Unveiled in 2019 at the Villa d'Este concours of elegance, the Panther ProgettoUno is a bite-the-back-of-your-hand pretty supercar from Italy's Ares Design. The coachbuilder has improved the Huracan-based model for the 2021 model year in three key areas, starting with the tranny.
Instead of a dual-clutch setup, this fellow rocks a Leva Cambio Manuale Elettroattuata. That’s fancy talk for a dual-clutch transmission with an H-pattern stick shift reminiscent of vintage Ferraris.
“Conceived to make the driving experience more exciting,” the LCME is joined by an X-shaped exhaust system and sportier chassis tuning. The De Tomaso Pantera-inspired Panther ProgettoUno in the following video sweetens the deal with billet-aluminum wheels that measure 21 inches, exposed carbon-fiber parts here and there, tastefully trimmed seats, and custom-designed buttons on the center console. Like Italian supercars from a few years ago, the limited-edition model features three auxiliary gauges for the 12-volt battery’s voltage, water temperature, and oil pressure.
A meticulous exercise in the art of craftsmanship, the mid-engined thoroughbred is rebodied in carbon fiber to keep the dry weight as low as possible, but to no avail. Ares Design quotes exactly 1,423 kilograms (3,137 pounds) compared to 1,422 kilograms (3,135 pounds) for the Huracan EVO all-wheel drive. The weight distribution is similar as well at 43 percent over the front axle and 57 percent over the rear axle.
The engine specifications aren’t surprising either. 5,204 cubic centimeters, 10 cylinders, natural aspiration, 650 horsepower, and more than 443 pound-feet (600 Nm) of torque are the official figures. This goes to show that not much has changed over the donor vehicle. Ares Design further mentions the sprint from zer to 100 kilometers per hour (62 miles per hour) takes 3.1 seconds.
Priced in the ballpark of $700,000 at current exchange rates, the Panther ProgettoUno is considerably more expensive than its Lamborghini-branded twin. If you do want one, prepare to wait an estimated 12 weeks for delivery.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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