Italian supercars are typically stop-and-stare-worthy, but ARES Design, a coachbuilder out of Modena, Italy, just dropped something we might be staring at a bit longer than usual. It’s called “Project Panther.”
In a nutshell, the Panther is a Lamborghini Huracan underneath, with an original body on top inspired by the De Tomaso Pantera. The wedge-shaped nose, rear buttresses and flat engine cover certainly remind us of the Pantera from the 1970s, but the pop-up headlights really make it a beautiful hybrid of classic and modern design. It’s been a long time since we saw pop-up headlights on a new car, so we applaud the decision to incorporate those despite the difficulties that abound.
Here’s a 1972 De Tomaso Pantera for comparison.
Of course, being built on a Huracan chassis and sharing its drivetrain means the Panther should deliver performance similar to its Italian brethren. The 5.2-liter V10 engine, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and all-wheel drive should launch the Panther to 60 in about three seconds, and we’d imagine a top speed near 200 mph isn’t out of the question. ARES isn’t talking specs right now, but there’s always the chance it squeezes more power out of the Huracan’s engine by the time it’s done.
These are the only photos that ARES has made available for now, but more information should be coming soon because Project Panther is set to go on sale during the second half of 2018. This being a coachbuilt supercar, production numbers will be extremely low, and the company says it has already received a few deposits on cars.
The Panther will be built at ARES’ production facility in Modena, Italy.
It’s interesting to note that this is ARES’ first supercar, but with ex-Lotus CEO Dany Bahar at the helm, it’s safe to say the car should be a hoot to drive. Project Panther will be the halo car for now, but ARES also mentions it has “much more to come in 2018.” We hope that means more cars with design and performance as alluring as this one.
Zac Palmer – Editorial Intern Zac Palmer has probably spent more time in a car than any other 21-year old in the country. He likes anything that can go around a corner, and is surely talking about a car wherever he might be.
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