With Sanlorenzo SX120 debuts Volvo Penta’s new IPS Professional platform

By Press Mare

31/07/2025 - 09:51

At the 2025 Cannes Yachting Festival, the SX120 will make its debut, an important model as it becomes the new flagship of Sanlorenzo's SX line – a yacht that marks the shipyard's entry into a new design phase. Designed to position itself within the superyacht segment under the 500 GT threshold, the SX120 stands out as the first leisure vessel in the world to use the new Volvo Penta IPS Professional platform, a completely redesigned propulsion system that combines efficiency, comfort, and modularity.

The IPS Professional platform represents a significant evolution of IPS technology, which Sanlorenzo has adopted since 2017 with the launch of the SX88. Since then, the collaboration between the two companies has never stopped. The SX line has been a commercial success for both Sanlorenzo and Volvo Penta, symbolising a shared commitment to a type of yachting that is increasingly efficient, accessible, and environmentally responsible.

Volvo Penta’s new system was developed to bridge the gap between traditional IPS systems for yachts up to 30 metres and heavy-duty pods for commercial vessels, which are too bulky for mid-sized superyachts.

A key feature of the new propulsion platform is its dual engine configuration: each installed pod is paired with two 1,000 hp Volvo Penta D13 engines, managed by an intelligent system capable of modulating power according to the yacht’s operational profile. This approach enables optimised operation at low and medium loads, improving energy efficiency, noise comfort, and manoeuvrability – both in harbour and at sea.

The system is already prepared for future hybrid or full-electric solutions, with possible configurations of three or four pods, and up to eight independent power units. These combinations can include diesel engines, electric motors, batteries, and fuel cells, with the aim of progressively reducing the environmental impact of the product range.

It is worth noting that Sanlorenzo began construction of the SX120 before the IPS Professional platform was fully finalised, relying on the positive outcomes of a long testing campaign carried out by Volvo Penta on a 37-metre passenger catamaran used as a real-world testbed. After six months of operation with a conventional propulsion system, the vessel was refitted with the IPS Professional platform, equipped with four D13 800 engines and an exhaust management system compliant with IMO Tier III regulations concerning NOx emissions from marine engines.

Comparing the catamaran before and after the refit, the results showed, first of all, a weight reduction of around two tonnes and, more importantly, a significant drop in fuel consumption. Thanks to the Eco mode, the vessel could cruise at up to 14 knots using only two engines. Dynamic performance was also improved: from a standstill, the vessel reached 30 knots in 28 seconds, compared to the previous 50 seconds.

The adoption of the IPS Professional platform also allowed Sanlorenzo to rethink the aft section layout of the SX120, integrating a concealed swimming pool into the beach area on the main deck. This demonstrates how the propulsion choice has a notable impact not only from a technical standpoint but also in terms of onboard layout, freeing up usable space and improving the usability of key areas.

The entire IPS Professional system – from counter-rotating propellers to control software – is entirely designed, built, and managed by Volvo Penta, ensuring a high level of integration and an optimised user experience. Advanced features such as assisted docking and dynamic positioning are included in the system package, meeting the needs of owners and captains increasingly focused on simplifying yacht operation and handling.