PRESTIGE 690
LOA 70ft 4in (21.45m) BEAM 17ft 4in (5.30m) FUEL 3,450 litres ENGINES 2 x 900-1,000hp Volvo IPS1200 or 1350 MAX SPEED TBA PRICE FROM €2.4million ex taxes
This wasn’t just our first glance of the new flagship of the F-class range, it was also our first chance to see it berthed alongside the X70 crossover model. They may both share the same hull and drivetrains but in terms of looks and layouts, they are different beasts.
The first thing you notice is how much further back the saloon doors are on the 690. This makes for a more conventionally shaped saloon than the X70’s wider, squarer one but also a shorter cockpit. The designers have tried to counter this with a new sunpad jutting out over the transom as well as a new flybridge layout. Prestige claims this is now the largest flybridge in its class, measuring over 240ft2 (22m2). It certainly feels more spacious than the previous 680, although it’s hard to say how much of that is down to the use of slimmer freestanding furniture rather than the 680’s chunkier built-in units. Either way it makes for a more versatile space with the helm station pushed right to the front of the flybridge opposite a cosy C-shaped seating area that converts to a sunpad. A free-standing dining table and chairs now occupy the amidships section, leaving room for another lounging area aft. Smart new carbon-fibre helm seats and a teak wet bar help lift the look and feel of this area. It’s a similar story inside where small improvements to the fit and finish of everything from the woodwork to the fabrics help raise the 690’s game.
The layout is largely unchanged below decks but that unusual forward owner’s cabin with its own private entrance, ample headroom, expansive views and isolation from engine and generator noise has lost none of its capacity to impress. The 690 may not look as innovative as the X70 but for some buyers, its more conventional layout, especially those easy to use side decks, may prove more appealing.