Since its launch five years ago, the Italian shipbuilder Wider has introduced some very forward-thinking designs. The Wider 42 express cruiser, for instance, has decks that lift outward from the side to double the square footage of the main cockpit. The Wider 165 superyacht not only looks futuristic but has unique features such as environmentally friendly diesel-electric engines and a tender garage at the stern that can convert into a swimming pool. From its inception, Wider’s founder, Tilli Antonelli, has focused the company on projects that go beyond cosmetics to actually change the yachting experience, and the new Wider 125—introduced in February at the Miami boat show—promises to do just that.

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Like the 150 (Wider’s first superyacht) and the 165 (now under construction), the 125 is powered by a diesel-electric propulsion system—the first time such a system has been used on a yacht so small. When running completely under battery power, the yacht produces zero emissions and is much quieter than it would be with a typical diesel installation. Wider placed the air-conditioning systems and the stabilizers in the bow to make the engine room—or power-generator room, as the company calls it—more compact.

Thanks to the small size of the engine room, Fulvio De Simoni, Wider’s head of design, was able to appropriate much more interior space for the four guest staterooms at the rear of the lower deck. The veteran designer also made sure to supersize the full-beam owner’s suite on the main deck, just in front of the saloon; it includes a study and floor-to-ceiling windows.

Wider has also developed several interior layouts specifically for U.S. customers, who generally prefer a galley on the main deck, adjacent to the saloon. This configuration allows a gym to occupy the space on the lower deck where the galley is located on the European version.

The 125 also features a plunge pool, a hot tub, alfresco dining areas, a skylounge that can open to the elements, and sun lounges at both the bow and the stern. The 26-foot beam and floor-to-ceiling windows give the main saloon a palatial feel.

“Our primary mission with this boat was to offer exceptional range without compromising on the alluring lines that our boats are known for,” says Antonelli. And the projected performance figures are impressive: The Wider 125 has a range of over 4,100 miles at 10 knots, or about 3,000 miles at 12 knots. (wider-yachts.com)