Ares Design is a coach-building company formed by ex-Lotus CEO Dany Bahar. Some time back we brought you a story on the Ares Panther Project 1 that is supposed to be a modern take on the DeTomaso Pantera, and based on a Lamborghini. (Click here to read our driving impression of the Lamborghini Huracan Evo.) The company specialises in building limited-run models that feature the underpinnings and drivetrains of modern supercars. Today the Italian company announced a new model called the Ares S Project. It will produce just 24 units of its latest creation. Each will cost €500 000, about R10m before getting to local shores.

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Cut-up Corvette

The starting point for the Ares S project is the current generation Chevrolet Corvette. This American staple donates its aluminium platform, transmission, electronics and mid-mounted V8 to the new creation. With that as a starting point Ares then clothes the car in a carbon-fibre suit of its own design. Its sleek new look has quite a cab-forward demeanour and a long rear deck. Massive alloys and distinctive headlamps are quite futuristic in appearance, though we have to admit we see a definite Bugatti Chiron influence at the rear.

Check out the latest supercar from Maserati at this link.

American muscle

Ares retains the Corvette’s normally aspirated 6,2-litre motor, which is mated with an eight-speed dual-clutch transmission. Power has been ramped up from the Corvette’s 365 kW/630 N.m to 526 kW and 969 N.m of torque. Ares says the engine is still naturally aspirated. To achieve these new peak outputs it can allegedly rev to 9 000 r/min. We’re pretty sure limited-edition models aren’t held to the same emissions regulations as series production models. With that level of power and a reduced overall mass the Ares S Project will blitz the benchmark 0-100 km/h sprint in under 3,0 seconds. There’s no quoted top speed figure as yet.