Yachting Art Magazine

Honda Marine Europe is taking the next step in the development of its 4XC range of boats. Having pioneered this concept with a range of RIBs, the Japanese engine manufacturer is joining forces with the Italian boatbuilder BMA to launch seven new polyester models, ranging from 5.50 to 9.50 metres. This is a major expansion of the range, which will now be able to accommodate engines ranging from the BF40 up to a twin set-up of BF350 V8s. The new 4XC models will make their world debut at the 2026 Genoa Boat Show.

Honda Marine clearly no longer wishes to limit the 4XC to just a few combinations of its outboard engines and selected boats. With the arrival of seven new polyester models developed in partnership with the Italian manufacturer BMA, the brand is beginning to build a genuine European range of Honda-powered boats.

This new family will be officially presented from 1 to 6 October 2026 at the Genoa International Boat Show. Sales are set to begin in November exclusively through the Honda Marine network.

Seven new Honda 4XC models ranging from 5.50 to 9.50 m

This is a significant expansion. The seven new models cover a range from 5.50 to 9.50 m, with various open-cockpit configurations.

Honda Marine has not merely attached its logo to existing BMA models. According to information provided by the manufacturer, each model has been the subject of specific development work involving Honda Marine’s research and development teams and BMA’s naval architects.

The deck plans, equipment levels and, above all, the boat-engine combinations have been reworked to form coherent packages.

The power range is particularly wide: it starts with the Honda BF40 and reaches, on the largest vessels, 2 x 350 ch with the V8 BF350.

This range now enables 4XC to cover several segments of the family market, from the relatively affordable small open boat to a vessel of nearly ten metres fitted with 700 ch.

4XC is becoming a fully-fledged range of boats

Above all, this initiative marks a strategic evolution of the Honda Marine 4XC programme, whose name refers to ‘For Excellence’.

The principle is to offer a boat-and-engine package designed as a complete product rather than a boat to which an engine is added at the point of sale.

This approach is not new in the boating industry. Major engine manufacturers have been seeking for several years to strengthen their partnerships with boat builders in order to gain greater control over the integration of propulsion, controls and electronics.

Honda is taking this approach a step further by giving these packages a specific commercial identity.

For the first time since the launch of the 4XC programme, the Honda Marine name will appear directly on the hull. The BMA logo has also been redesigned for this particular series.

The aim is clear: the customer should perceive the boat and its engine as a single product, even though its design and manufacture involve two different manufacturers.

BMA brings its expertise as a boatbuilder

To develop this new branch of 4XC, Honda has turned to a partner it already knows: BMA, an Italian brand owned by Ribitaly, the group that also owns BWA.

The manufacturer contributes its hull designs and its experience with open polyester boats. Honda, for its part, is responsible for integrating the propulsion system and defining the overall configuration of the packages.

The seven boats thus retain the general principles of BMA’s range: relatively clean and functional deck layouts, modern hull designs and models primarily geared towards leisure boating, holidays, family outings or fishing, depending on the model.

The approach also aims to simplify the purchasing process. Instead of choosing the boat, engine and various fittings separately before determining their compatibility, the buyer is offered a pre-configured package with a power rating recommended by Honda and BMA.

Up to two Honda BF350 V8s

This strategy takes on an added dimension with the recent expansion of the Honda Marine range.

Long focused primarily on small and medium power ratings, the Japanese engine manufacturer now offers the BF350, its 350 ch V8 outboard.

The option to fit two BF350s on the largest new 4XC models brings the available power to 700 ch and enables Honda to position the range for significantly larger boats.

At the other end of the spectrum, the inclusion of the BF40 ensures the 4XC range remains available on compact vessels.

This expanded range is one of the key benefits of the partnership with BMA: Honda can now offer, under a single brand, boats catering to a wide range of budgets and uses.

From RIBs to polyester boats

Until now, the 4XC range has relied in particular on a range of RIBs developed with Altamarea.

This includes the HA20, HA23, HA8.5 and HA27. A new HA9.5 is set to join this family in 2027. These RIBs will also feature a more prominent Honda Marine branding.

The arrival of the seven BMA polyester boats therefore significantly changes the scale of the programme.

Honda Marine will now be able to bring together two major families under the 4XC banner: the RIBs designed with Altamarea and the polyester boats resulting from the collaboration with BMA.

It is no longer simply a matter of offering a few engine-and-boat packages, but of gradually building a recognisable and relatively extensive 4XC range.

Distribution handled exclusively by Honda

Another key aspect of the initiative is that these new BMA models will be reserved for Honda engines.

From November 2026, they will be sold exclusively through the European Honda Marine network. Maintenance, warranty and after-sales service must also be provided through this network.

For Honda, this arrangement enables it to strengthen its control over the commercial relationship with recreational boaters. For BMA, it opens up access to the Japanese manufacturer’s European network.

This development also illustrates a fundamental trend in the outboard motor market. As engines become more powerful and electronic controls, instrumentation and on-board equipment become increasingly interconnected, engine manufacturers are seeking to be involved at an earlier stage in the design of the boat.

World premiere in Genoa

The seven new Honda Marine 4XC by BMA models will be on display together for their first public unveiling at the Genoa Boat Show, from 1 to 6 October. Sea trials are also scheduled to take place during the show.

We will have to wait until this unveiling to discover exactly what the seven models are, their respective configurations and their price points.

One thing, however, is already certain: Honda Marine is significantly accelerating the development of the 4XC range. By adding seven polyester boats ranging from 5.50 to 9.50 metres to its existing RIB range, the manufacturer is taking the programme to a new level, one that is beginning to resemble a fully-fledged range of boats.

Analysis – Honda, the world’s leading engine manufacturer, has grand ambitions for its Honda Marine division, namely to position itself as one of the two market leaders in the sector. By expanding its 4XC range – which stands out in the market for its excellent value for money and well-equipped boats – the Japanese giant aims to make recreational boating accessible to as many people as possible, using tried-and-tested, reliable technologies. This new partnership is a perfect illustration of this strategy.