Autoblog and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Who is Belassi?For readers who also delve into the world of watercraft, Belassi should be a familiar name. For those who aren't, it specializes in marine vehicles and powertrains. More specifically, it builds hypercrafts, essentially superbikes for the water.Yes, we know the name of this website is Autoblog, but we can't help but admire the engineering that goes into powertrains and hypercrafts. You have to admit, a company that builds three-cylinder engines with much more power than a Toyota GR Corolla will get anyone's attention.BelassiFor Those Who Need to Go Fast on WaterBelassi builds three versions of its insane three-cylinder engines, ranging from wild to 'pray to your chosen higher being.' All are turbocharged with 1.6-liter engines, just like a GR Corolla, but that's where the similarities end.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe cylinder lining is NSC-coated, and to withstand the stresses the three-pot engine will face, it also has a forged crankshaft. Given its compact packaging, the exhaust system is water-cooled with water injection.The engine features a full dry-sump 6-stage gear pump and open-loop cooling. The 'base' version features a Mitsubishi turbo, while the other two come with beefier Garrett units. The Mitsubishi turbo also powered many junior performance models from, well, Mitsubishi, and it was applied to early versions of the Subaru WRX and the Subaru Forester XT. Even Volvo and Saab used the Mitsubishi turbo for their models from back in the dayBelassiWild, Wilder, WildestSo, how much power do these 1.6-liter engines make? The 'base' version makes 260 hp, which is good in a car but insane in something as light as a jet ski. That's the one with the Mitsubishi turbo, and probably more than enough for most folks.In the middle sits the one with 330 hp, and the first one to get a Garrett turbo. It already makes more power than a GR Corolla, which puts out 300 hp. But for the wealthy folks feeling extra brave, the 400 hp sits at the top and can rev up to 8,300 rpm.AdvertisementAdvertisementTo put that into perspective, one cylinder of this engine puts out more than the engine under the hood of a Hyundai Venue. It makes 133 hp per cylinder, whereas the subcompact Hyundai's entire 1.6-liter mill churns out 121 hp. The hypercraft, equipped with a 400-hp engine, is said to hit 60 mph from rest in under three seconds... on the water. Hunter S. Thompson's essay, Song of the Sausage Creature, comes to mind.Did we mention Belassi plans to build a 500-hp version of its already insane three-cylinder? At the moment, the company is trying to find ways to make the tiny block handle that power reliably. Once that's out, it'll basically be the Koenigsegg Gemera of the water world.BelassiThis story was originally published by Autoblog on Jun 1, 2026, where it first appeared in the Cars section. Add Autoblog as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
