For those who’re wondering, De Tomaso is an Italian brand founded by Argentine-born racer Alejandro de Tomaso (1928–2003) in Modena in 1959. They made some desirable sports cars such as Mangusta and Pantera, and the last car they built was Guarà, until 2004. Interestingly, the company had once owned Maserati too.
In 2014, De Tomaso received some financial help (read acquisition) from Hong-Kong based Ideal Team Ventures (who also funded Apollo Automobil), and now they’re back with this gorgeous P72. According to the company, the P72 is a homage to the P70 race car of the ’60s which was built in collaboration with Carroll Shelby.
That thing at the rear is the exhaust! Chassis adheres to FIA LMP safety standards.
The P72 is built on the same all-carbon fibre chassis of the Apollo IE, however, the design has taken a completely different approach. There’s a lot of Pagani vibes going on, especially when you look at the components in polished copper, and the interior with analogue dials.
We took our time, we digested, we read, we studied. We learned more and more about Alejandro and the incredible achievements that he had attained. In reality, when most people hear the word De Tomaso, the only thing that comes to mind is the Pantera. This is a true icon and the most successful car of the brand. However, our approach is not solely product driven, it is driven by history and the brand – Norman Choi, Chairman, De Tomaso
As for the juicy bits, the mid-engined P72 will have a manual gearbox with exposed mechanicals — à la Pagani. Power goes to the rear wheels only. The “car has been co-developed with world-renowned technical partners,” the company said.
The interior showcases an elaborate combination of design and exotic materials. Polished copper and diamond pattern detailing adorn the cabin, fashioning a true sense of drama and occasion. The classically designed switchgear and circular analogue display dials take inspiration from the timeless design themes of the 60s and 70s era – Jowyn Wong, P72 designer and founder of Wyn Design
The 72 in the name indicates that there’ll be only 72 units built, with a starting price tag of €750,000. The company also said that it has secured a global network of dealer partners.
Source: De Tomaso, ANE
October 2019 update
The P72 sources a 5.0-litre supercharged V8 engine from Ford, with target figures of over 700 bhp and over 825 Nm (608 lb-ft) of torque with 91 octane fuel. The engine is anticipated to rev over 7,500 rpm. The roots-type supercharger comes from Roush. The gearbox is a 6-speed manual.
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