BRABUS Shadow 1200 Sun-Top

Typically BRABUS, this top-tier adventure craft has few rivals.

Ever since the collusion between Axopar and BRABUS, we have seen a steady trickle of Axopar-based BRABUS-branded adventure craft. The Shadow 1200 ST is the latest, following very close on the heels of the eye-catching BRABUS Shadow 1200 Black Ops, and is likewise ordained with liberal amounts of carbon-fibre BRABUS branding. The limited-production Shadow is no less a BRABUS, it just sports a different persona – slightly less extreme, but still unmistakably BRABUS.

We took a walkaround the Brabus Shadow 1200 at Boot, take a look.

It is based on the Axopar 45 Sun-Top and has similar layout options. It just has many more bells and whistles, bigger engines and the same standard of leather upholstery that BRABUS finish their cars with. Every aspect of this vessel is engineered to perfection. Equipped with triple 400hp Mercury Racing 5.7L V10 engines, it is the biggest and most powerful of all BRABUS Shadows. It has a comfortable cruising speed of 40 knots and a top speed of 55 knots, something few 45ft adventure craft can boast.

The foredeck has gullwinng doors either side topped with signature leather..

At the helm, you have a clean, functional and uncluttered design that is packed with the best in modern marine technology: the BRABUS leather-clad steering wheel, aka ‘Intelligent Steering Module’, enables you to control the bow thruster, trim tabs and audio without taking your hands off the wheel; there are four Simrad navigational touch screen MFDs, and an optional extended navigation package; the driving experience is further enhanced by Mercury’s JPO (Joystick Piloting for Outboards) joystick, including Skyhook for those who like to wait calmly for the fuel pontoon to clear; and needless to say, Mercury autopilot also comes as standard, as do reverse and night vision cameras.

With the galley slid forward you can create another big sunbed.

The social aspect of this boat is impressive

Topside, the Shadow has three distinct social spaces. Firstly, the foredeck area with gullwing doors on either side is topped with a signature quilt-upholstered stepped sunbed for those who want a forward-view ride. Like the rest of the boat, the foredeck area is safely accessed by deep bulwark-enclosed side decks.

The helm provides plenty of weather protection.

The signature colour scheme is unmistakable.

Deep side decks provide super-safe deck access.

Secondly, the helm and cockpit area has acres of seating around the cockpit table. Six can sit down comfortably around the table to eat, but there is also further seating on the fringes in the form of fold-down bulwarks. Sitting on either side of the table, these upholstered bulwark sections provide extra bench seats. Though too far from the table for dining, like the seats that wrap around the wet bar, they provide a surplus of social seating where you need it. The wet bar/galley can slide forward up to the back of the helm seats, enabling the table to drop down, providing a sunbed infill between the facing seating. Galley facilities in this boat are extensive. In standard form, it comes with a double 240V hob (powered by an inverter and 1000ah lithium battery), storage, sink, ice box and a 65L fridge. However, you can spec the boat with an additional 65L under-top fridge (at the cost of storage), and two drawer fridges at each end of the galley. If this is not enough, there is the option of a starboard-quarter wet bar built into the bulwark, where additional fender storage would otherwise be located – ideal for providing refreshment for wet bathers.

Six can sit down to dine comfortably.

Handy extra seating.

Three BRABUS-branded V10s.

Thirdly, the aft section mainly comprises a huge sunbed atop the aft cabin, surrounded by tall bulwarks, aft-quarter fender/warp storage and an optional second wet bar. Two small bathing platforms flank the triple 400hp V10 Mercury outboards, which are encased by a signature colour-coded ski/wakeboard frame.

The helm station is impressive, and with its signature carbon dash, it is typically BRABUS. Three luxury bucket seats face a dash with no fewer than five Simrad NSO MFDs – two 16” and three 9” – one of which is dedicated to on-board systems. The BRABUS wheel provides control for things you will want to deal with at speed without taking your eyes off the sea ahead. Primary switches sit centrally, cup holders are conveniently located and a glove box is located in the top-hinging door to the forward cabin.

There is extensive entertainment available on this boat. Firstly, both cabins have 32” TVs, and there is a JL Audio system complemented by LED mood lighting throughout, and a carbon LED roof light module in the twin-sunroof T-top.

The aft cabin has a huge double bed.

Though it is not apparent at first glance, below decks offers two comfortable double cabins. The forward cabin can be accessed via a door in the dash, as well as the gullwing doors. It has full standing headroom and a fully specified en suite heads compartment. The double bed is large, and the cabin has plenty of soft-touch opening storage, as well as a cool box and a small safe. The aft cabin, which enjoys a menacing view of triple V10s through its stern window, is accessed through a folding section of the forward-facing cockpit seating. It also has an en suite, but without the full standing headroom that the forward cabin enjoys, and it is not as spacious. Where this cabin does score is a very large double bed.

Finished in a distinctive Phantom Grey Signature Edition yacht paint, which has been subjected to six weeks of extensive fairing and polishing, the Sun-Top is fitted with a wide range of premium products and materials. All the upholstery is fine leather – available in BRABUS red as well as other colours – and there is extensive carbon detailing throughout the boat. Though specified to a high standard, it can of course be further embellished from an extensive list of extras and ‘must-have kit’. Its 1200hp power output and sub-60-knot performance aside, this boat has been conceived with a zero-compromise approach and will have a price tag and a waiting list that reflect it.