Modena-based Ares Design has arrived at the 2019
Concorso d’Eleganza Villa d’Este with the Panther. Courtesy of NM2255, we can take a
tour around what used to be a Lamborghini Huracan but now wears new bodywork
and interior, paying tribute to the classic De Tomaso Pantera.
Power still comes from the Huracan’s naturally
aspirated 5.2-liter V10 engine, which has been retuned to produce 641 hp and 600 Nm of torque. The all-wheel drive system and the seven-speed
dual-clutch transmission are still present.
Ares claims a 0-100 km/h in 3.1 seconds and a
top speed of 325 km/h. Despite the totally different bodywork, the Ares
Panther weighs almost the same as the donor car, at 1,423 kg. Compared to the Huracan, the Ares
Panther appears longer and narrower. All the custom body panels are made out of
carbon fiber, a material that’s also used extensively to both the engine bay
and the interior of the coachbuilt supercar. And there are pop-up headlights,
which is an instant win on our books.
The Panther looks to be a
proper quality item, with tight panel gaps all around and a nicely finished
interior. All the custom details inside and out appear to justify the near US$ 700k price tag.
