When you first see the Pershing GTX80like I did recently Cannes Yachting Festivalshe looks a lot like her sisterships in a range known for combining Italian luxury with thrill-inducing performance. There’s the familiar silver paint and bullet-shaped profile that has become synonymous with this brand. But there’s also something a little different about this 78-footer, and it’s not something most people would easily associate with a Pershing. This yacht is intended to be user-friendly rather than a roaring speed demon.

When most people think of Pershing, they picture the iconic super-powered X-Series, a fleet of ships that soar across the water at speeds approaching 58 mph, with dazzling white rooster tails frothing behind them. The launch of Pershing’s 116GTX It was something of a sea change for the brand, continuing the recent trend of manufacturers prioritizing comfort and fuel efficiency over performance. In other words, breakneck speeds are left behind.

The GTX80 still has a respectable top speed of 39.1 mph, still sporty enough for most boaters, but it’s not a true performance boat. It’s a compromise that even the biggest speed freaks happily accept these days. The GTX80’s high end and ease of use are largely due to Pershing’s choice of propulsion. The yacht is powered by three 1,000 hp Volvo Penta IPS1350s. The IPS system makes maneuvering, even for a boat of this size, relatively simple in tight spaces, at low speeds or when reversing in a slip.

As for onboard amenities, one of the most notable features I noticed during my visit was the large beach club, which measures 301 square feet when everything is folded outward. A transformer at the aft end of the swim platform can lower and raise up to three levels from submarine to deck level, while the port and starboard decks lower to extending the width to nearly 29 feet.

Vallicelli Yacht Design created the interior, breaking with the 116 designed by Fulvio De Simoni. The 390 square foot salon has an open design with an aft galley and bar to port. While the 80 is certainly large enough for extended cruises, it is also clear from the layout of the main deck that she will be used extensively as a weekend social for owners and several guests.

Down below, the GTX has four cabins (with an optional three-cabin configuration), including a full-beam midship master and a forward VIP. Guest cabins to port and starboard offer twin berths. The GTX notably has four heads (each with a brushed metallic finish), one more than its sportier cousin, the Pershing 8X. Sleek LED strips light up the rather dark passageway connecting the cabins as well as the bedrooms, lending a futuristic, almost futuristic look. Tron-a similar atmosphere to the design.

The 80GTX will delight most captains with two helm stations: one in the salon and another on the large 250 square foot flybridge. Pershing claims its “skybridge” offers 60 percent more space than its competitors. The upper deck features an optional carbon fiber hardtop, which was on the Cannes ship, a dinette, bar and full-beam aft sunpad. The helm can have up to three pilot seats, while navigation and systems statistics are monitored via two Simrad screens.

But my favorite driving spot is the lower saloon cockpit, a raised area designed for an owner-operator. It offers much better visibility than one would expect on a large Italian sports boat. The carbon fiber dashboard and racing steering wheel add panache to the space, while triple Simrad screens facilitate navigation tasks and the Volvo joystick is used for slow-speed maneuvers and dynamic positioning.

This helm is a departure from the fully piloted Pershings the yachting world is familiar with, but it also offers some versatility to a brand that has, until now, championed performance with unwavering dedication. The 80GTX rolls in a different direction.