Just when you thought the ever-yawning gulf between high-end, luxury goods and budget-friendly attainable finds couldn't get any wider, it does.
And a brand new innovation, which puts one of the most beloved and capable luxury SUVs in a wholly new environment promises to widen the gap even further.
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But as some wealthy Americans stock up on sports cars or galavant around the Mediterranean, others worry about the rising cost of living.
The September Consumer Price Index (CPI), which was released on Thursday, indicated that the cost of energy rose 1.5% compared to a month ago, with gasoline up 2.1% and fuel oil up 8.5% compared to August.
In a somewhat rosier picture, new vehicles only saw prices up 0.3% and used cars actually decreased 2.5%.
Still, life is more expensive, and Americans are pinching pennies where they can.
So it may be hard to believe that, in 2023, when things seem pricier than ever, the Porsche Macan is the German automaker's best selling car. The compact-but-capable SUV, which comes standard with a turbocharged four cylinder engine, sold 88,362 units in 2021. A standard 2024 model also retails for $62,550. Its high-powered sportier model, the Macan S, starts at over $73,000.
But the super luxury market continues to reach for the sky. Or, in Porsche's case, the waters.
Porsche creates a new super powered monstrosity
But everyone knows that millionaires and billionaires don't simply confine themselves to the road. They drive their luxury vehicles to their luxury yachts. So Porsche is trying its hand at an all-new craft: the electric boat.
Based on the all-popular Macan powertrain, Porsche has input its electric capabilities into a boat, referred to as the Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air.
It's important to note that the all-electric Porsche Macan isn't even available for sale yet, so you can bet this is one capable (and likely pricey) boat.
"The electric motor sits in the back of the boat while the controls are housed in a waterproof box emblazoned with the Porsche logo. The lithium-ion battery with a gross capacity of 100 kWh, likewise adopted from the Macan, is also located under the lounge area at the rear end. For the suspension in the support frame, the experts at Porsche opted for wire rope mounts, which are particularly good at absorbing the shocks that inevitably occur while driving fast and in waves," Porsche writes.
"The Frauscher x Porsche eFantom glides comfortably over the water despite its sporty overall orientation."
The new Frauscher x Porsche 850 Fantom Air is ready to be tested. Equipped with the powertrain technology of the forthcoming all-electric #Porsche Macan, the electric sports boat offers exceptional handling characteristics. More: https://t.co/SuNpPLu0TJ pic.twitter.com/GXeUif3gD4
— Porsche Newsroom (@PorscheNewsroom) October 9, 2023
The boat will also include different settings, depending on what a captain is doing, including:
- Docking
- Range
- Sport
- Sport Plus
Porsche describes the "optimum" cruising speed as 41 km/h (22 kn), though when it's driving on hull speed, it's reached 100 km/h. Porsche advises a cruising speed of only 85 km/h, or about 53 mph (it's capped at that in Sport Plus mode).
If that sounds like it burns a lot of gas, recall that the boat is electric. It charges from 10% to 80% in just about 30 minutes using its 800-volt technology.
Exclusive first edition units, as Porsche is calling them, will be available for ordering in January 2024 and start at €561,700 ($592,849 USD).
"The eFantom offers everything that Frauscher and Porsche products have always promised: outstanding performance and luxurious experiences, the highest quality and exclusive, timeless design," Detlev von Platen, member of the Board of Management for Sales and Marketing at Porsche said.
