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ARES Design Panther ProgettoUno upgrades enhance driver experience

• Updates include ARES-designed electro-actuated manual gearbox, giving the feel of manual control.

• All-new bespoke exhaust system delivers distinctive and exciting engine note.

• Sportier set-up with 21” rear wheels offers even more performance feel for driving enjoyment.

Luxury Italian coachbuilder ARES has revealed a series of updates to its Panther ProgettoUno, all designed to amplify the driving experience of its owners, in the spirit of the 1970s Pantera that inspired it.

The first supercar delivered by the Modena-based coachbuilder, the V10 Panther sports a new gearbox, a revamped exhaust system and a sportier set-up.

One of the main upgrades is the new Leva Cambio Manuale Elettroattuata (electro-actuated manual gear stick lever) drive system. The system acts like a sequential gearbox, with a more traditional H-pattern function, giving the driver the sensation of manually changing gear as the actuators work in parallel with the gear selector switches, mounted behind the steering wheel.

The stunning ProgettoUno houses an updated exhaust system that has three settings – Corsa, Strada and Pista.

Conceived to give the car its new, distinctive and throaty sound, the exhaust pipes are designed in a cross shape. The engineers also incorporated a series of bypass valves, enhancing the flow of the exhaust gasses through the car.

The new exhaust system not only improves the Panther’s performance, but also gives the car its distinctive sound, which has been researched and refined by ARES’ R&D Department.

On the exterior, the coachbuilder has replaced the wheels with lighter and stiffer rims made from billet aluminium and increased the rear wheels to 21 inches.

ARES Technical Director Andrea Donati, commented: “We always put our customers experiences at the heart of our cars, which is why we continue to refine the experience. We are very happy with the updates to the car; the new gearbox gives the driver the option of enjoying what is essentially a manual driving experience with all the thrill of driving a supercar, while the upgrade to the exhaust will produce a thrilling performance sound which can be dialled up or down as the driver wishes.”

We are all about the experience, the thrill of driving; driving for the love of driving. These upgrades more than deliver that, whether the customer is a veteran driver or a motorist who simply loves driving for the sheer joy of it.”

The coachbuilder has also confirmed its new price of 334.900 €, excluding the donor car and the VAT.

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Aspark SP600

In a landmark achievement, the Aspark SP600, a production intent prototype hypercar, has become the world’s fastest electric hypercar, clocking a remarkable top speed of 438.7kph. This record-breaking feat was realized through the dedicated efforts of Manifattura Automobili Torino (M.A.T.) in collaboration with tire specialist Bridgestone and driven by professional racer Marc Basseng.

A Vision Realized

The Aspark SP600’s journey to this historic moment began with the vision of Aspark CEO Masanori Yoshida, whose company had previously set benchmarks with the Aspark Owl, renowned as the fastest accelerating electric hypercar. For this new project, Aspark once again partnered with M.A.T., entrusting them with the development and manufacturing of a hypercar capable of shattering the world top speed record for electric vehicles.

Collaboration and Innovation

To achieve this extraordinary speed, M.A.T. sought the expertise of Bridgestone to develop a custom-engineered tire. Bridgestone rose to the challenge with bespoke Potenza Race tires designed specifically for the SP600, ensuring they could handle speeds exceeding 420kph while managing the vehicle’s weight and driving dynamics.

The SP600 underwent rigorous testing at M.A.T.’s headquarters in Torino, Italy. This included extensive virtual and physical evaluations, wind tunnel validation, and numerous track testing sessions. M.A.T. meticulously handled the vehicle’s complete development, from powertrain and software integration to suspension and chassis design, as well as software calibration and the bespoke battery’s design and production.

Record-Breaking Achievement

On June 8th, during the second attempt of the day at Automotive Testing Papenburg, Marc Basseng flawlessly piloted the Aspark SP600 to its record-breaking speed of 438.7kph. This achievement was precisely measured using the certified Racelogic V-Box, a high-precision GPS-based device provided by the ATP proving ground.

The event was attended and supported by numerous marketing and premium partners, including the Supercar Owner Circle, who backed the attempt from its inception. Key executives from Aspark, M.A.T., and Bridgestone were present to witness this monumental accomplishment.

Statements from Key Figures

Masanori Yoshida, Aspark CEO: “It has been about 10 years since we started making the OWL Hypercar. We aimed for the world’s Fastest Acceleration car, and then attempted and achieved the top speed world record today. This technical capability inspires all involved to personal excellence and to challenge and grow in leaps and bounds into the future.”

Steven De Bock, Bridgestone VP EMEA Sales and Original Equipment:
“It was a big excitement on this first attempt for the record, which we immediately saw the potential of the cooperation between the car and tires. The whole team at Bridgestone worked extremely hard to deliver this project in such a short period, another testimonial of our technical capabilities and how we cooperate with our partners.”

Paolo Garella, M.A.T. CEO and Founder:
“This record represents a milestone in the continued growth of M.A.T., a company that today represents the best of the Italian tradition in the automotive industry. In 10 years, we have developed more than 11 full vehicle projects and we have demonstrated that with the right resources we are second to none. I am very proud of my team and also extremely happy to reach this milestone in the anniversary of the 10 years of foundation of M.A.T. A special thank you to Aspark’s CEO Mr. Masanori Yoshida for his vision, support, and trust in M.A.T., and to the Bridgestone team for taking on the challenge and supporting with their most advanced technology this record attempt.”

Exclusive Interview with Riccardo Garella

In an exclusive interview, Riccardo Garella, Sales and Marketing Manager at M.A.T., provided insights into the development process of the Aspark Owl. Watch the full interview on our YouTube channel here.

This historic achievement not only sets a new benchmark in the electric hypercar segment but also underscores the capabilities and potential of electric vehicles in pushing the boundaries of speed and performance.