Just when you thought nothing interesting was happening in the high-performance offshore powerboat world—Mercedes AMG and Cigarette Racing Team have teamed up to create a dazzling Cigarette boat. The unique 42-footer and its inspiration—the SLS AMG—will be unveiled Thursday, Feb. 11, 2010 at the Miami International Boat Show.

The press event will be by invitation only that evening at 7 p.m. Those who cannot make the show can simultaneously watch the unveiling online by clicking on Cigarette’s countdown link at that time.

The display of both the Cigarette boat and SLS AMG will be open to the public from Friday morning, Feb. 12 through Monday, Feb. 15, 2010, at booth # B23 in the Miami Beach Convention Center.

Why this boat, and why now?

“Part of the reason we’ve partnered with AMG is we’re trying to reach a broader market,” Braver, owner and CEO of Cigarette Racing Team in Opa-Lock, Fla., told me in a phone interview yesterday afternoon. “We’re trying to put this high-performance luxury boat in front of the guys who buy high-performance luxury automobiles. It’s a natural fit.”

While each brand’s playground is “as different as asphalt and water,” according to a press release from Cigarette Racing Team, both AMG and Cigarette use their racing expertise and heritage to develop high performance machines for passionate enthusiasts.  The Cigarette offering take direct inspiration from the all-new Mercedes-Benz SLS AMG super sports car. It is not, however, an “imitation” of the vehicle.

“We implemented styling cues from the SLS AMG, but a boat is supposed to look like a boat, and a car is supposed to look like a car,” said Braver.

According to the press release, the Cigarette AMG offshore powerboat will feature more than 100 innovations included in the design, development and rigging of the boat such as:

Lightweight Design—To maximize performance, safety and efficiency, innovative building techniques were employed to ensure the hull is as strong and light as possible.

Innovative Hull Design—Cigarette Racing has incorporated lessons learned from its Mercury Racing-powered170-plus-mph speed-record boat into the hull design to offer a fast and smooth ride in the most demanding conditions.

Technology Advancements—Revolutionary technology will be on display in the “Inspired by AMG” Cigarette powerboat. From the paint to its electronics to its power plants, every component of this boat has been chosen specifically to enhance the powerboating experience.

Efficiency—With a lightweight design and special attention being paid to aerodynamics and power plants, this boat will be the most efficient ever produced in its class.

“I have always been an AMG Mercedes enthusiast,” Braver, said in the press release. (Braver’s  prior business experience included exotic cars.)  This is an unprecedented pairing of power brands, forged in mutual respect.  This boat will be revolutionary in many ways that will be revealed on Thursday evening to the press.  On Friday morning, the public will be able to see the results of our over two year effort.”

Power and propulsion details for the boat, which according to Cigarette will top 120 mph, will not be revealed until the boat is unveiled at the Miami International Boat Show.