Despite the ultra-wealthy having more options for toys than ever before, we do seem to be thin on pretty supercars. Striking and aggressive, sure but pretty? That’s a trickier thing to find. Thankfully, there is a new answer. The De Tomaso P72 is gorgeous, and while it has taken six years to come to market, it still has quite the visual impact.
In case you’re wondering about how this iconic automotive brand made a comeback, De Tomaso is now owned by Hong Kong-based Ideal Ventures, the same company that bought Gumpert after it entered liquidation and rebranded it as Apollo. This means there may have been some resource sharing going on underneath the surface of the branding, but it also means De Tomaso is back from the dead.
Anyway, back to the P72. Its name is inspired by an open-topped Can-Am car, but the shape really seems to have more Le Mans of the ’60s to it, just stretched over a far larger, vastly more modern architecture in a more graceful manner than the reborn Alfa Romeo 33 Stradale. Sure, the rear fenders are tall and some details like the door surfacing are a touch busy, but the P72 absolutely has bite-the-back-of-your-hand angles. What’s more, functional changes that affect appearance seem to be minor. The fuel cap’s no longer flush, there’s a lump on the top for an antenna, a center high mount stop light makes an appearance, and the mirrors seem to have grown in size, but that’s about it.
Under the skin, the P72 features a monocoque that De Tomaso claims is made from one giant sheet of carbon fiber, which sounds incredibly fiddly in practice but delightfully simple in spirit. Speaking of simple, instead of fancy adaptive dampers, the P72 features three-way adjustable dampers, a touch of the aftermarket in an OEM application.
Under the rear clamshell of the P72, you’ll find a supercharged five-liter V8, and De Tomaso has previously stated that it starts as a Ford Coyote engine and then goes to Roush for some more work, though it’s not clear if Roush is still involved.
Mated to a proper six-speed manual transaxle, it pumps out an entirely reasonable-by-supercar-standards 700 horsepower, 50 fewer than initially forecast. Even though 700 horsepower isn’t quite up to expectations, it’s plenty, and a whole lot more sensible than a power figure with a comma in it. A 700-horsepower car is still bonkers quick, but compared to the most potent vehicles on the road today, it should still be somewhat usable.
More importantly, pure performance isn’t the focus here. From the relatively reasonable output to the row-your-own transmission to the lack of infotainment and drive modes, the De Tomaso P72 seems like a road car, a supercar that shouldn’t require a closed course to have some modicum of fun without a near-guarantee of going to jail.
As it stands, pricing for the De Tomaso P72 hasn’t been announced yet, but deliveries are said to start soon. It’s certainly going to be expensive but it seems like a more imaginative choice than something like a Lamborghini Revuelto. Of course, with any low-volume automaker, especially a new one, things might not go smoothly (and the status of the lawsuit over the car remains unclear), but come on, doesn’t this look more attractive than a modern Lamborghini?
Top graphic credit: De Tomaso
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Go Speed Racer, Go!
Oh how I wish DeTomaso wasn’t Chinese owned.
The comparison between this and the new Tipo 33 Stradale is damning by faint praise. The lines of this P72 are classically well executed.
Add to that a not insanely overpowered engine and a third pedal and you’ve ticked all the boxes.
If I could afford this car, I’d happily accept the rose gold interior if I could get a round steering wheel.
It’s got Pete Brock’s (Designer of the original P70) approval, and that’s good enough for me.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2_6DjXxr_1g
(Also, the one in the video is a way better color combo!)
Pete Brock of the energy polarizer?
There’s 2 “Pete Brocks” in racing.
The one you refer to was the Australian one.
The other was a designer and team owner, who helped design the Corvette StingRay Racer (XP-87), Shelby Cobra Daytona, De Tamaso P70, the Shelby Can-Am car, among others.
He also ran the BRE (Brock Racing Enterprises) racing team in the 60s/70s and brought Datsun/Nissan to US attention by winning multiple series titles with both the 240Z “Fairlady”, and the 510 Sedan.
He’s still alive, and still working. He currently makes specialized aerodynamic car haulers called “Areovaults” in Nevada. His BRE website is also still up and running with tons of history, and even a shop with books and other memorabilia.
