Discover the Delightful Eccentricity of the Sunseeker XS2000: A Bonkers Tale of a Novelty Powerboat

Published: 10 Dec 2025
This is a voyage into the captivating history of the Sunseeker XS2000 - a powerboat that disrupted expectations and left a legacy in its wake.

Once upon a time, in the era of the 1990s, where Audi was known for its polite German saloon cars and hatchbacks, Sunseeker surprised the world by introducing the XS2000. With its origin rooted in the unexpected, this boat was a drastic departure from the builder’s renowned fast, classy weekenders from the Hawk range, making it an entrancing case of delightful bafflement.

Designed by the famed Italian powerboat racer and designer, Fabio Buzzi, the Sunseeker XS2000 was nothing short of a wolf in sheep’s clothing. Packed with up to 1,100hp and harboring a barely-civilized, outright racing mentality, this was not your ordinary weekend getaway vessel. Its functionality was so covertly tucked beneath its racing exterior that many would’ve been hard-pressed to guess Sunseeker as its manufacturer at the London Boat Show.

The Sunseeker XS2000, with its twin, hefty 420hp Yanmar diesel engines or a pair of 550hp Mercruiser petrols, proved its mettle by achieving 65 knots during the sea trial - and there was a potential for 5 knots more with fine-tuning! Imagine hitting the water in this stygian powerhouse, cutting through waves with an exhilarating rush.

Beneath its bonkers exterior and racing guise, the Sunseeker XS2000 nurtured a unique charm. Although its design could be polarizing, it is undeniable that it made a bold mark in Sunseeker’s history. This extraordinary vessel was a tangible testament to the joy of risk-taking and the magnetic allure of audacity. The Sunseeker XS2000 was an oddity, an eccentricity, a wonderment - but above all, it was an adventure, and it’s one that continues to captivate enthusiasts, pushing the boundaries of what a powerboat could be.