Riviera’s new SUV series excites boating enthusiasts at Sydney International Boat Show

Riviera’s well guarded new SUV collection and the first model in the line-up, the Riviera 445 SUV, excited boating enthusiasts with several sales of this new model confirmed during the 2012 Sydney International Boat Show.

The latest creation from Australia’s largest and most awarded luxury boat builder will make her US debut at the Fort Lauderdale International Boat Show in Florida, held from October 25 to 29.

The SUV collection is a culmination of more than 32 years of boat building design, experience and extensive owner feedback from around the world.

Bearing Riviera’s classic hallmark design, the new 445 SUV has been crafted with Riviera’s rich-heritage in mind.  Combining the high performance, blue water cruising abilities and large open cockpit of the classic Flybridge with the fish raising abilities of the Offshore Express, and the single-level leisurely, entertaining features of the popular Sport Yacht series, has created a vessel like no other, a true bridge between all of them.

Riviera’s director of brand and communications Stephen Milne said the 445 SUV was in all respects a true embodiment of Riviera heritage.

“By this we mean that all the familiar and reassuring aspects of proven Riviera boatbuilding DNA are there; purposeful lines, hefty scantlings, the solid feel in a seaway, spacious layout and Euro-style luxurious décor.  And of course, a full no-nonsense Flybridge-scale cockpit,” he said.

“Like our Sport Yachts and the newer Flybridge models, the SUV embraces a single, much larger, flexible saloon seating design that multi-functions for dining, cocktail, coffee, reading, lounging and even extra sleeping if required.”

Forward in the saloon is the protected helm station to port, comfortably sheltered within the main deckhouse, giving the feel of a very spacious enclosed flybridge, yet all on the main entertaining and living deck level.

The galley links the saloon and cockpit, in quiet conversational proximity to the aft-facing mezzanine lounge just outside the large awning window.

The new 445 SUV features two staterooms dominating amidships and extending full beam. The opulent master stateroom forward has a plush island bed with large under-bed drawers and full-length wardrobe hanging space.  There are long fixed-hull windows that bring light and reflections into the master stateroom.

The guest stateroom aft features three single berths, one single along the starboard hull side and two athwartships with storage underneath.  There is plenty of space, light and storage in this cabin with two large fixed portlights and two opening portholes, a large hanging locker, drawer cabinet, reading and overhead lighting; making this vessel ideal for the family of five.

The two staterooms are separated by two generous and beautifully appointed bathrooms, a guest/day head to starboard and the master ensuite forward to port.

The Riviera SUV introduces a fresh design scheme for internal spaces, and the Riviera design team have created a whole new-look palette of calming yet warm colours in champagne, crème, straw, manila and burnished orange; in surfaces of laminate, leather, suede, mirror, American oak, plush sisal carpet and subtle waffle fabric textures.

The SUV model series is not only pleasing to the eye, she is just as impressive below the water line, with Riviera’s leading edge CAD technology designed hull with a 14.5 degree deadrise at the transom, Volvo IPS pod-drive propulsion and legendary award-winning build quality.

“The SUV has been built using a superior strength hand laid hull which is solid GRP below the water line and structural core material on the hull sides, main deck and hardtop, as well as precisely fitted lightweight resin transfer molded components so we have a boat of great strength where required with lighter weight components to avoid any excessive weight.  These elements combine to aid overall performance,” Mr Milne said.

“A great deal of our acumen regarding hull shape has contributed to, for example, aft chine strakes that have a straight run, to enhance both speed and manoeuvrability,” Mr Milne said.

“One of the biggest advantages of the Volvo IPS system is that the bulk of the engineering machinery can be positioned well aft, rather than amidships, as shaft drives dictate.  This allows us to create a compact SUV with all the internal space you would expect from a Sport Yacht and with the blue water capabilities of our Flybridge and Offshore Express.

“The 445 model is really an ideal mid-sized example of the SUV, and we will develop further variations of this exciting new design in the near future.”

The unprecedented new Riviera SUV collection is a completely new model series, which has already received strong interest from Riviera enthusiasts and is yet another innovative and functional design from Australia’s most awarded luxury boat builder.

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