Ares Design, Engineers of Emotions, in St Moritz

There is no better way to end the year than by showing some photos of the brand new Studio in St. Moritz. 2020 has been an exciting and busy year for Ares Design, and we can’t wait to see what 2021 has in store!

Exciting supercars, elegant grand tourers, luxurious SUVs and refined motorbikes: driven by the craftsmanship of artisan coachbuilders and cutting edge technology of the future, Modena-based Ares designs, creates and hand builds bespoke and limited edition vehicles for its discerning clients from around the world.

Come into the beautiful world of Ares.

Coachbuilt Ares Design Panther is tribute to De Tomaso Pantera

Following many enticing teasers and a camouflaged prototype, Modena-based Ares Design has revealed the Panther ProgettoUno – as it’s now known – coachbuilt supercar in final production specification.

Ares Design Panther Resurrects De Tomaso Pantera As 641HP Coachbuilt Huracan

The first product of Ares Design’s ‘Legends Reborn’ program may be named and styled after the legendary Tom Tjaarda designed 1970’s De Tomaso Pantera, but it is actually a Lamborghini at heart. Where the original Pantera brought together the best of two continents, the the retro-styled Panther ProgettoUno is entirely Italians. Instead of an American V8, this upcoming supercar has the same 5.2-liter V10 as the Lamborghini’s Huracan

In this application, however, the engine develops 650 PS (641 hp) at 8,250 rpm and 600 Nm (442 lb-ft) at 6,500 rpm courtesy of a tuned ECU and exhaust system. The seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and electronically controlled Haldex AWD system stay the same.

Despite packing 10 extra horses and the fact that it practically weighs the same (1,423 kg/3,137 lbs vs. 1,422 kg/3,134 lbs), the Panther is 0.2 seconds slower from 0 to 100 km/h than the latest Huracan Evo, covering the sprint in 3.1 seconds. Top speed, on the other hand, is an identical 325 km/h (201 mph). The company ‘mainly modifies the engine characteristics, the calibration, the gearbox changing times and the way the gearbox changes and of course the exhaust system’ to give the driver a ‘more emotional and more passionate experience’.

The original Pantera and the modern-day donor car share broadly similar dimensions. The donor is considerably wider, but with a wheelbase that is only 12 centimetres longer than the original Pantera it is an ideal basis for the transformation.

Compared to the donor car, the Panther is longer and narrower, thus sporting distinct proportions. The shape of the doors is actually the only thing that gives away the Huracan origins of the bespoke supercar. All the body panels are made from carbon fiber, and the pop-up headlights feature full LED technology.

Since we’re talking about a coachbuilt car, the interior is very different as well and only the digital cockpit reminds us of the Lambo. The cabin features handcrafted artisan interior panels in carbon fibre and leather, as well custom made Nappa leather and Alcantara upholstery. Obviously, Ares Design can fully tailor it to the customer’s wishes, no request or demand from the customer is too hard.

It is exquisitely constructed from carbon fibre and has a unique mix of traditional craftsmanship and modern engineering and manufacturing technologies.

The company will start delivering Panthers to customers at the end of May. If you’re interested, the modern-day De Tomaso Pantera will set you back €615,000 (about $695,000). Building one car takes Ares Design three months, so you’ll have to be patient as well as wealthy.

With cars like the Panther ProgettoUno, it will be more beautiful on the roads. But for us, ‘simple people’, the only way to admire the car ‘live’ is to go to events like Villa d’Este or Goodwood Festival of Speed. Come into the wonderful world of Ares Design.

 

 

 

 

 

Ares Panther, The beast is almost free

In December last year, Ares Design, the company of former Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, announced that there are still a few special projects in the pipeline. The Italian, Modena based company, which already had a Bentley Mulsanne Coupe, a Porsche GT3 Targa and the very remarkable X-Raid in its portfolio, showed the first sketches of Project Panter. The Panther (not to be confused with the English car maker) is in fact Ares’ modern interpretation of the iconic De Tomaso Pantera from the early seventies. This car was actually presented at the beginning of February. And now we see the Panther creating a scent for the first time.

Ares Design has taken a Lamborghini Huracán as the basis for the Panther, an Italian with a V10, who of course has radically adjusted it. This means that you can immediately find a big difference with its predecessor. The original Pantera wore an Italian carriage from Ghia, designed by Tom Tjaarda, and had an American V8.

One of the most significant characteristics of the Ares Panther is its voice. The sound from the naturally breathable V10 is nothing less than a roar.

Matteo Vezzani

In this case, the carbon fiber and aluminum of the Lamborghini Huracán are hidden under the classic appearance. Behind the front seats is a revised version of Lambo’s V10. The 5.2-liter ten-cylinder was a 5.6-liter and he now produces at least 660 hp and 560 Nm. Ares does not exclude that the assets will grow slightly before the final Ares Panther is unveiled at the end of the summer.

Ares put the back in the new with modern lamps, more details and more sharp lines. The front is, apart from two LED strips, almost indistinguishable from the old one. Including the folding headlights! That is the advantage of being a coachbuilder: the ban on blow headlights is (apparently) not applicable.

Behold the resurrection of the blow headlights. A small moment of triumph for the distinctive feature, which was condemned unfairly and too hastily to the history books.

Car manufacturers are not allowed to fit blow-head lights on new cars due to pedestrian safety. Presumably because Ares Design is a coachbuilder, these rules do not apply. The car on which the Panther is based already has a type approval.

Ares Design says that the car is in the final phase of its development. Only 21 Ares Panthers will leave the factory. The price starts at 515,000 euros. All production slots for this year are already filled. And since it takes more than 24 weeks to build one car, you better get along.