Saturday, March 5, 2011

De Tomaso Pantera: the return after 40 years?

The entrepreneur Gian Mario Rossignolo must have a clear idea as his project for the revival of the legendary Maserati De Tomaso proceeds sent his way. In fact, after the official launch in Geneva of Deauville (called up to debut with the names interim SLC and SLS), luxury crossover with power up to 550 bhp, an entrepreneur from Turin is already working to establish its second model to be born by Grugliasco plant, or the long-awaited sports will be known as Panther, in honor of the Italian coupe built over 40 years ago by Alejandro De Tomaso.

Heir of the Mangusta, the Pantera was formed in 1970 by a partnership between the American and Casa De Tomaso Ford who provided the mechanical part of the sport from Modena including a powerful 5.8-liter V8, while the line was fascinating work of the famous Tom Tjaarda body Ghia and supporter of models such as Y10, Thema and Croma.

The Pantera had a substantial commercial success that lasted 20 years, or from his birth until 1990, when it underwent a makeover designed by designer Marcello Gandini, who ferried the Panther in a very limited production until 1993. It was later replaced by the Guara, the latest model of the Modenese manufacturer before the bankruptcy.

In 2008, the German designer Schulze proposed an interesting concept called Panthera, which recalls the style of the original wedge combined with bold and sharp and a mechanical top-level derived from the Lamborghini Gallardo. Unfortunately, this concept has never seen the light, due to lack of interest from potential investors, probably due to the fact that modern Panthera betraying the philosophy of sports car, but is accessible behind the success of the first model.

After the liquidation of the Group in 2009 and the subsequent acquisition by the company's Auto Industry S. p. A. (IAI) Rossignolo entrepreneur, was born the new De Tomaso Automobili S. p. A. with the ambitious goal of producing over 8,000 cars in the new crossoverDeauville, a compact luxury and the aforementioned Pantera.

Just the Panther will be born by the former Pininfarina Grugliasco where the car will be assembled, while the components will be implemented Delphi plant in Livorno, with an estimated production expected to reach 2,000 units. If everything will spin the right way the presentation of the new Gran Turismo De Tomaso take place by the end of this year, coinciding with the anniversary of the first forty years of the car.

Still shrouded in mystery style and mechanics of the car, but according to rumors the new Pantera should exploit, as usual, a mechanical bypass American (General Motors) that will enable very high performance.

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