New Brabus 45' Shadow 1200 Sun-Top

When the Axopar and Brabus collaboration came together to launch a new product, you knew it was going to be good.

Words: Chloe Braithwaite; Photos: Brabus

Launched just prior to the Palma International Boat Show in Spain earlier this year, the brand-new Shadow 1200 Sun-Top made quite an impression.

Built on the Axopar 45 hull, the Brabus Shadow 1200 Sun-Top is an exercise in intentional, intuitive design. The sporty ‘superboat’ is immediately eye-catching and in chic slate grey with Brabus red bursts throughout exudes luxury and high performance.

The Shadow series was designed as a luxury-tender line – the “shadow” in its name indicating it could shadow a superyacht – as well as offering use as dayboats and weekenders.

Stepping on board, the first impression is that it’s more spacious than your average 45-footer. There is plenty of room to move around the boat and it features five distinct social spaces that mean the boat never feels crowded.

Boarding aft, the first thing you’ll notice are the three powerful Mercury outboard engines. These are 400hp Racing 5.7-litre V10 engines, producing a hefty combined output of 1,200 horsepower.

Not only is this ‘boat-racing fast’ at a top speed of 55 knots, but she accelerates quickly too and reaches a comfortable cruising speed of 40 knots – a rarity in the 45ft range.

Importantly, the Shadow 1200 Sun-Top is a smooth ride. At 30 knots, the boat is incredibly stable thanks to a stepped hull and a low center of gravity.

Facing the outboards is a striking red sunpad. A thoughtful touch: cup holders are conveniently located at strategic points on sunbeds and loungers.

Amidships, a high-low table is bordered by two lounge benches and is able to be lowered and topped with additional cushions to provide another sizeable sunbathing area. It is open on either side to make way for the folding side doors, which transform into additional seating.

A centered wet bar is conveniently located alongside this area and is customisable to include an electric grill or induction cooktop so that entertaining on board doesn’t mean squirrelling away below in a tiny galley.

Above, the eponymous sun-top provides plenty of shade, with the option to retract the dual canvas cover both above the high-low table and the cockpit at the flick of a switch.

The cockpit’s console – like all Axopar models – prioritises minimalism, and first-time skippers will have no problem taking the helm. An approachable navigation package includes a touchscreen Simrad display, joystick steering that feels intuitive and features Mercury Skyhook autopilot. The cockpit can also access the front cabin below deck.

Further forward is an additional sunpad hiding one of the best features onboard: two gull-wing doors that provide access to the forward cabin that provides airflow to the cabin below – a nice touch with just a light breeze, as the flow hits the bed directly.

An aft cabin is another customizable feature: with an option as a second cabin or a lounge. A large window almost at water level means the water doesn’t feel far away and provides a decent amount of light overlooking the outboards. A second head can be installed here, or the area used as an extra storage space.

While the sporty aesthetics of the Brabus Shadow 1200 Sun-Top might draw the high-octane and adrenalin-inclined owner, a host of luxury features also make her an alluring entry point for first-time boat owners.