SKORPYO LUXURY CLUB

Gucci, the Italian luxury brand owned by Paris-based PPR SA, said it will introduce made-to- order speedboats next year, with prices starting from 590,000 euros ($750,000).

The vessels will be produced in partnership with yacht- builder Riva to help mark Gucci’s 90th anniversary in 2011, the Florence, Italy-based fashion company said today in a statement.

“It’s more about image than anything else,” said Fabio Fazzari, an analyst at Equity Sim in Milan. “It’s much like a TV spot or sponsoring a tennis tournament. You seek to reach a target audience and to communicate your brand values.”

With a length of 33 feet, the Aquariva by Gucci has two 380-horsepower Yanmar engines with a maximum speed of 41 knots and a 150-mile range at cruising speed. The vessel features a fiberglass hull, a mahogany deck, Gucci’s signature green and red stripes and comes with a range of Riva by Gucci accessories, including bags, towels, deck shoes and flip-flops.

The boat was unveiled at the International Cannes Boat show yesterday and will be presented on Sept. 22 during Milan fashion week, Gucci said. It will be based on the Aquariva model created by Riva and design studio Officina Italian Design in 2000.

Riva, which is based in Sarnico, Italy, is part of Italian yacht-builder Ferretti SpA.

Gucci’s decision contrasts with Hermes International SCA, which announced in March it was ending its joint venture with Monaco-based boat-builder Wally to produce a 38-meter-wide environmentally sustainable super-yacht.

[ via Bloomberg ]