BRABUS Marine and Axopar Boats have jointly announced the Shadow 38 range, two new 38-foot performance day boats that sit above the outgoing Shadow 900 and 1000 series. The announcement followed a closed media event in Mallorca in May 2026, with a full public debut scheduled later in the year. Both models share a common 38-foot platform described by the manufacturer as engineered for seaworthiness, advanced technology and a high-specification interior fit.
Two Models, Two Briefs
The range splits cleanly into two propositions. The Shadow 850 XC Cross Cabin is positioned as a long-distance cruiser: the emphasis is on sustained comfort and control over range rather than peak velocity. The Shadow 1000 XC Cross Cabin carries the headline power figure of up to 1,000 hp and is positioned as the performance variant - race-inspired, in the manufacturer's framing, but still finished to the same luxury standard as the 850.
Both variants use the XC Cross Cabin body, which on the Axopar 37 generation provides a convertible hard-top arrangement over a cabin with berth accommodation. That layout is directly relevant to superyacht programmes: the Cross Cabin body gives you a usable overnight option without committing to a full displacement tender, and the platform is proven across a large number of delivered hulls.
Platform and Development Background
The Shadow 38 is built on an evolution of the Axopar 37 hull - one of the more frequently specified platforms in the 11-12 metre performance tender segment over the past several seasons. BRABUS Marine describes the joint engineering input on this generation as more integrated than on previous models, with both brands contributing at a deeper level than the earlier Shadow series.
The manufacturing relationship is straightforward: Axopar builds the hull and running gear in Finland; BRABUS contributes design language, powertrain specification and interior detailing consistent with its automotive brand standards. The result is a boat that carries the BRABUS visual identity - including the signature black-and-red palette and wheel arch-style hull detailing visible on earlier Shadow models - alongside hardware that reflects the performance numbers being claimed.
What This Means for Tender Buyers
At 38 feet and up to 1,000 hp, the Shadow 1000 XC sits in a bracket where it can genuinely function as a chase boat for a mid-size superyacht programme, or as a primary performance tender where the owner's brief calls for speed rather than garage convenience. The 850 variant, with its cruising orientation, is the more practical choice for mixed programmes that include longer coastal transfers alongside day use.
Full specification data - including precise power outputs, weight, top speed and fuel capacity for each variant - was not released in the pre-launch materials. We will update this article when the manufacturer publishes full technical sheets at the global debut. Buyers specifying either model for a superyacht programme should also confirm certification class and maximum passenger numbers with their BRABUS Marine dealer, as these figures were not confirmed in the announcement.
