Premier lifestyle and performance boat manufacturer, Cigarette Racing shocked audiences in attendance at the Miami International Boat Show in Miami Beach, Florida this past weekend with the reveal of its “E-Jet” personal watercraft concept. To those following the Opa Locka-based boat builder closely will note that the unveiling of the PWC was foretold over 6 months earlier:
John H. Ruiz, a Miami attorney and co-owner of Cigarette with Ophir Sternberg, CEO of Lionheart Capital, told Robb Report in August 2021, “We plan to build a 130-footer and also a line of personal watercraft. You’re going to see a lot more products in the brand, with an even more sophisticated build process. We have many new concepts that are patent pending.”
True to his word, Ruiz displayed a series of conceptual renderings of the E-Jet in Miami. Slated with an MSRP of $39,700, the E-Jet offers boaters and watercraft enthusiasts few options available anywhere else: Namely, the 2023 model unit will offer a choice of powertrains, a fully exposed carbon fiber construction, front and rear lighting, a collision avoidance system, and dual HD displays.
Buyers will have a choice of a forced-induction, gasoline-fueled internal combustion engine (ICE) capable of speeds as high as 75mph (although USCG prohibit speeds above 68mph) – or an electric powerplant with a top speed of 64mph with “a full charge ride time of 2 hours, as well as a quick charge feature giving riders 30 minutes of ride time with just a 2 minute charge.”
Born from a collaboration between Cigarette Racing, Alberto Mancini Yacht Design and NGI, the E-Jet will feature large, HD touch screen displays both at the helm as well as integrated into the handle bar pad. Currently a conceptual design, The Watercraft Journal expects to see many of the rendering’s sharper edges be softened out of safety for riders. Equally, we expect the dual jet nozzle to be reduced to one.
Either way, Cigarette Racing is serious about entering the personal watercraft market – and its E-Jet will certainly place itself at the top of the heap for luxury and design. The company is currently taking pre-orders and currently has received over $2,500,000 in deposits according to Diana Diaz, Chief Communications Officer for Cigarette Racing. Look to The Watercraft Journal for further details and an exclusive interview with John and Alex Ruiz in coming weeks.
