- De Tomaso has built the first production-specification version of its P72 supercar
- The car will be used for final dynamic validation ahead of the first customer examples being built
- Development is being handled together with Germany’s HWA
There’s a revival of De Tomaso currently underway, with the new iteration of the legendary Italian brand set to focus on high-performance cars, the first of which is the stunning P72 supercar unveiled in 2019.
The long road to the first customer cars being delivered is almost over, as De Tomaso on Tuesday confirmed the completion of the first production-specification P72.
De Tomaso P72 with a chassis no. ending in 001
The car, bearing a chassis number ending in 001, will be used for some final dynamic validation before production of the first customer cars commences, likely sometime next year.
De Tomaso is working with HWA on the project. HWA is a German motorsports and engineering business with close links to Mercedes-Benz. It was founded in 1998 by AMG co-founder Hans Werner Aufrecht and also helped De Tomaso’s sister company Apollo with its Intensa Emozione supercar. A previous plan to build the P72 in the U.S. was no longer possible due to pandemic-related disruptions.
De Tomaso P72 with a chassis no. ending in 001
The P72 was originally due to start deliveries in 2022, but there have been some major developments since the car was first shown, which is one reason production was pushed back. Key changes were made in the areas of chassis and suspension. The previous plan was to use an existing carbon tub from Apollo, but a new design has since been developed with HWA. Some key improvements were made in the areas of safety and ergonomics.
The resulting design has a significantly lower center of gravity, according to De Tomaso, as well as increased head and legroom, improved crash safety, and a lighter mass.
De Tomaso P72
Fortunately, the P72’s stunning design remains untouched, thanks in part to extensive wind tunnel testing completed at the same facility used by Toyota for its LMH campaign and previous LMP1 and F1 efforts. To maintain the original look, the majority of the aerodynamic work focused on the car’s underside.
Also retained is the originally promised supercharged 5.0-liter V-8, which De Tomaso said will deliver 750 hp.
De Tomaso P900
Sadly, De Tomaso will build just 72 examples of the P72, meaning spotting one in the wild won’t be an easy feat. The price for one is 1.6 million euros (approximately $1.65 million).
In addition to the P72, De Tomaso is also cooking up a more hardcore P900 model equipped with a V-12 engine. Power in the P900 will be rated at 888 hp.
