ICONA 70, the first model from the newly established brand “ICONA inspired by Mangusta,” made its debut at the Cannes Yachting Festival in September 2026. Built to the standards of Overmarine Group, the 70-foot yacht was presented as a new approach to performance yachts, with a focus on emotion, purity and individuality.
The brand was founded by the Balducci family and Stefano Arlunno, co-founders and business partners of EFFEBI NEW PROJECT. According to the company, ICONA was created from the idea that the future of yachting below 24 meters belongs to those willing to challenge convention.
The project is positioned as more than an evolution of an existing platform. ICONA 70 is described as a new category and a new language for a segment that has long followed familiar formulas centered on more volume, more features and more complexity.
A new design direction for performance yachts
The yacht was unveiled for the first time under the theme “OUT OF THE BOX” at the Cannes Yachting Festival. ICONA 70 aims to reinterpret the performance yacht through a design philosophy in which emotion leads and technology follows.
Designer Igor Lobanov, already familiar with the Mangusta REV design language, developed the exterior, interior, ergonomics and helm over approximately 18 months as one integrated project. The result is presented as a moving sculpture, combining a clean design with the performance attitude of a modern yacht.
The hull side surfaces remain uninterrupted, while a 3D-printed honeycomb engine air intake adds a technical detail inspired by the automotive world. The dark glazed superstructure sits beneath a tapered hardtop, and the forward windshield without conventional pillars is designed to create the impression of a fighter-jet canopy.
From some angles, the yacht is intended to resemble a 1960s roadster suspended above the sea. Technical elements such as the bow mooring area, anchor pocket and side tender bay for a jet tender of up to 3.45 mt (11’ 4”) are integrated into the design and visually concealed.
Interior space shaped by light and volume
Inside, ICONA 70 places natural light at the center of the layout. A central living corridor runs from the stern platform to the cockpit and continues into a luminous glass capsule.
On the lower deck, the central living area features large skylights and creates a floating glass dome that connects sea and sky. Three cabins with 2.10 mt (6’ 11”) ceiling height benefit from large continuous hull windows, while the vessel’s 6.2 mt (20’ 5”) central beam allows for interior height reaching 2.85 mt (9’ 5”).
The full-beam master cabin includes an open bathroom concept and is designed to offer the sense of space usually associated with a much larger yacht. The overall result is an open and bright environment that still preserves comfort and privacy.
Aft deck designed as a social space
The aft section is presented as one of the project’s main innovations. Two fold-down wings extend the beam to more than 9 meters (29’ 6”), creating a 40 m² (430 ft²) overwater platform on a 70-foot yacht.
An integrated transformer staircase extends the companionway directly into the sea, creating a direct path from the interior to the water. The aft area can shift throughout the day between open, protected, social and private configurations.
L-shaped sunbeds include convertible up-and-down tables, while two sculptural elements inspired by vintage guitar amplifiers serve as the social center of the space. One hides an outdoor galley with a refrigerator, ice maker and barbecue, while the other contains a DJ station and storage. The area is completed by a premium audio system and color-changing LED lighting.
Driver-focused helm and simplified operation
The automotive influence is strongest at the helm, where the bridge is designed as a minimalist driver’s cockpit. Four integrated 19-inch touchscreens, four dedicated driving seats and a sculptural dashboard define the layout.
Multicolor ambient lighting is used to shape the atmosphere, while the design removes unnecessary physical controls and push-buttons. The onboard systems include advanced monitoring, joystick maneuvering, dynamic positioning, forward-looking live sonar and assisted docking technologies.
The technical department of Overmarine Group, led by Nicola Onori, handled the engineering challenge using the same construction methods applied to larger yachts. The hull design was developed in collaboration with Studio Arnaboldi.
Performance figures and propulsion
ICONA 70 was developed around an owner requirement for maximum size and enjoyment within a 70-foot platform, with the aim of making the yacht comfortable for owners operating it with family or minimal crew.
The propulsion system uses three Volvo Penta engines, with two available configurations. The highest-performance option is the D13 IPS1350, delivering 1,000 hp or 735 kW per engine.
In its top configuration, ICONA 70 targets a top speed of approximately 36 knots, 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 system is paired with joystick maneuvering, Dynamic Positioning System and Garmin technology with Easy Docking Advance Assisted System. The yacht’s composite construction is designed to combine structural efficiency with performance and comfort.
Customization and the owner experience
ICONA’s philosophy also extends to customization. Owners can choose color combinations inspired by the automotive world for both exterior and interior, while maintaining the purity of the original design.
For those seeking a more individual approach, the brand introduces Commission, described as a direct creative collaboration between owner and design team. The goal is to create an ICONA 70 that cannot be repeated.
The company says the project is meant to challenge the definition of the market itself rather than simply compete within it, with a design language intended to be rare, uncommon and unrepeatable.
Source/Photo: Mangustayachts
