De Tomaso’s long-awaited supercar has finally arrived.
Despite being one of the most iconic names in the automotive world with performance cars that were cherished in the late 20th century, De Tomaso has laid dormant for a number of years. Its return has been anticipated with the development of a new supercar, the P72, which from its outset promised purist driving excellence, opulent design, luxury craftsmanship, and a traditional yet innovative approach to performance excellence.
It was nearly six years ago at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in 2019 when the De Tomaso P72 was originally unveiled as a concept car. Since then, the P72 has undergone years of development, and De Tomaso is finally unveiling the production-spec version of the P72 today. Inspired by the P70, a historic collaboration between Alejandro De Tomaso and Carroll Shelby, the P72 is built on an all-new carbon fiber chassis, with a monocoque stunningly constructed from a single piece of carbon fiber. The ground-up solution makes for a platform with a low driving position and a low center of gravity, with a carbon fiber body available with historically-inspired liveries or in exposed carbon fiber.
De Tomaso’s new P72 aims to preserve a dying breed of analog-feeling performance cars, and to that end, the car bodly lacks screens and infotainment, opting instead for analog dials and physical controls for a pure connection to the vehicle and its driving experience, free from distraction, save for a discreet phone holder. Materials like hand-stitched leather and milled aluminum help contribute to the traditional feeling of the interior.
Continuing De Tomaso’s tradition of using V8 engines, the P72 is powered by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8, hand-assembled and developed exclusively for De Tomaso’s ‘P’ platform. With 700 horsepower and 605 lb/ft of torque, the P72 boasts impressive numbers, but places greater focus on the irreplaceable feeling of purist driving, with a header design inspired by the 1960s, and a pushrod suspension that is manually adjustable three ways.
That power is sent to the wheels through a six-speed gearbox, with short ratios for optimal thrill and proudly exposed linkages to show its craftsmanship and tradition. Shown in a white and rose gold livery, the initial production specification example is internal to De Tomaso, and will exist outside the 72 examples that will be delivered to customers. Each example of the new De Tomaso P72 will be bespoke and beautifully commissioned to each client’s specifications, and deliveries are set to begin in late 2025. At long last, De Tomaso’s triumphant return to the performance world has arrived.
Image Source: De Tomaso Automobili
