Say what you will about Ares Design - and many don't need asking, that's for certain - but Dany Bahar's venture certainly doesn't do things by halves. Who can forget Project Pony, for example, the reimagination of a Ferrari 412? Or what about Project Panther, the 21st century Pantera with a Huracan V10? Now, however, Ares Design is taking things up a level; no longer will it be reinterpreting old designs, but rather seek to create something entirely of its own. That process begins here, with the appropriately titled S1 Project.
Wild, isn't it? Ares calls the Project's exterior nothing less than "mesmerising", the design said to benefit extensively from Computational Fluid Dynamics to benefit aero and stability without the need for enormous external spoilers. Wouldn't want to spoil the view of those exhausts, for one thing. The body panels are all carbon.
What can't be seen of the S1 Project is just as exciting. Ares is promising a "potent yet uncomplicated drive for its owners", with forged aluminium axles, double wishbones all round and magnetic dampers. Then there's the engine; a naturally aspirated V8, it will produce 715hp as well as "a deeply satisfying sonorous roar." With a standard eight-speed dual-clutch and rear-wheel drive, the S1 Project should hit 62mph in less than three seconds.
We gather from the pictures that there's no interior inside the show car just yet, but the renders suggest that its design is fairly well advanced, with a Ferrari-esque passenger display and a prominent stack for the centre console. A "stunning, yet functional, ambience" is promised.
The good news seemingly continues with confirmation that the S1 Project - or a full-scale model of it, at least - will be shown to the public at Salon Prive later this month. If all proceeds as it should, Ares reckons that production of the 24-car run will commence in January. Which all sounds jolly exciting, as there's no such thing in the world as too many mid-engined supercars.
Finally, because it's not an Ares story without word from Dany Bahar, here's what the co-founder had to say about the new venture: "The aim was not to produce the fastest, the lightest or the most technologically advanced supercar; we want to produce a car that our clients want, that is simple and fun to drive and looks simply stunning and with the S1 Project I know we will have achieved just that." More news as we have it...
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