boatieblog: Miami Boat Show: Ilmor’s New MV8-570 [w/photos]

My ears were suddenly shocked with a thunderous crack! Growing up in the lightning capital of the United States my first instinct was a nearby lightning strike, only the rumble and pop didn’t stop. After the initial crack, the noise settled into the bark and snarl of, not one, but two naturally aspirated V8 engines. After my ears were filled with that noise, I am convinced that Zeus himself must have come to the future and copied the sound from Ilmor’s new MV8-570 engines when he created his thunder.

Ilmor released a brand new engine at this year’s Miami Boat Show, the MV8-570 (marine V8, 570 horsepower). And thank goodness it wasn’t enough for Ilmor to just bring a silent engine to sit on a polished pedestal, they partnered with Formula Boats to bring two of the 570’s ready to thunder to life in a Formula 353 FAS3Tech. We were fortunate enough to catch a demo ride, click past the jump to learn more about the 570’s and our ride into the danger zone.

The 570 is built on the same architecture as Ilmor’s current MV8-7.4L. Ilmor basically took the current 7.4 (polite and powerful) and turned it into a bad-ass (outspoken and brutal). The engine is hand built around GM’s proven LS cylinder block. The engine gurus (we are talking Indycar and F1 heritage here) took the block and redesign the internals to be stronger, more durable, and or course marinized. Some of the key features of the 570 are a cast iron block and aluminum heads, variable valve timing, over temp protection mode, knock detection with auto-protect, 570 HP at 6,000 RPM; all of that power and tech and it also conform to EPA, CARB, and EU emissions standards.

We can talk about this engine all we want, but the real excitement starts when she thunders to life. (At this point I have to admit I am quite embarrassed; it was my job to record the boat rumble to life and yet somehow I managed to only record my blue shirt and some wind noise.)

Naturally, once you hear the 570s roar to life, all you can think about is experiencing all that go-fast power on the open water. That’s where the Formula 353 FAS3Tech makes the perfect companion to the Ilmor twins we heard earlier. The Formula’s solid stepped hull will give you the confidence you’re going to want with over a thousand ponies bucking below deck.

Although the Formula technicians were still dialing in the propellers for this particular configuration, the 353 FAS3Tech wasted no time rocketing up to 81mph. The engines screamed to 6000 rpm, unleashing all 1140 HP. As our speed peaked, I couldn’t help but slip my head above the shelter of the windshield; my ears immediately pressurized by the rushing wind felt as if they would burst. And don’t be fooled into thinking the 570s are all noise and go-fast goodness, take a look under the hood. They have plenty of beauty to go with all that brawn.