First look: Malibu’s new board-friendly Axis A225

We’re seeing the first of the new production boats to come off Malibu’s Albury, NSW manufacturing line.

The new 22.5-foot model will sit at the top of the Axis range that includes the pickle fork-bowed 6.1-metre Axis A20 and the traditional bowed 6.68-metre Malibu T220 ushered in last year as a replacement for the Axis T20.

All the boats sit on Malibu’s Wake Plus hull, which is optimised for wake sports.

The new Axis A225 features a pickle fork bow design that makes the bow lounge much roomier compared with the traditional bow, increasing the onboard passenger capacity – up to 15 people in this instance.

The Axis A225 is designed specifically for wake surfing and wakeboarding.

Powerplant choices include Malibu’s Monsoon range, with owners able to select either the 360hp/540Nm M5Di 5.3-litre V8 direct-injection V8, or the 430hp 6.2-litre V8 direct-injection engine that produces 620Nm.

The engines will both swing a 15-inch prop.

Standard ballast will measure 510 litres, with the option of expanding what’s on offer to 1893kg when combined with Malibu’s Power Wedge III which helps to increase wake height – something for those who take their wake formation seriously.

Malibu Australia is also expected to soon launch a new Malibu-branded model, the Malibu Wakesetter 22 LSV.

The first deliveries of the Axis A225 are expected to roll into customers' hands in January.