DeTomaso got it right with the original Pantera—Ghia design, a mid-mounted American V8, and endless charm will do that, after all. It’s been offered up as one of the greatest exotics to come from the ’70s and ’80s, and as it stands today, will continue on with that pedigree. While it was well-loved in its standard form, the Pantera is often revisited by tuning outfits and restoration builders alike. This, however, is different than those of the past.
The Ares Project Panther Concept modernizes the ethos of DeTomaso, translating it with more Italian influence than before. That same beloved design language is still here, but instead of a 351-cubic inch Ford at its center, there lies a 5.2L V-10 from the Lamborghini Huracan. Around the Project Panther’s heart lies even more Sant’Agata DNA as it’s constructed upon the same carbon-aluminum architecture as the baby Lambo.
Dany Bahar, founding father of the Ares brand, took on this concept as a result of his prior experience in motorsport. He was the initiator behind Red Bull F1 and Scuderia Toro Rosso before picking up and moving to become the CEO of Lotus. Oh yeah, and don’t forget the years that he spent as a Ferrari executive in the meantime. Over the last decade, Bahar has been surrounded by engineering know-how to tack onto his own project which has resulted in this wonderfully blue machine.
Ares intends on taking the Project Panther to production in 2018. While it only exists in the form of drawings and prototypes for now, it’s reportedly going under final crash testing to become a full-fledged road-going machine. The Modena company says that there have already been a significant amount of deposits put down on future models, and with that capital, we hope this wailing machine can come to fruition ASAP.