Cannes 2023: XO Boats introduces all-aluminium DFNDR A8
Finnish boat manufacturer XO Boats is introducing its first aluminium-made boat, the XO DFNDR A8, at the 2023 Cannes Yachting Festival this week (12-17 September 2023).
The new XO DFNDR A8 is a modern, enclosed walkaround T-top boat made of 10/5mm marine aluminium. XO says the boat can be equipped with 2×200 hp and 1×400 hp motors, reaching up to 50 knots in speed.
“We wanted to create a boat with XO’s edge, durability, robustness, and lightness for the sportboats segment,” says XO’s CEO Erkki Talvela. “During the design process, we took a close look at boats of different categories, from rib boats to powerboats, and pondered how we could combine all the best features of action-made boating to one aluminium-hulled craft.”
The XO DFNDR A8 has a raised foredeck that serves as a platform for sport fishing or can be covered with a sunbed. The carlike windshield goes from the deck level towards the glass roof, giving both UV-light protection and panoramic views.
Seating is set for eight passengers in three rows, with all the seats facing forward. Pilot and co-pilot seats can be chosen as full shock-absorbing seats to help keep pilots in control, even at the roughest conditions.
The XO DFNDR A8 also has space for overnight stay: the heads and a berth for two lies under the foredeck.
“When we began the design of A8, our goal was to create a boat so stylish that you wouldn’t believe it’s full aluminium,” says Jaakko Kantola, design lead for XO Boats. “We are proud to have been able to combine aluminium and high-end design – we pushed our creative abilities to find and create the right methods to produce aluminium boats like this.”
First launched in 2022, the XO DFNDR A8 is priced from €135,000 ex VAT.
”Aluminium is not just the material of superyachts, but also an increasingly popular material for electric vehicles, such as Teslas. We have always been at the forefront of designing aluminium boats, and we still aim to keep our boats as durable and sustainable as possible,” adds Talvela.
