Wednesday 8th August 2018

Ares Panther V10 supercar due in October

Just 21 examples of this £555k Huracan-based, retro-looking supercar will be produced

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Pop-up headlight appreciators, rejoice. Modena-based atelier Ares has confirmed that its Panther supercar - you know, the Lamborghini Huracan-based one that was revealed in concept form last December - will make production this October.

Like the 'Project Panther' we saw last year, the production car is based on the platform of the Lamborghini Huracan, but it gains a stunning new all carbon fibre exterior that wears retro features like those lifting headlights. Ares CEO Dany Bahar has made no secret of the fact that his car's main inspiration comes from the jaw droppingly gorgeous De Tomaso Pantera of the 1970s.

In order to try and recreate that classic car's aura with a "perfect blend of old school charm and charisma", according to Bahar, Ares has chosen to use the running gear of the Huracan because its naturally aspirated V10 engine is arguably more 'old school' than the turbocharged units of rivals.

Ares' engineers have bored the motor out by 400cc to 5.6-litres, so it now produces 650hp and 413lb ft of torque in the Panther. To put that into perspective, it gives the Panther numbers that are 10hp up and 29lb ft down on the Huracan Performante, although we won't be able to gauge how much impact these changes will have on performance until further details are announced. There's still no word on whether the car is four or rear-wheel drive, for example. The Pantera was of course rear-driven, so there's hope for the same here.

One thing we already know for certain is that the car's retro makeover won't include the fitment of a manual gearbox, which is a shame. Instead, there's a seven-speed dual-clutch, but it's at least been taken from the Huracan so should feature the same ideally laid out ratios and rapid shift times.

Right now, test drivers that Ares has apparently pinched from other local supercar makers (Ferrari, Lamborghini and Pagani are among the neighbouring brands based in Modena) are providing input to engineers during the Panther's final weeks of development. A camouflaged car has been testing on the roads of Emilia-Romagna, providing us with the images and footage you see here.

Just 21 cars, all of which have been allocated, are being produced, so there's no hope if you haven't already signed up to purchase the £555,000 Panther. That being said, this is the first car of Ares Design's 'Legends Reborn' series, meaning another retro-designed model is due to follow later on...

 

 

[WCZ]

looks awful imo

[M3_Simon_Fr]

Utterly awful.

[daddy cool]

"Just 21 examples... will be produced"

Thank god.

[ZOLLAR]

I know Lamborghini said they'd never make it as they always look to the future (no issue with that)

but perhaps Ares could put the Miura Concept into production, always loved it!

[unsprung]

daddy cool said:

"Just 21 examples... will be produced"

Thank god.

lol !

[Ninja59]

daddy cool said:

"Just 21 examples... will be produced"

Thank god.

+1.

How are the pop ups even legal?

[ducnick]

legality of the headlights probably isn't a huge concern in the target markets where the potential buyers are above the law. Also you could argue that this is a lambo with an aftermarket body ket, and hence the base car is perfectly legal in most territories.

[Ikobo]

ZOLLAR said:

I know Lamborghini said they'd never make it as they always look to the future (no issue with that)

but perhaps Ares could put the Miura Concept into production, always loved it!

God that's beautiful!

[Resolutionary]

It looks like someone donated a Huracan and badly described the BMW M1 to a keen fabricator.

[viggyp]

Wow. You guys can tell it's awful through the camouflage eh? Each to their own but I like it.

Just checked out the website as I'm sure this is the same guy who's making a handful of 3 door Integrale replicas?!

https://aresdesign.com/pages/concepts

[Toltec]

Ikobo said:

God that's beautiful!

Not sure, looks like a Muira drawn by an American.

[shakotan]

Ninja59 said:

daddy cool said:

"Just 21 examples... will be produced"

Thank god.

+1.

How are the pop ups even legal?

Not legal anywhere within the EU.

[shakotan]

ducnick said:

legality of the headlights probably isn't a huge concern in the target markets where the potential buyers are above the law. Also you could argue that this is a lambo with an aftermarket body ket, and hence the base car is perfectly legal in most territories.

Nope, it'll require Type Approval to be registered in any EU State, and won't pass because of the pop-up headlamps.

[Chestrockwell]

That looks so cool in my eyes, sort of reminds me of a car in Grand Theft Auto you see when you unlock another island!

I’d have one of these over a Vengence or a Singer

[MDL111]

I think that will look quite cool (from what I can tell) and with all carbon bodywork it might actually be reasonably lightweight too

[Macboy]

I Interesting that they have pop-up headlights because everyone moved away from these based on safety legislation I thought. They'll have to always be up surely which defeats the point?

[shakotan]

Macboy said:

I Interesting that they have pop-up headlights because everyone moved away from these based on safety legislation I thought. They'll have to always be up surely which defeats the point?

They banned pop-ups over pedestrian safety due to protrusions, so they aren't legal even in the up position.

[Maldini35]

Not really a fan of Ares but I don’t mind this.
It will at least provide some variety.
But as has been said - where can you drive it with those pop up lights?

[Cold]

shakotan said:

They banned pop-ups over pedestrian safety due to protrusions, so they aren't legal even in the up position.

Pop-up headlights have not been banned. Never have. Legislation has just meant that pop-ups would be costly to engineer and implement so that they meet the legal requirements.

[Bahnstormer]

I particularly love their project names. However, some good designs !

Project 'Pony'