De Tomaso « Car & SUV

De Tomaso preparing new Pantera for Frankfurt show

July 13th, 2011 by Car and SUV

After plenty of speculation De Tomaso is rumoured to be preparing its all new Pantera for the upcoming Fankfurt Motor show in September.

The comeback of De Tomaso got sports car enthusiasts all excited but its first action was to show a rather ho-hum luxury crossover concept machine. Now, De Tomaso is set to finally give fans what they really want a brand new tough-guy Pantera.

The new supercar should be worthy of reviving the famous nameplate of the 70s/80s classic (pictured) and is rumoured to weigh less than 1,200 kilograms and be powered by a 450kW Chevrolet Corvette V8 engine. Expect exciting performance and razor sharp styling. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: 2012 Pantera, De Tomaso, Frankfurt Motor Show, new Pantera, Pantera | Posted in News | 1 Comment »

De Tomaso’s new Pantera prototype spied in Modena (+video)

May 6th, 2011 by Car and SUV

The De Tomaso brand is back and has been busy with its SLC crossover model which is scheduled for production sometime next year. But it’s not the SLC crossover that has car fans hanging in anticipation, it’s De Tomaso’s promise to build a modern day successor to the once popular Pantera sports car before the end of 2011. Now, it seems we have our first glimpse of the new Pantera thanks to a sneaky spy video that’s hit the web. The clip shows the prototype leaving the De Tomaso factory gates.

Even though the coupe is covered in black matte camoflague, the aggressive stance and huge side air intakes make it look an exciting machine. Also the engine sound is intoxicating as the driver accelerates rapidly.

The original De Tomaso Pantera was powered by a large 5.8-litre engine with an output of 246kW. While that figure isn’t so impressive these days, the Pantera was a supercar in its time. The 1971 De Tomaso Pantera could accelerate from 0 to 100 kph in just 5.5 seconds. This new De Tomaso Pantera model already looks set to take up where the old model left off. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: De Tomaso, factory, new Pantera, Pantera, spy video | Posted in News, Videos | No Comments »

De Tomaso Pantera to stage 2011 comeback

March 7th, 2011 by Car and SUV

When news broke that fresh blood was pumping through the De Tomaso brand plenty of die hard fans who got excited. Then the first action of the reborn De Tomaso marque was to reveal a vehicle at the Geneva Motor Show, only problem was it’s the Deauville crossover concept (read news).

Unfortunately for the De Tomaso Deauville concept it was met with mainly disappointed reactions. Not because it wasn’t a good-looking machine but because it would be tough for anything to live up to the striking and long-running Pantera sportscar that DeTomaso is most famous for.

But now there is a new twist for all those concerned that the new De Tomaso will only produce boring and sensible vehicles for the masses. The Pantera will be back in a new form. According to recent reports, De Tomaso will be taking a new Pantera to the Los Angeles Auto Show in November. No further details are known at this stage, but it’s certainly a bright glimmer of hope for enthusiasts.

Tags: De Tomaso, Deauville, Los Angeles Motor Show, new model, Pantera, return | Posted in News | No Comments »

De Tomaso on comeback trail with SLS luxury sedan

February 28th, 2011 by Car and SUV

It’s only hours until the 2011 Geneva Motor Show kicks into gear but De Tomaso has jumped the gun and unleashed a series of images along with a few more details of its new SLS concept car.

SLS is the latest catch phrase for this vehicle segment and apparently stands for ‘Sport Luxury Sedan’. SLS refers to the vehicle type but De Tomaso is planning on giving it’s future production model a more exciting new name that will be announced in Geneva.

DeTomaso’s SLS concept is an interesting proposition, its a high riding luxury sedan much like the BMW 5 Series Gran Turismo. At launch there is plans for two engines to be offered a 300-horsepower V6 and a 550-horsepower V8. Power is channeled through to all four wheels, and a diesel engine option is planned for the future.

De Tomaso plans to build two more vehicles on the same platform with the ambitious goal of selling a total of 8,000 units per year. The SLS represents a good start for De Tomaso’s comeback it is sensibly styled and well powered. More will be revealed this week in Geneva. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: concept, De Tomaso, details, Geneva Motor Show, SLS, specs | Posted in News | 1 Comment »

De Tomaso is back! With a… crossover

February 11th, 2011 by Car and SUV

De Tomaso the Italy-based sports car manufacturer is back from the grave and comes bearing not a radical supercar but a luxury crossover.

Quick history lesson: De Tomaso was founded by a Argentinean former racing driver named Alejandro De Tomaso. The small car company built a reputation for its quirky models during the 1960s and 1970s like the famous Pantera, the company then went under the radar for many years before going bankrupt in 2004. It was purchased five years later by ex-Fiat marketing executive and Lancia CEO Gian Mario Rossignolo, who has decided to breathe life into the once iconic brand. Now, the Italian businessman’s plan is coming together, and the reborn automaker is planning to unveil a Pininfarina-designed premium crossover concept at the upcoming Geneva Motor Show.

Codenamed SLC (Sport Luxury Car), the design study is apparently designed as a competitor for the likes of the BMW 5-Series GT and Lexus RX-450h.

The SLC will have a lightweight aluminum body, a four-wheel drive system and come with three engine choices – a 550 HP V8 and 300HP V6 petrol engines, plus a 250-horse diesel unit.

De Tomaso is planning on building around 3,000 examples of the crossover annually, and if everything goes well a luxury sedan and a coupe are set to follow.

Interestingly, the cars will be manufactured at a former Pininfarina plant, using an innovative new technology called ‘Univis’ which is said to simplify the manufacturing process. Read the rest of this entry »

Tags: crossover, De Tomaso, Geneva Motor Show, Gian Mario Rossignolo, SLC | Posted in News | 1 Comment »

De Tomaso back from the dead

November 18th, 2009 by Car and SUV

De Tomaso Pantera new fq

The De Tomaso badge has been for sale a while now with no one willing to stump up the cash for the once iconic brand. According to new reports that seems to have changed and the legendary Seventies marquee De Tomaso is being resurrected once again. This time by a wealthy Italian industrialist named Gian Mario Rossingnolo. Mr Rossingnolo has already made waves in the auto world by purchasing a Pininfarina factory in which to build the new De Tamasos, after trying (unsuccessfully) to rescue the Bertone brand earlier this year.

The big question now is what are they going to build. Well, the ambitious plan so far is to build 8,000 aluminum-bodied cars per year. And they are to be prestige cars, to better take advantage of the De Tomaso brand. As for body type, Rossingnolo is planning on a luxury sedan, a coupe and an SUV. If all goes to plan the cars are expected to make an appearance at the Geneva Motor Show in 2011. Here’s hoping one named Pantera shows up with Ford’s supercharged 5.4-litre V8 mounted behind the driver.

Gallery

Tags: De Tomaso, Gian Mario Rossingnolo, Panthera, Pininfarina | Posted in News | No Comments »