Ducati turned 100 this year and celebrated with a slew of anniversary specials. First, we got the Superleggera V4 Centenario, the jewel in the crown, before getting the crown itself: 10 limited-edition 100th-anniversary models. Just when I thought we'd seen all there was to see from the brand this year, I found out they're making a boat.
The Borgo Panigale-based manufacturer collaborated with Pirelli and SACS Marine to leave its DNA in the nautical world and celebrate its centenario. This isn't the first time Ducati has been involved with watercraft, as it used to produce inboard engines from the '60s to the '80s, but this is the first time it's involved in building a boat, never mind a speedboat.
The boat in question is from Pirelli's Speedboat range, which is the result of a partnership between Pirelli and SACA Marine—a benchmark Italian brand in the nautical industry. The platform for the collaboration is based on the maxi-RIB.
Marco Maria Tronchetti Provera, SVP Pirelli Design & Assets Conversion, said, “Our collaboration with SACS Marine has enabled us, for more than twenty years, to bring into the nautical world the values that have always distinguished Pirelli: innovation, sportiness and attention to detail. Ducati’s entry into the project marks a new phase in this journey and further strengthens an all-Italian initiative, where different areas of expertise come together to create a unique product.”
The new model will feature a livery inspired by one of the pinnacles of Ducati excellence and will integrate a series of exclusive features developed together with the Centro Stile Ducati. Although we have no images to go on, I'd say it's a safe bet to imagine the boat will wear the same colors and lines we associate with Ducati's racing heritage.
Claudio Domenicali, CEO of Ducati, said, “Performance is a language that Ducati, Pirelli, and SACS Marine speak every day, each in their own world. The products change, but not the approach: the constant pursuit of excellence, the desire to push the limits and uncompromising attention to every detail. It is precisely this shared vision that made it natural for us to embark on this journey together. In a few days, we will unveil the result and I am convinced that enthusiasts will recognize at first glance what makes this project truly unique. I can’t wait to share it with them.”
It's exciting to see three Italian titans of industry come together to put a product on the table in a whole new way. But we'll have to wait until its world premiere, during an exclusive event at the 2026 Cannes Yachting Festival, to see what it looks like.
