After helping transition VICE into the moving-image era in the early 2000s and becoming the first director to harness drones for jaw-dropping automotive films, Chris Kippenberger has worked with the heaviest hitters: Bentley, Rolls-Royce, Porsche, Mercedes, you name it. In 2020, he launched VÉHICULE as this wild, multi-channel beast exploring avant-garde transportation, from custom G-Wagens to high-powered marine projects inspired by Miami's outlaw powerboat past.





The VÉHICULE Racing Team is an interdisciplinary collective proudly adorned with a portfolio of world champion and European champion titles.
The VÉHICULE Racing Team is an interdisciplinary collective proudly adorned with a portfolio of world champion and European champion titles.




We caught up with Chris in Miami, somewhere between a Cigarette and a cold brew, to talk about the water in a way that feels more outlaw than yacht club. He didn't hold back.

What does the perfect boat look like?

A 41 or 47-foot Apache race boat. Strictly the ones built before 1988 (ifykyk).





Ben Kramer's 47' Apache, Image by VÉHICULE<br/>
Ben Kramer's 47' Apache, Image by VÉHICULE




Who are you taking with you on a cruise around the world?

I don't cruise.

What current trends are you supporting?

None. It's not a boat industry, it's an outboard industry, and the boat builders are slaves to Mercury.





VÉHICULE Racing Team European and World Champions, Image by VÉHICULE<br/>
VÉHICULE Racing Team European and World Champions, Image by VÉHICULE




Best boat brand?

High-speed cruiser under $1 million: Otam. Center console: Contender. Sailboat: Wally (not their other boats, they suck). These days I'm more into steel-hull cruisers. I also like all kinds of ribs.





VÉHICULE Racing Cat
VÉHICULE Racing Cat




Worst experience on a boat?

Every time I'm on one. Also, the people in the industry are terrible. And I previously worked in Hollywood and fashion, which are famous for being scummy.





VÉHICULE Carbon Daysailer, Image by Boats.com<br/>
VÉHICULE Carbon Daysailer, Image by Boats.com




Average boat owner: friend or foe?

Foe. 100000%.

What will the boat industry look like in 2040?

EV capsules and submarines since the rich will flee underwater to escape environmetal conditions and war.





VÉHICULE Alpha-Centauri Boat
VÉHICULE Alpha-Centauri Boat

Written by: Vehicule Magazine
VÉHICULE Magazine is an ad-free publication celebrating the high-performance world of offshore powerboating and cutting-edge transportation. With a focus on the intersection of design, speed, and culture, it delivers carefully curated, collector-worthy print editions handcrafted in Germany. Through exclusive content and a bold editorial style, VÉHICULE explores the artistry and innovation driving the high-performance lifestyle, earning praise as “brash, cultured, and curious” by VOGUE.