Zany Former Lotus CEO is Recreating the DeTomaso Pantera
The DeTomaso Pantera has a huge following for the relatively obscure vehicle it is, so it’s hardly surprising to see that someone out there has decided to recreate the mid-engine sports car.
That “someone” isn’t just some random, wealthy car enthusiast, but former Lotus CEO Dany Bahar. The Turkish-born executive was ousted at Lotus after reportedly using company funds to do renovations on his home and rent a private aircraft. Prior to that, the company sent out a zany press release responding to media criticisms – making a mess of a situation that much worse.
SEE ALSO: Lotus CEO Dany Bahar Axed from Company
Bahar has since moved to Dubai and started an atelier called ARES Design. The automaker specializes in vehicle rebodies and customizations, and has today announced a plan to recreate the DeTomaso Pantera. Dubbed ‘Project Panther’, the vehicle will essentially be a rebodied Lamborghini Huracan. It’s currently undergoing final design, aerodynamic and crash-test engineering assessment at the company’s Modena, Italy factory and will go on sale in the second half of 2018. ARES says it will be built in “very limited numbers,” but it has not said how large the production run will be.
ARES claims they’ve already received a number of reservations for the Project Panther, so it sounds as though this project will indeed move past the digital rendering stage to become a real, tangible car. DeTomaso Pantera fans – rejoice!
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Sam McEachern holds a diploma in journalism from St. Clair College in Windsor, Ontario, and has been covering the automotive industry for over 5 years. He conducts reviews and writes AutoGuide's news content. He's a die-hard motorsports fan with a passion for performance cars of all sorts.
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Based on that rendering, why reclad a Lamborghini?
I think someone could sell an update of the Pantera with a Coyote or better yet, a Voodoo engine. What made the Pantera special was an Italian body with a powerful American engine. The 351 Cleveland engine could be made to make that little car scream.