Revealed at a Sunreef press conference on September 9, the new model was presented through a single teaser render alongside the first technical details. The "R" signals a more sporting direction for the Ultima 44, with Sunreef targeting a top speed close to 60 knots from four Mercury Racing 500R outboards producing a total of 2,000hp.
Foiling technology is also planned, while the yacht will retain opening side sections and a two-cabin layout. Sunreef described the 44R as a performance dayboat, placing substantially greater emphasis on speed than the standard ULTIMA 44.
Sunreef ULTIMA 44R Targets Nearly 60 Knots With 2,000hp
The biggest change sits at the stern. Sunreef plans to equip the ULTIMA 44R with four Mercury Racing 500R V8 outboards, giving the catamaran a total output of 2,000hp. Each supercharged 4.6-liter V8 produces 500hp and was developed by Mercury Racing for high-performance applications.
Sunreef said the resulting top speed is expected to be close to 60 knots, although the figure remains a target at this early stage. No cruising speed, range, fuel capacity or performance testing figures have yet been released.
The propulsion arrangement marks a clear change from the existing ULTIMA 44. Sunreef currently lists Volvo D6-IPS 400 engines for the Classic version of the standard model, alongside its wider focus on hybrid propulsion and energy-efficient technology. The 44R presentation also confirmed foiling technology, although Sunreef has not yet explained the foil configuration or how much lift the system will generate. With only one teaser render released, further technical details are still to come.
How the Sunreef ULTIMA 44R Differs From the ULTIMA 44
Sunreef says the 44R will have a distinctly sportier identity than the existing ULTIMA 44, with the yard deliberately looking to give the new model an immediately recognizable appearance.
The first render offers an early indication of that direction, with a low profile and sharply sculpted superstructure giving the 44R a more performance-led stance. Sunreef stressed during the presentation that the image is only a teaser, meaning the final catamaran may reveal considerably more detail as development progresses.
Despite the stronger focus on speed, the 44R is not being developed as a stripped-back performance boat. Two cabins are planned inside, while the opening side sections associated with the ULTIMA concept will remain.
The standard ULTIMA 44 uses folding bulwark platforms to expand the aft waterside area when deployed, one of the features that allows the relatively compact motor yacht to create additional deck space at anchor. Sunreef has not yet confirmed whether the 44R will use precisely the same arrangement.
More Than 70 Sunreef ULTIMA Yachts Are Now in Production
The 44R arrives as Sunreef continues to expand the ULTIMA family across several size categories. YachtBuyer Intelligence, the largest yacht database in the world, records 70 ULTIMA yachts currently in production. 26 ULTIMA 88s have been sold, alongside seven ULTIMA 77s and six ULTIMA 44s.
The first ULTIMA 77 is expected to be delivered toward the end of 2027, while production of the ULTIMA 44 is scheduled to begin during 2027. Sunreef did not separately announce a production or delivery timetable for the new 44R. There has also been movement at the opposite end of the range. Sunreef said the project previously known as the ULTIMA 111 has been resized and renamed the ULTIMA 122, with two units already sold.
The 44R announcement comes during a significant Cannes Yachting Festival for the series. The ULTIMA 88 is making its world debut at the 2026 show, where Sunreef is displaying the model at Vieux Port alongside the 80 Sunreef Power and 100 Sunreef Power.
For the ULTIMA 44R, plenty remains undisclosed, including final dimensions, detailed accommodation plans, range and the exact role of its foiling system. What Sunreef has confirmed already points to a markedly different proposition within the family - a compact two-cabin catamaran built around four high-output outboards and a near-60-knot performance target.
For a full look at the yachts currently on display, visit our dedicated Cannes Yachting Festival 2026 attending yachts page, where you can browse the attending fleet and filter by world debuts and YachtBuyer-reviewed models.
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