well-known companies Azimut Yachts and Benetti, each of them dedicated to a different market segment. The Group also includes Yachtique, the services division reserved exclusively for boat owners and by Fraser Yachts, brokering, selling and chartering specialist.

AZIMUT | BENETTI GROUP PRESS OFFICE

Giovanni Bogetto

giovanni.bogetto@azimutyachts.net

Azimut Yachts Press Office

Andrea Sculati - a.sculati@studioeffeerre.com

Gloria Belloni - g.belloni@studioeffeerre.com

T. +39 0233001100

Benetti Yachts Press Office

Gianluca Poerio – g@sandpeoplecommunication.com

M.+39 338 3389563

Azimut Yachts press area

www.azimutpressarea.com