The Aussie Brock, died in 2006. And, in a weird way coincidentally. He died while competing in the Australian Targa West ’06 Rally, driving his…
Daytona Sportscar. (So a “Pete Brock” died in a car designed by another “Pete Brock”.) Pic of car: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Daytona_Sportscar#/media/File:Daytona_Sportscar.jpg
Pretty? I must be looking at different pictures. The side profile is atrocious (YMMV)
I’m sorry but this is among the goofiest-looking cars of the last 20 years.
“Despite the ultra-wealthy having more options for toys than ever before, we do seem to be thin on pretty supercars.”
They still are. Happy to hear you are among the ultra-wealthy!
Would buy with my unlimited internet moneez. Like the nod to the past with the Ford Coyote and that it is NOT an hyper-aggresive numbers generating machine. The style nods to the 60’s and 70’s endurance cars and at least looks a bit useable outside the test track. 700hp is more than enough (bet most owners wouldn’t notice if you cut that in half even).
Absolutely stunning! One of the best looking cars since the Alfa 8C.
Edit: reply fail. Derp.
I’d buy one with my theoretical internet stash if they’d lose the entire dash mess and replace it with decent gauges with a crackle black finish.
It has a Ferrari 330 p3 bibe to it.
The gauge pods remind of a 2007ish Mastercraft X-star dash, that said I love it.
Interior is very spyker-ish IMO.
I was thinking Pagani…
https://en.wheelsage.org/pagani/huayra/roadster/worldwide/pictures/b8r6gp
The rose gold everything interior is a little gaudy and overwrought, but that’s a minor gripe on an otherwise gorgeous car, and I do appreciate all the rose gold exterior touches. I’m usually not one for hypercars for myriad reasons but this apparently growing genre of back to basics analog ones has the attention of my daydreams. Right now we’ve got the Pagani Utopia, GMA T50, and now this?
I’m glad that there’s a small sliver of our billionaire overlord lizards with a rare combination of money and taste that’s keeping this genre alive. A hypercar that anyone can drive effortlessly is pointless…they should be machines that you have to respect and learn. While I’m not sure how I’d feel about a Mustang engine being in my 7 figure boutique hypercar, I’ll never be able to afford a 7 figure boutique hypercar, so my opinion is irrelevant.
The rose gold interior trim is a bit “mall jewelry store Mother’s Day sale”, but I’m sure more tasteful (or, God forbid, less tasteful) choices are available. It’s absolutely a knockout otherwise.
Rather black anodized myself, the bare aluminum cut lines would be sharp. I’m sure they have finishes for all (lack of) tastes.
DeTomaso always used Ford powerplants, mostly 351 Cleveland V8’s. I appreciate the nod to the past.
This is something that I forgot and am pleased to be reminded of
I suspect you are closer in age to my Millennial younger brother.
You’re correct! Mid 30s. The Pantera is something I’ve always been vaguely familiar with, but hearing the name conjures memories of groove metal riffs for me long before the 20th century supercar comes to mind.
And if you’re in the sweet spot, it can be both. In addition to flying the metal flag in the 90s, George Peppard had one in the obscure-but-well-known-enough-to-do-a-Simpsons-episode 70s detective show Bannecek!
Yeah, the exterior is very pretty, but the interior is a little…extra, as the youngsters say.
Or a little…much as my boomer peers would say.
If there was still a Hamster and there was still a Top Gear, I wonder how long it would be before it would be wadded up.
I’m used to cars with faces that look like surprised fish more than cars with asses that look like surprised fish. I like this change.
it turns out that animals that are slippery in a substance denser than air make for aerodynamic designs
Are surprised fish really that much more slippery than a fish that is aware of what’s going on?
The front still looks like a catfish, just a little less surprised.
if nobody wraps it to look like the mach 5 I’ve lost all faith in humanity
The shape of that car gives me… feelings.
But the interior… boy I hope that comes in colors other than Forty-Seven Oval Office Gold.
they have been working on it so long they didn’t notice that rose gold was outed for being garbage metal
Stunning. Not in love with the interior (save for the shifter which is excellent), but the outside is damned near flawless.
And if I buy one, I can’t get voluntold to do school carpool duties.
Might be the most beautiful car of the last couple decades.
It is for sure a pretty car. I’m not a fan of the knurled look on the gauge pods, but I never liked the interior of the Pagani’s either; they just felt tacky to me. But that is a niggle.
Having driven a 917 replica that has a similar canopy and front fender configuration, I am guessing the P72 will have sight lines that are, uh, challenging.
Me neither. Steering wheel, hub and even the wheel nuts? That’s commitment. Or maybe they should be committed.