Brabus Marine announced the Shadow 1000 XC Cross Cabin on September 8, with its premiere at that week’s Cannes Yachting Festival. The 38-foot day boat carries twin Mercury Racing 500R V8 outboards, which Brabus rates at 736 kW, or 1,000 hp, and the company claims as much as 60 knots, which is 69 mph.
Brabus builds 900 hp versions of the Mercedes-Benz G-Class in Bottrop, Germany. The hull is a joint project with the Finnish builder Axopar, its partner on the Shadow range.
Key Takeaways
- The Shadow 1000 XC Cross Cabin is 38 feet, or 11.6 meters, long with an 11-foot beam.
- Twin Mercury Racing 500R V8 outboards make 1,000 hp combined, and Brabus claims 60 knots.
- A second model, the Shadow 850 XC, uses twin Mercury 425 V10 engines and is listed as coming soon. Brabus quotes 55 knots for it.
- The 38 range succeeds the Shadow 900 and 1000 and, Brabus says, further develops the Axopar 37 platform.
- The boat is rated for 10 passengers in category B and 12 in category C, which Brabus labels offshore and coastal. It sleeps two, or four with an optional aft cabin.
- Brabus has not published a price for the 38 range.
Brabus Announced the 38 Range in May
Brabus Marine announced the Shadow 38 range on May 5, after a media briefing in Mallorca. Its release described the two boats as successors to the Shadow 900 and 1000 and as a further development of the Axopar 37 platform.
The Shadow 850 XC Cross Cabin pairs two Mercury 425 V10 outboards for 850 hp and a claimed 55 knots, or 63 mph.
Brabus’s site listed the 850 XC as coming soon on October 7.
| Specification | Brabus Shadow 1000 XC Cross Cabin |
|---|---|
| Length | 38 ft (11.6 m) |
| Beam | 11 ft (3.35 m) |
| Draft | 2 ft 9 in (0.85 m) |
| Weight | 11,905 lbs (5,400 kg), without engines or options |
| Engines | Twin Mercury Racing 500R V8 outboards |
| Power | 736 kW (1,000 hp) |
| Top speed | Up to 60 knots (111 km/h, 69 mph) |
| Hull | Twin-stepped 20-degree V |
| Passengers | 10 in category B, 12 in category C |
| Berths | Two; four with the optional aft cabin |
Twin 16-Inch Displays and a Joystick at the Helm
The helm has a Brabus steering wheel and two 16-inch Simrad NSS EVO4 displays. Radar, a FLIR night-vision camera with a 360-degree view and a rear-view camera are available. Joystick piloting, which Mercury calls JPO, works with a bow thruster for docking.
Gullwing doors give access to the bow cabin. The aft deck can be ordered open, with bench seating and a wet bar, or with a second cabin. Fold-down activity platforms are offered with the open deck and cannot be combined with the aft cabin. Air conditioning for the main cabin is on the equipment list.
The show boat’s Black Ops finish combines dark paint, exposed carbon fiber and red stripes with Graphite upholstery outside and a lighter shade called Moonstone inside. Brabus says owners can change the layout, colors and trim.
The cargo bed of Brabus’s XLP 800 Adventure pickup is lined with Soft-Teak, a decking Brabus says it also uses on its boats.
Brabus Lists 15 U.S. Marine Locations for Shadow Boats
Brabus’s dealer list names 15 marine locations in the United States. On the West Coast they are Jeff Brown Yachts branches in Sausalito, Newport Beach, San Diego and Seattle. Florida has six locations across four dealer groups.
Above the 38 range, the 45-foot Shadow 1500 carries three Mercury Racing V8s for 1,500 hp. Axopar’s October 2025 release for the U.S. debut of the 45-foot boats priced the Shadow 1200 from $1,675,000 and the Shadow 1500 from $1,750,000, both with the Sun Top body. The Cross Cabin versions were $1,775,000 and $1,850,000. Neither company has given a U.S. figure for the 38-foot boats.
Brabus announced two Shadow 500 boats for its Pebble Beach display in August.
The Larger Cross Cabin Boats Were $1,775,000 and Up
The Shadow 1000 XC Cross Cabin puts 1,000 hp of Mercury Racing outboards on a 38-foot hull for a claimed 60 knots, with a category B rating for 10 people. The 850 hp Shadow 850 XC is five knots slower and listed as coming soon. Axopar priced the 45-foot Cross Cabin boats at $1,775,000 and $1,850,000 in the United States in October 2025, and neither company has published a price for the 38 range.
Frequently Asked Questions
How fast is the Brabus Shadow 1000 XC?
Brabus’s product page states a top speed of 60 knots, which is 111 km/h or 69 mph. Its May 2026 release described the figure as nearly 60 knots, and Brabus notes that performance varies with equipment, weather and load.
What engines does the Brabus Shadow 1000 XC have?
It has two Mercury Racing 500R V8 outboards, rated at 500 hp each for a combined 736 kW, or 1,000 hp. The Shadow 850 XC uses two Mercury 425 V10 outboards.
How big is the Brabus Shadow 1000 XC?
It is 38 feet, or 11.6 meters, long with a beam of 11 feet. It weighs 11,905 pounds without engines or optional equipment and draws 2 feet 9 inches.
How much does the Brabus Shadow 1000 XC cost?
Brabus has not published a price for the 38 range. Axopar’s October 2025 U.S. release priced the larger 45-foot Shadow 1200 from $1,675,000.
Who builds Brabus boats?
Brabus Marine develops the Shadow range with Axopar, a Finnish boatbuilder. Brabus says the 38 range further develops the Axopar 37 platform.
How many people can the Brabus Shadow 1000 XC carry?
It is rated for 10 passengers in category B and 12 in category C, which Brabus labels offshore and coastal. It sleeps two, or four with the optional aft cabin.
What is the difference between the Shadow 1000 XC and the Shadow 850 XC?
Both use the same 38-foot hull. The 1000 XC has twin 500 hp Mercury Racing V8s and a claimed 60 knots, and the 850 XC has twin 425 hp Mercury V10s and a claimed 55 knots.
Where can you buy a Brabus boat in the United States?
Brabus’s dealer list names 15 U.S. marine locations. They include Jeff Brown Yachts in Sausalito, Newport Beach, San Diego and Seattle, and dealers in Florida, Alabama, North Carolina, Michigan and Wisconsin.
Michael Kahn
Michael Kahn is the writer, photographer, and publisher behind The Weekly Driver. He cares about how cars drive and what they're like to own. He covers automobile industry news, car shows and events, and new car reviews. The reviews come from behind the wheel: day trips that favor back routes, treating a good meal as half the reason to go. He directs and produces the visual media, matching each car to a setting and mood that fit it. When he's not reviewing new cars, Michael races paddleboards, camels, and ostriches, along with the occasional exotic car on the racetrack, and has driven in every state and country visited.
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