Icona and Overmarine Group officially launched the Igor Lobanov-designed ICONA 70 performance yacht, featuring automotive styling and IPS propulsion.
Newly established nautical venture Icona has officially launched its inaugural model, the ICONA 70, making its international debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival. The project is led by the Balducci family alongside Stefano Arlunno, co-founders and business partners of EFFEBI NEW PROJECT -the “ICONA inspired by Mangusta” brand- with construction adhering to the manufacturing standards of the Overmarine Group. Positioned in the market segment for vessels under 24 meters, the ICONA 70 aims to address shifting buyer demographics in the luxury yachting sector. Rather than expanding volume or feature complexity, the company’s design strategy prioritizes minimalism, high performance, and emotional engagement over traditional layout conventions.
MOVING SCULPTURE
The design challenge was embraced by Igor Lobanov, already familiar with the Mangusta REV design language. Over approximately 18 months, Lobanov developed the exterior, interior, ergonomics and helm as one integrated project, pushing every surface towards a more fundamental and precise expression. Every line was given a purpose.
The result is a yacht conceived as a moving sculpture, combining the purity of a timeless design with the performance attitude of a modern yacht.
Powerful without aggression. Eye-catching without excess. Its muscular hull side surfaces remain uninterrupted, while a dramatic 3D-printed honeycomb engine air intake introduces a distinctive technical signature inspired by the automotive world. The dark glazed superstructure visually disappears beneath a dramatically tapered hardtop, while
the forward windshield, designed without conventional pillars, creates the impression of a fighterjet canopy. From certain angles, ICONA 70 appears less like a traditional yacht and more like a 1960s roadster suspended above the sea. Even complex technical elements including the bow mooring area, anchor pocket and side tender bay designed to accommodate a jet tender of up to 3.45 mt (11’ 4”), are integrated into the uninterrupted and pure architecture visually concealed. Everything unnecessary has been removed. Everything essential has been perfected.
SPACE, NATURAL LIGHT AND THE SEA
Light is not simply something ICONA 70 allows into the interior. Natural light becomes a material. A central living corridor is the heart of ICONA 70, from the stern platform to the cockpit, split in two levels continuing into the luminous glass capsule. On the lower deck, the central living area, with its large skylights, creates a floating architectural glass dome to visually connect sea & sky, while three spacious cabins with 2.10 mt (6’ 11”) ceiling
height benefit from exceptionally generous volumes and large continuous hull windows. Despite offering interior volumes never associated with a 70-foot yacht, including an interior height reaching 2.85 mt (9’ 5”) within the vessel’s 6.2 mt (20’ 5”) central beam, ICONA 70 maintains harmonious proportions. The full-beam master cabin, with its open bathroom concept, delivers the sense of space normally associated with a much larger yacht. The result is an open, bright, and seamless environment without compromising comfort or privacy.
THE SEA, REIMAGINED
The aft section is the innovation and the starting point of the entire project. Two immense fold-down wings extend the beam to more than 9 meters (29’ 6”), creating an exceptional 40 m² (430 ft²) overwater platform aboard a 70-foot yacht, traditionally associated with the beam of a yacht measuring around 50 meters in length. An integrated transformer staircase extends the companionway directly into the sea, creating a seamless path from the interior of the yacht to the water, a sort of “Stairway to Heaven” The entire aft environment can continuously change with the rhythm of the day: Open. Protected. Social. Private.L-shaped sunbeds incorporate convertible up & down tables, while two sculptural functional elements inspired by vintage guitar amplifiers become the beating heart and social hub of the space. One conceals an outdoor galley incorporating a refrigerator, ice maker and barbecue while the other houses a DJ Station and storage. Together, they form a place to gather, to listen with a premium audio system and color-changing LED lighting and to make memories. The result is not simply an aft deck, but a space designed around people and experiences.
THE DRIVER’S COCKPIT
Inside, the automotive influence culminates at the helm. The bridge becomes a minimalist driver’s cockpit, where ergonomics, technology, and emotion are integrated into a single environment. Four integrated 19” touchscreens, four dedicated driving seats, and a sculptural dashboard come together in a strikingly seamless interior. Multicolor ambient lighting sets the mood, while every element is thoughtfully designed to eliminate visual clutter and create an immersive, nextgeneration driving experience There are no unnecessary physical controls or push-buttons. It enhances the experience without becoming the experience. This philosophy extends to the yacht’s onboard systems, where advanced monitoring, joystick maneuvering, dynamic positioning, forward-looking live sonar and assisted docking technologies are designed to make a high-performance yacht remarkably intuitive to operate.
THE ART OF THE INDIVIDUAL
ICONA’ s philosophy extends to the owner. Customization begins with color, allowing automotive-inspired exterior and interior combinations to transform each yacht into a highly personal expression while maintaining the purity of the original design. For owners seeking something truly unique, ICONA introduces Commission. Commission goes beyond a traditional customization programme. It is a direct creative collaboration between owner and design team, inspired by the philosophy of the “Tailor Made” programmes.
PERFORMANCE WITHOUT COMPLEXITY
The Overmarine Group Technical Department, led by Nicola Onori, embraced the engineering challenge, applying the same construction methods as those used for a larger yacht. Meanwhile the hull design has been developed in collaboration with Studio Arnaboldi. ICONA 70 was developed around a clear Owner’s requirement: maximum size and enjoyment within a 70-foot platform, allowing owners operators to use the yacht comfortably with family or
minimal crew. The propulsion system follows the same principle: three Volvo Penta engines provide the power,
with two available configurations culminating in the high-performance D13 IPS1350, delivering 1,000 hp or 735 kW per engine. In its highest-power configuration, ICONA 70 targets approximately 36 knots of top speed, with a cruising speed of approximately 30 knots and a range of approximately 270 nautical miles, subject to final specification and operating conditions. The Volvo Penta IPS propulsion system brings together performance, efficiency and intuitive handling, while joystick maneuvering, Dynamic Positioning System, and the latest generation
Garmin technology with Easy Docking Advance Assisted System further simplify yacht’s operation. The yacht’s composite construction combines structural efficiency with performance and comfort.
