The GT40 Coupe provides the LYG-size headline

The Gran Turismo 40 Coupe sits above the smaller dayboats also scheduled for Melbourne and brings the latest generation of BENETEAU express-cruiser design to Australian buyers. Its enclosed hardtop format is intended to deliver year-round comfort while retaining the social deck layout associated with the Gran Turismo range.

For LYG readers, the model is more relevant than the smaller Antares and Oceanis boats in the same display because it crosses the 12-metre threshold into the luxury-yacht segment. It therefore gives the show a genuine production-yacht debut rather than only a collection of smaller recreational craft.

Asia-Pacific buyers get their first local look

Melbourne will provide buyers in Australia and the wider region with their first local opportunity to inspect the new-generation GT40 Coupe. That matters because layout, visibility, cockpit protection and interior finish are difficult to judge fully from renderings and launch photography alone.

A regional premiere also reduces the need for prospective owners to travel to Europe or the United States to inspect the yacht. Local dealer support and the ability to compare the model against other boats in the Australian market can materially affect purchasing decisions.

The display mixes power and sail

BENETEAU’s wider Melbourne fleet includes several smaller Antares dayboats and two sailing models, creating an eight-boat presentation across different use cases. The GT40 Coupe sits near the top of that display in terms of size, comfort and intended ownership profile.

This mixed fleet lets visitors see how the builder’s design approach changes as boats become larger and more accommodation-focused. For buyers moving up from smaller dayboats, the GT40 Coupe can act as a natural bridge into more substantial overnight and coastal cruising.

Melbourne strengthens BENETEAU’s regional presence

The builder is exhibiting with Australian dealer Sundance Marine, reinforcing the importance of local sales and service support around new-model introductions. The event runs at Docklands from October 15 to 18 and is one of the key spring boating events in the Australian market.

For LYG, the significance is straightforward: a current-generation luxury motor yacht in the 12–24m sector is receiving its regional debut. That makes the GT40 Coupe one of the most relevant new-model stories at the 2026 Melbourne show.

Official sources: www.beneteau.com.