There is a moment, somewhere between the ancient stones of the Arsenale and the shimmer of the Adriatic, where a boat either belongs or it doesn’t. Venice was the setting for the GT50’s in-water world debut at the 2026 Salone Nautico Venezia in late May The Beneteau Gran Turismo 50 belonged immediately.
The GT50 is the biggest in Beneteau’s Gran Turismo range so far. The range runs 35, 40, 50, and that last step is a real one. At just under 16 metres with a beam of 4.48 metres, it’s noticeably larger than the 40, and you feel that in the accommodation, the cockpit space, everything. Three cabins, two heads. The curves are generous, the proportions work well at this length, and there’s a fluency to the design that keeps drawing your eye back to it.
The helm station is worth mentioning. Beneteau have leaned into the automotive connection deliberately, and it shows in a good way. It’s more driver’s cockpit than wheelhouse, with excellent visibility and controls that don’t require a manual. Joystick docking comes standard on the Alpine Edition via twin Volvo IPS650s, 353kW each, which makes handling a 15-metre-plus boat in tight marina situations considerably less stressful than it might otherwise be.
The Alpine edition
The Gran Turismo name came from the car world originally, so the Alpine partnership makes sense. Alpine have been making lightweight performance cars in France since 1955, and the shared aesthetic is genuine rather than cosmetic. The obvious thing is the Abyss Blue hull, a deep navy that shifts depending on the light and the angle. A lot of boats are moving away from white at the moment, and this is a good example of why. It suits the lines of the GT50 particularly well.
Inside, the Alpine Edition gets navy and black finishes and a sport steering wheel, with engine upgrades over the base spec. Beyond that, it’s largely about how you configure it.
The options packages are comprehensive. Sound is handled by Fusion Apollo with HP 3i Series 7.7-inch speakers, subwoofer and RGBW configuration throughout, Lumishore indirect lighting at the hull, cockpit and pilot station, plus underwater lights. Electronics can be upgraded with a pair of 16-inch Garmin GPSMAP 8416 screens, a Garmin GC245 rear camera, AIS 800 receiver and a Garmin VHF 315i. Both the owner’s cabin and VIP cabin have their own entertainment packs with Fusion Apollo RA670 audio and pre-wiring for televisions, 50-inch and 32-inch respectively.
There’s also a Silent Boat Pack for anyone who spends time anchored away from shore power. Four solar panels totalling 520Wp, four 200Ah/24V lithium batteries and paired inverters at 5,000 and 8,000KVA. It doesn’t combine with the generator option, so you’re committing to one approach or the other, but for extended time at anchor it opens up options that a generator can’t quite match.
Draught is 1.18 metres, displacement 14,751kg, air draught 4.6 metres. CE certified B10/C12.
Details and full configuration options through authorised Beneteau dealers or beneteau.com.
