After Gran Turismo 40, here’s Beneteau Gran Turismo 46, where the additional meters are used to enhance livability, in the name of the “sport cruiser” spirit.
As frequently happens when a new definition is effective, it becomes of public domain and gets used (and abused) without limits. In fact, “sport cruiser” well suites to a wide range of motorcruisers that accentuate their sporting spirit without neglecting the habitability and comfort on board. This Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 has all the cards to become an icon of the new category and perfectly sides her smaller sister Gran Turismo 40, which BoatMag tested last year.

The deck: five pluses of Beneteau Gran Turismo 46

•  A sporty line, not too distinctive maybe, but well developed with the wide windows to fill the sides of the hardtop and the conjunction between hull and deck: add the portholes and glazing, and the whole aspect becomes quite sleek.
•  Air Step2, the latest generation of Beneteau planing hull, is for the first time offered – on the Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 – for Volvo IPS 600 and not just for Z-Drive transmissions. Long story short, Airstep conveys air through ducts and steps under the hull, thus reducing water drag and increasing efficiency. In other words: higher speed, lower fuel consumption.

•  The “open” spirit is exalted by the hardtop and the side windows with electric opening, but an optional fully opening glass door allows you to insulate the entire salon when the weather turns bad. In the open configuration, the sofas can be folded open to increase convivial space.
•  The aft bench turns into a chaise longue just by clicking on a remote control: the backrest is lowered and the footrest rises. The back of the cockpit becomes even more welcoming.
•  The second galley can be, as an option, in the cockpit (behind the copilot seat) or to aft, creating an extra bench in the cockpit. To the far stern, the swim platform can be motorized (another option) to lower it below water level.

Interiors: the three pluses of Beneteau Gran Turismo 46

•  Thanks to the wide openings, the salon can be considered as part of the deck, but the helm station is also worth a mention: the upper opening of the hardtop actually transforms it into an open post.
•  Belowdecks Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 is available in two versions, two or three cabins without price difference. The former replace two bunk beds with a living room with sofa and coffee table, all in all not very handy when the summer is sunny and warm as it should be. It’s then better to have an extra cabin, with a classic layout: two in the front, sharing the heads, and the master amidships with en-suite.

•  The galley on the lower deck is not our preferred choice: it gets difficult to evacuate fumes (and smells), so although less equipped the one in the cockpit will be used most of the time.

The test of Beneteau Gran Turismo 46. IPS vs Z-Drive

The boat comes with three possible engines: two pairs of Volvo Penta D6, 370 or 400 HP, with Z-Drive pods, or Volvo Penta 2×435 HP with IPS 600. The latter brings all the known advantages at a slightly higher price: an increase little enough to still prefer IPS.
But the performance comparison between two Beneteau Gran Turismo 46 with the larger options throws new light on the Z-Drive version. In fact, if three knots of difference in favor of IPS throughout the planing pace are a good number, on the fuel side the “old” stern pods take their revenge, with an average saving of ten liters per hour at most regimes (especially around 3000 rpm).

on the fuel side
the “old” stern pods
take their revenge

Considering that the joystick is available on both versions, we would take into good consideration the smaller option (Volvo Penta D6 with Z-Drive). And if performance is not a must, then the 370 HP units also can be interesting as the price difference becomes significant.

The numbers of Beneteau Gran Turismo 46

• Length overall                               14.78 m (48ft 7in)
• Length LH                                      13.50 m (44ft 3in)
• Beam                                                4.20 m (13ft 9in)
• Draft                                                 1.15 m (3ft 9in)
• Engines                                           Volvo Penta D6 / IPS 600
• Fuel reserve                                    2×450 l (2×118 US gal)
• Fresh water reserve                     2×200 l (2×52 US gal)
• Passengers                                     12

Performance with Volvo Penta D6 2×370 HP Z-drive

rpm        knots      mph     lph        nm/l       range*  dB

• 1000     6,0       6,9       10        0,60      432       62
• 1500     8,9       10,2      21,5      0,41      298       63
• 2000     10,5      12,1      45        0,23      168       70
• 2200     11,9      13,7      56,3      0,21      152       68
• 2400     14,6      16,8      70,8      0,20      148       73
• 2600     17,2      19,8      79        0,21      157       74
• 2800     21,1      24,3      88,3      0,23      172       74
• 3000     24,4      28,1      104,2    0,23      169       75
• 3200     26,4      30,4      112,5    0,23      169       77
• 3400     29,5      34,0      127,1    0,23      167       77
• 3600     32,0      36,8      158,9    0,20      145       78

*(20% reserve)

Performance with Volvo Penta IPS600

rpm          knots     mph     lph     nm/l    range*

• 1000     6,1       7,0       6,2       0,98      708
• 1500     8,9       10,2      23,4      0,38      274
• 2000     11,2      12,9      53,9      0,21      150
• 2200     13,5      15,5      65,9      0,20      147
• 2400     16,4      18,9      76,4      0,21      155
• 2600     19,9      22,9      90,7      0,22      158
• 2800     23,0      26,5      101       0,23      164
• 3000     26,0      29,9      113       0,23      166
• 3200     29,2      33,6      129       0,23      163
• 3400     31,5      36,3      143       0,22      159
• 3600     34,6      39,8      170       0,20      147
• *(20% reserve)

Test conditions

• Moderate sea, clean hull, total displacement at test: Z-drive 13.400 Kg, IPS 13.700 Kg.

Indicative price (VAT not included)

• Volvo Penta D6 2×370 HP                   € 366.500
• Volvo Penta D6 2×400 HP                  € 385.100
• Volvo Penta IPS600 2×435 HP          € 408.000