FIM Regina 500: Homage to 007 - flagship inspired by the James Bond film "Goldfinger"
Jan-Ole Puls
· 12.01.2025
The Fabbrica Italiana Motoscafi shipyard - FIM for short - is known for its range of elegant motor yachts. The smallest measures 34 feet, the largest is our test boat, the FIM 500 Regina, at 50 feet. The boats are built in the province of Bergamo. More than 20,000 square metres of shipyard space are available here. The production halls are 5,000 square metres in size, which is equivalent to around three quarters of a football pitch.
Special colour as a tribute
The FIM 500 Regina is moored in Mirabello harbour. The clear waters of the harbour are reflected in her immaculate paintwork. Alessandra Suardi, Managing Director of the press agency that works for FIM, explains to us that the colour is something special. "The paint is called Silver Birch and is known from the James Bond films. The Aston Martin DB 5 from the film 'Goldfinger' wears this colour. But the newly presented DB12 in the Goldfinger version is also delivered in this colour. It was designed as a special model as a tribute to the relationship between the former James Bonds.
If you look at the rear, the 500 looks very wide. The maximum width is 4.40 metres. That sounds wide, but to be honest it isn't. A Bavaria S45 with a width of 4.41 metres is only five feet shorter in the same dimension. A Sirena 48 flybridge is already almost five metres wide - so the 4.40 metres is normal in comparison.
There is also a bathing platform at the stern that can be lowered hydraulically. On the one hand, it facilitates access to the water, and on the other, it opens the way to the tender garage. The garage is concealed under the stern couch and offers space for a tender up to 2.85 metres long. This is unusual and otherwise only found on larger ships. The tender is raised using a roller and winch system. An air compressor is also installed. This means that the tender can be inflated directly in the garage - a cool idea.
The layout on board the FIM Regina 500
We step on board via the integrated, 3.20 metre-long gangway and stand in front of the aforementioned stern couch. It measures 2.20 x 2.30 metres and offers space for three to four people. Behind it is a U-shaped sofa with a large table. This cannot be lowered, but you don't need to, as the sunbathing area is huge.
The dropside on both sides can be folded down. The so-called balcony doors then increase the space at the rear enormously. The wide side deck leads past the striking superstructure to the bow. A sunbathing area has also been provided here. A bench seat can also be moved. This means that the view can be changed to either the bow or the stern. If the bench is pushed towards the bow, there is space for a small table. This creates more privacy, especially in busy harbours. Back under the hinged hardtop, we find the aforementioned dining area and a small wet bar. A sink and an electric hob are installed here. There is also a 65-litre refrigerator.
A staircase leads to the control stand. This is equipped with two 16" plotters, a joystick control and, of course, the usual controls. Even a small compass has found its way into the cockpit.
How the FIM Regina 500 performed during the test drive
Before the weather changes, we want to sail the boat. The Mediterranean awaits us with small, long waves and little wind - perfect for our test. Outside the harbour, we step on the gas. We accelerate the 17.5 tonnes past the many naval vessels in the Gulf of La Spezia. Seven, ten and finally 15 knots are quickly reached. The boat goes straight ahead without any problems. It also takes bends well. At the same time, the boat feels a little sluggish. That doesn't bother you, you just have to be aware of it. The circles are correspondingly large. The radius is between six and eight boat lengths.
The boat is powered by two IPS engines. In our case, the IPS 800 are installed, which together deliver 1200 hp. The smaller IPS 650 with 480 hp per engine is fitted as standard. The engine housing is tidy and has an exemplary finish. Almost everything is covered with sound insulation, which also has a positive effect when driving. Even at full throttle, no higher values than 79 db(A) are measured at the helm. The economical planing speed is 21.5 knots and 2250 revolutions per minute. We slowly return to the harbour. We dock using the joystick and it promptly starts to rain. Let's go below deck.
The cabins and the special interior
The interior was designed by LDI Design Studio. Known for the Ferretti 860 and the Riva Argo 90, among others, the designers were allowed to let off steam on the FIM and incorporated some superyacht details. The most striking is probably the choice of colours and the toilet in the owner's area. But more on that later.
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The boat has two cabins. In the bow is the guest cabin with its own bathroom. It has a washbasin, an electric toilet and a shower with indirect lighting and a recessed shower head. It looks good and is reminiscent of a modern luxury hotel. The bathroom door is held to the floor by magnets - a good idea. The bed in the owner's cabin is comfortably upholstered and equipped with a 14-centimetre thick mattress. On the way to the underfloor cabin, which serves as the owner's cabin, you pass a hidden refrigerator. This is concealed behind a door and opens at the touch of a button. If required, a small galley can also be installed in the "gangway".
Once we arrive in the owner's cabin, better known as the suite, a 1.50 x 2.00 metre double bed awaits us. The entire cabin is covered with a long-pile carpet in a white colour. Black accents complete the picture. There are large windows on both sides. Indirect lighting, television and air conditioning are also included. But the highlight of the ship is yet to come. The bathroom in the owner's cabin is huge and has everything that a "normal bathroom" has. But what makes it special is that there are two glass walls in the shower. This means you can look onto the bed while showering, but also the other way round.
What is particularly noticeable throughout the interior is the workmanship. Every gap is perfect, the transitions are without edges and there is not even the slightest imperfection to be found anywhere. Of course, for the price of just under 1.13 million euros including VAT, you can expect a lot. However, it must also be said that other manufacturers in the same price range are nowhere near as fond of detail. The floor is also unusual. It consists of two different coloured woods arranged in a kind of mosaic. There are also many large mirrored surfaces and eye-catching colours. This makes the interior look much larger than it actually is. We really like the design - finally something new and unusual.
Technical data
- CE category: B/16
- Length over everything: 16,10 m
- Width: 4,40 m
- Displacement: 17,500 kg
- Depth: 1,40 m
- Fresh water tank: 400 l
- Fuel tank: 2 x 750 litres
- Sleeping places: 4
- Test motorisation: 2 x 600 hp
- Price: from € 1.13 million
- Price: fimotoscafi.com
Conclusion
The FIM Regina 500 is a statement of style in yacht building. It reflects the best of Italian design and at the same time fulfils the requirements of modern yacht owners. The build quality is particularly noteworthy. We sailed one of the first models and hope that the shipyard will keep it that way.
Safe driving characteristics
Exceptional interior
Rear garage for a 2.85 metre tender
