Axopar has introduced Simrad NSO 4 as a new premium navigation and control option across selected flagship models, expanding the choice between fully integrated touchscreen operation and displays that retain physical controls. The system is available on the Axopar 45 and BRABUS Shadow 38 ranges and becomes standard on BRABUS Shadow 45 models from model year 2027.

Both NSO 4 and the existing NSS 4 use Simrad’s NEON operating system and share broadly similar underlying capability. The main difference is the interaction model: NSO 4 removes controls from the display glass for a cleaner flush installation, while NSS 4 keeps a physical control wheel for owners who prefer tactile input.

Two interface philosophies at the same helm

Axopar says the choice reflects genuinely different driving preferences rather than a simple hierarchy between old and new hardware. A physical wheel can be located by touch in rough water or with wet hands, while a glass-to-edge touchscreen appeals to owners accustomed to smartphone-style interfaces and minimalist dashboards.

Offering both systems avoids forcing every buyer into the same answer. On a fast boat, helm ergonomics are personal and the best interface is the one a driver can operate accurately without diverting attention from the water for longer than necessary.

NSO 4 becomes the central display hub

The NSO 4 can combine charts, radar, sonar, engine data, onboard systems and camera feeds within one interface. Simrad uses an eight-core processor and says the new generation boots 35 percent faster than its predecessor while supporting multiple simultaneous views without slowing the interface.

On Axopar installations, the Simrad hardware works alongside the dedicated Axopar user interface rather than replacing it. That distinction preserves the boatbuilder’s own controls and status functions while using Simrad for navigation and wider marine-electronics integration.

Twin 16-inch displays lead the Axopar 45 package

Axopar initially offers NSO 4 on the 45 range as a premium twin-16-inch display installation. The BRABUS Shadow 38 can specify the same 16-inch technology through an Extended Navigation Package, while the Shadow 45 adopts the system as standard from the 2027 model year.

The large screens suit the increasing amount of data available at modern helms, but size alone is not the objective. Split-screen camera, radar and chart functions allow the driver to organise information around the current task instead of switching repeatedly between separate devices.

Integration extends beyond navigation

The platform supports C-MAP charts, Halo radar, Simrad sonar modules and integrations with systems including Mercury and CZone. Four-way camera viewing can also bring docking or blind-spot feeds onto the main display, reducing the need for a collection of unrelated screens around the steering position.

That systems integration is becoming more important as yachts below 24 metres gain equipment once reserved for much larger vessels. Owners expect stabilisers, digital switching, engines, cameras and navigation to communicate cleanly without turning the helm into a wall of different manufacturer interfaces.

Cannes gives owners a hands-on comparison

Visitors can experience NSO 4 during the Cannes Yachting Festival aboard a BRABUS Shadow model on the Axopar stand. This is particularly useful for a user-interface change because specification sheets cannot show how quickly a driver can find functions or how the screen behaves in bright daylight.

The wider significance is choice. Axopar is treating electronics as part of the driving experience and allowing owners to decide whether tactile control or a completely clean touchscreen better suits the way they use a fast premium boat.

Helm design is becoming a product choice, not a fixed answer

As electronics become more capable, boatbuilders face a genuine ergonomics question: how much control should live behind glass and how much should remain tactile. Axopar's decision to offer both NSO 4 and NSS 4 acknowledges that experienced drivers do not all want the same interface, especially when a fast boat is moving in chop and precise input matters more than visual minimalism.

The wider significance is that electronics are now part of a yacht's brand experience rather than an interchangeable box installed after delivery. Screen layout, cameras, engine data and switching systems increasingly determine how confidently an owner can use the boat. Giving buyers a choice at specification stage allows Axopar to preserve that integration while accommodating different habits instead of pretending one interface is universally superior.