Ares Design Introduces S Project, a 705 HP C8 Corvette-based Supercar
Ares Design Introduces S Project, a 705 HP C8 Corvette-based Supercar
Ares Design not only turned the C8 Corvette into an Itlalian-styled supercar, but also coaxed an extra 210 HP out of the LT2 V8.
After Ares Design delivered a modern reboot of the iconic De Tomaso Pantera sports car, the Modena-based company turned its attention to the C8 Corvette which was used to underpin the S Project. The new model flaunts a curvaceous design instead of the sharp and angular bodywork that graces the first-ever mid-engine Corvette.
Dany Bahar, Founder and CEO of Ares Design, was previously responsible for establishing the Red Bull Racing team. Bahar also served as the CEO of Group Lotus until 2012 and with credentials like that, it is not surprising that Ares S Project is a seriously impressive performance machine.
The CEO recently spoke with Top Gear and shared details about the company’s all-new supercar. The S Project uses the same 6.2-liter LT2 V8 motor that powers the C8 Corvette but instead of producing 490 HP, the engine has been re-tuned to churn out 705 HP and 715 lb-ft of maximum torque in the Italian supercar.
Staggeringly enough, the powertrain in Ares S Project continues to be naturally-aspirated. But Bahar refrained from elaborating on how the Italian company and its stateside suppliers managed to enhance the performance of the LT2 motor so drastically.
“That remains a secret between our supplier in the USA and us. It’s all mechanical modifications though, you can’t do this through software,” Bahar assured Top Gear. Ares S Project also shares its eight-speed dual-clutch gearbox with the mid-engine’ Vette along with its electronics and uni-frame architecture.
The Corvette-based supercar will be offered in a rear-wheel-drive layout. According to the simulations carried out by the company, S Project can accelerate from 0 to 62 MPH in 2.6 seconds. Ares’ design team is responsible for the unique styling of the S Project. The cab-forward silhouette of the Ares S Project bears an uncanny resemblance to the mid-engine Corvette Indy concept that debuted back in 1985.
The Italian design house will only build 24 units of the S Project as part of an exclusive limited production run. Bahar revealed that Ares Deign will start delivering the first batch of S Projects by the end of the year. The price tag of S Project is as bold as its design and at around $592K (€ 500K), this one-off supercar is almost 10 times more expensive than the base variant of the C8 Corvette.
Bahar shared S Project’s product brief with Top Gear which outlines that the car should offer “Hypercar design, supercar performance, sports car price.” The exorbitant pricing of the Ares S Project not only contradicts the third parameter of that brief but also positions the supercar in the same league as the other thoroughbred Italian offerings like the 2020 Ferrari SF90 Stradale.
Photos: Ares Design
.
