Pop-Up Headlights Meet Lamborghini Huracán

This retro-styled supercar might be the perfect alternative to those feeling bummed about the sold-out Huracán.

While the De Tomaso P72 supercar project is on the way, an Italian coachbuilder named Ares Design has built its own supercar inspired by the De Tomaso Pantera — the Ares Panther Evo. The carbon-dominated supercar is built to be the perfect blend of grit and style, but best of all, it’s got a Lamborghini Huracán engine!

Yep, breathing on the driver’s neck is Lambo’s legendary naturally-aspirated 5.2-liter V10. And while it normally puts out 610 hp and 413 lb-ft of torque stock, Ares has tuned the ECU to now produce 641 hp and 443 lb-ft of torque. Power is sent to all four wheels through an electronically controlled Haldex AWD system and seven-speed DCT, good enough for a 0-60 mph time in 3.1 seconds and a 202 mph top speed — not bad, right?

Still, despite being based on the Huracán, the Panther Evo’s exterior shows no trace of the Italian Bull’s design — and for good reasons. The handcrafted carbon fiber body resembles what a modern De Tomaso Pantera should look like. Although things up front look similar to the ProgettoUno, the rear end was completely reworked with new slim tail lights and central exit tailpipes. In addition, the new and lighter 20- and 21-inch wheels make the vehicle weighs only 3,137 lbs dry. However, the highlight of the exterior is indeed the pop-up headlamps — a dearly missed feature reminiscent of the early 2000s.

Inside, the Ares Panther Evo adopts the Huracán’s digital gauge cluster and infotainment screen, yet everything else was completely redesigned. And although it’s equipped with a dual-clutch automatic, we like the effort put into making the H manual gate gear lever look legit. Moreover, the vibe is rather luxurious here, with a dual-tone color scheme, leather-trimmed carbon fiber seats, and lots of Alcantara and carbon accents scattered around the cockpit.

Interestingly, Ares claims every car leaving the factory would have its own unique specs. But like any other custom-made supercar, the Panther Evo also carries a hefty price tag of $640,000, including the donor Huracán. That said, given you can no longer order a new Lamborgini Huracán anymore, this might be your last chance to own something more unique that shares the same heart.

Gallery: Ares Panther Evo

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