Benetti has unveiled B.Neos, a 131-foot yacht that stands out precisely because it refuses to chase spectacle. Sitting just under 300 gross tonnes, it becomes the first displacement yacht in this category to feature hybrid propulsion as standard. This is not an optional upgrade or a conceptual gesture. It arrives fully formed, suggesting a design process led as much by engineers as by stylists.
Hybrid power here is less about talking points and more about experience. In full electric mode, B.Neos moves in near silence, the kind that shifts your attention outward rather than inward. You hear water along the hull. You notice the absence of vibration. Even at anchor, the yacht can remain in Hotel Mode using electricity alone, eliminating the constant low hum that defines life aboard many yachts. Diesel-electric, crossover, and Boost modes are available for longer passages or extra power, but it is the quiet that leaves a lasting impression.
The exterior, penned by Malcolm McKeon , reflects a sailing yacht sensibility applied to a motor yacht hull. The lines are low, clean, and balanced, with no unnecessary drama. It feels composed rather than aggressive, which is increasingly rare at this size. Benetti calls the design “daringly simple,” and in a segment addicted to visual excess, restraint becomes a statement in itself.
Inside, Francesca Muzio has avoided the familiar trap of turning volume into grandeur. The interiors are warm, relaxed, and genuinely livable. At 296 GT, the space is used intelligently, with five cabins for ten guests and open-plan areas that feel intimate rather than cavernous. This is a yacht designed to be lived on, not tiptoed through.
One of the most effective layout choices is the relocation of the wheelhouse forward on the main deck. That single move frees the entire upper deck for the owner, a feature more commonly found on much larger yachts. The owner’s suite spans over 260 square feet and opens onto a private terrace with uninterrupted views. At the heart of the yacht sits a real family kitchen, a rare acknowledgment that daily life matters just as much as formal entertaining.
Power comes from twin MAN V8 engines working alongside electric motors, delivering a range of around 2,600 nautical miles at 10 knots and roughly 30 percent lower energy consumption compared to similar yachts.
B.Neos does not try to dazzle. It feels designed for someone who has already experienced excess and decided that quiet, balance, and the sound of the sea at night are far more convincing luxuries. And don’t forget to check our list of the most expensive yachts in the world.
