Artistry in Motion: The De Tomaso P72 Exquisite Shifter Unveiled
by AutoExpert | 29 January, 2024
Have you caught a glimpse of De Tomaso P72's exposed shifter yet? It is definitely a work of art, resembling Pagani in some way. Seriously, if you love cars, you've need to check this out.
Remember a while back, De Tomaso hit us with the awesome news that the retro-cool P72 is actually going into production? Well, now they're giving us a sneak peek inside, and the highlight has got to be the shifter.
This thing is a stunner – think of the kind of intricate design you'd see on a Fabergé egg. It's got this polished copper gear lever, beautifully engraved with the De Tomaso logo and this fancy diamond pattern. It's like they turned shifting gears into an art form!
De Tomaso's really talking up the craftsmanship of this shifter, saying it's just a taste of the amazing details they've got in store. And with only 72 of these beauties being made, they're going all out. Each one's going to be a masterpiece, with loads of custom finishes and materials. I mean, at €750,000 (or about $815,000), you'd expect nothing less, right?
The original shifter design they showed back in 2019 at Goodwood was pretty flashy, but this new version? It's on another level. It's like the star of the console now, not just something you need to have. They're talking about different hardware options, too, like exposed and semi-exposed, which sounds pretty cool.
The new design tones down the bling a bit, with leather, a contrasting silver finish (maybe titanium or aluminum?), and a more subdued polish on the copper bits. Every little part of it – the fasteners, levers, springs, bezels – looks incredible. Just remember, what we're seeing now are digital renders, but they're pretty realistic.
De Tomaso's really laying it on thick, calling this shifter a "masterpiece of engineering" and a "tactile symphony." They're saying it's all about connecting you to the road, making driving an emotional experience. And let's talk about power – this baby's got a six-speed manual gearbox feeding power exclusively to the rear wheels. It's packing about 700 horsepower and 608 lb-ft of torque, thanks to a Coyote V8 with a Roush supercharger. Yeah, the same kind of engine you find in a Mustang Dark Horse, but with way more oomph.
And guess who's partnering up with De Tomaso for this? HWA – the same folks who worked on the engine for the Pagani Huayra R and a Mercedes 190E restomod.
All in all, the P72's shaping up to be an absolute gem, both inside and out. Can't wait to see what De Tomaso reveals next!