2026 Evo Yachts R4 Icone Boat Review: Italian Style Evolves Again
Unveiled at Cannes 2025, the Evo Yachts R4 Icone refines the Italian builder’s iconic dayboat with a longer hull, sleek hardtop, and smarter layouts for greater comfort and versatility.
September 22, 2025
Evo Yachts has always been known for pushing the envelope when it comes to blending Italian design with practical, owner-friendly layouts. Their R4 series turned heads when it first appeared, and later evolutions of the model cemented Evo’s place in the boutique performance-luxury segment. Now, with the unveiling of the Evo Yachts R4 Icone at the Cannes Yachting Festival 2025, the Italian yard has reimagined its best-selling platform once again—stretching the hull, refining the lines, and doubling down on comfort and versatility.
Above: Cannes Yachting Show Debut Evo Yachts R4 Icone. Photo by Evo Yachts.
For buyers who have admired Evo’s daring shapes but wished for a little more liveability across the seasons, the R4 Icone is positioned as the answer. It’s bigger, sleeker, and smarter, with design tweaks that make it a more practical cruising machine without sacrificing the brand’s signature minimalist look.
Above: 2026 Evo Yachts R4 Icone. Photo by Evo Yachts.
Design Evolution
The original R4 stood out for its sharp, aggressive profile and the signature Evo “expandable beach club.” But the new Icone edition evolves that formula in meaningful ways.
Longer Hull: At just over one meter longer than the standard R4, the Icone carries more volume where it matters—cockpit, galley, and cabin.
Aluminum Hard Top: Unlike the earlier open-air versions, the Icone incorporates a sleek aluminum roof structure that offers shelter without feeling heavy. It transforms the boat into a more all-weather cruiser, bridging the gap between dayboat and weekender.
Refined Styling: Subtler curves, thinner superstructure, and a rebalanced stern give the Icone a more mature, slightly more luxurious presence while retaining Evo’s “edgy” DNA.
Inside and out, the R4 Icone’s styling shows that Evo Yachts listened to owners who loved the sportiness but wanted greater comfort for longer stays aboard.
Deck & Exterior
Step aboard the R4 Icone, and the first thing you’ll notice is space. The extra hull length translates into a more generous cockpit, and Evo has used that gain wisely.
Modular Cockpit Seating: Evo pioneered reconfigurable furniture, and the Icone keeps that legacy alive. Modular sofas slide, fold, and pivot to create sunpads, lounges, or a dining space as needed.
Expandable Beach Club: True to Evo tradition, the transom bulwarks fold outward at anchor, nearly doubling the usable deck area at the stern. This “transformer” effect remains one of the brand’s signature wow-factors.
Sheltered Helm & Social Zone: With the new aluminum hardtop, the helm station and forward cockpit remain shaded even in summer heat. Integrated LED lighting makes this area just as appealing for night cruising or dockside entertaining.
Compared to the older R4, the Icone feels like a boat designed for lingering. Longer lunches at anchor, late-night cocktails, or even shoulder-season cruising all fit naturally into its redesigned layout.
Interior Comfort
Below deck, Evo has pushed the boundaries of what a compact luxury cruiser can feel like.
Cabins: The Icone offers a forward owner’s cabin with improved headroom, plus a mid-cabin suitable for guests or children.
Materials & Finishes: Italian craftsmanship is obvious—light oak, soft fabrics, and indirect lighting give the interior a yacht-like warmth.
Galley & Head: A small but well-equipped galley sits to port, while the head compartment benefits from Evo’s decision to widen the beam and lengthen the hull, giving just enough space for proper showering.
While the original R4 leaned heavily toward being a dayboat, the Icone tilts toward weekender or short-cruise yacht. Couples can now stay comfortably for two or three nights, with space to host another couple or small family.
Performance & Power
Evo has never built boats just to look good—they also have to move. The R4 Icone continues that tradition with standard twin Volvo Penta IPS 650 engines, delivering responsive joystick handling and plenty of punch.
Top Speed: Expect cruising in the 30-knot range with a top speed closer to 40 knots, depending on load and configuration.
Handling: IPS drives give precise control around marinas, making the Icone an approachable yacht for owner-operators.
Efficiency: Despite the added length, the hull design remains optimized for fast, efficient cruising.
This combination makes the Icone equally suited for weekend runs from Miami to the Keys, a quick dash between Italian islands, or leisurely evenings anchored off Cannes.
Comfort Across Seasons
Perhaps the biggest difference with the Icone is its year-round usability.
The new hardtop and windscreen extend the boating season beyond summer.
Owners in cooler climates—or those who don’t want to roast under a Mediterranean sun—will appreciate the added shade and shelter.
Heating and A/C systems are easier to integrate thanks to the revised superstructure.
For U.S. buyers in the Northeast, Pacific Northwest, or even the Great Lakes, these changes make the Icone a more practical investment than earlier, more open Evo models.
Availability: Europe First, But U.S. on Deck
Because it was unveiled at Cannes 2025, initial deliveries will almost certainly go to European buyers. That said, Evo Yachts already sells earlier R4 models in the United States through dealers in Florida and California. It’s reasonable to expect the Icone trim to follow soon, though in limited numbers at first.
For American buyers, the takeaway is this: if you want one of the first Icones stateside, now is the time to talk to Evo’s U.S. representatives about custom orders and delivery slots.
Who Is It For?
The Evo R4 Icone sits in an interesting niche:
Style Seekers: Owners who appreciate modern, minimalist design but want a boat that feels more than just a flashy day cruiser.
Couples & Young Families: The improved accommodations make short cruising trips realistic.
Entertainers: That expandable beach club is still one of the coolest features in the segment.
If you’re the type who wants a boat that stands out in any marina, offers Italian flair, and can pull double duty as both social hub and short-cruise platform, the Icone checks the boxes.
Final Thoughts
The Evo Yachts R4 Icone is not just another trim level—it’s a thoughtful redesign that transforms Evo’s already iconic model into something more versatile, comfortable, and season-proof. By stretching the hull, adding a hard top, and refining the styling, Evo has created a boat that can appeal not only to Mediterranean dayboaters but also to U.S. buyers looking for a blend of performance and practicality.
At Cannes 2025, the Icone proved that Evo isn’t standing still—it’s evolving. For boaters who want something different from the cookie-cutter cruisers on the market, the Icone delivers personality, comfort, and undeniable Italian style.
