Let’s get something perfectly clear: if you’re spending good money to bring back a legendary Italian sports car brand like DeTomaso without aiming to capture the essence of the photograph above, you’re doing it wrong. Period. If, on the other hand, you’re bringing back the DeTomaso name in order to sell
a premium large crossover, dubbed SLC (sport luxury car) that would be a rival to cars such as the BMW 5-series GT and Lexus RX-450h,
you need to go rethink your entire perspective on life. Or at least find a new business. Tragically, this is exactly what former Fiat marketing executive Gian Mario Rossignolo is doing. DeTomaso. Crossover. DeTomaso. RX450h. DeTomaso. Luxury CUV. Haven’t lost your mind yet? Hit the jump for more claw-your-eyes-out details.
This, apparently, is an initial image of the DeTomaso “SLC,” which will debut at the Geneva Auto Show. It’s been styled by Pininfarina… can you tell? Or does it look like a grey blob of mainstream dull? Check the the first picture in the post before answering.
It seems Mr Rossignolo bought the DeTomaso name from a bankruptcy court back in 2009, and is using it to brand a line of three aluminum vehicles, which will be built at a former Pininfarina plant, using “an innovative construction technology called Univis” which can produce a vehicle using only 30 dies. Passionate, right? Evocative. Truly, inspirational stuff.
According to Automotive News [sub],
The four-wheel-drive SLC is set to go into production next year using two gasoline engines, a 550-hp V-8 and a 300-hp V-6, and a 250-hp V-6 diesel unit. It will not be sold as the SLC, but the final name has not been decided.
Eventually Rossignolo hopes to build 3,000 CUVs, 3,000 Sedans and 2,000 Coupes per year. Interestingly, he planned to buy Bertone’s coachbuilding facilities to produce the line of vehicles, but his former employer Fiat beat him to it. We’ll reserve full judgment until we see the car in its entirety, but from here, an AWD luxury CUV by DeTomaso sounds about as appealing as digital calculator watch from IWC.
Haven’t you heard, Ed? Everything’s reimagined as a crossover now, and you’re going to like it!
Probably the same brain trust which “reboots” old movie franchises.
If this is scheduled to be a 2013 release, I will begin rooting for the Mayans to be right.
The triumph of marketing over taste, but after the Qvale disaster, I don’t know if anyone cares.
Sadly they keep doing it because it keeps working.
Well said, sir.
Wow, what a beaut! When I see pics like that original DeTomasso or ones of the classic E-type Jag, I’m reminded of just how far we’ve fallen in the area of automotive style. Let’s face it – with few exceptions, our modern cars are just plan fugly- to include those hints of the proposed new DT.
The new crossover looks somewhat like a Mitsu Outlander Sport, based on what I can see in the very odd photo angles.
“If, on the other hand, you’re bringing back the DeTomaso name in order to sell a premium large crossover, dubbed SLC (sport luxury car) that would be a rival to cars such as the BMW 5-series GT and Lexus RX-450h”
Could be worse, at least they’re still pandering to the rich and affluent of the original DeTomaso market. I mean, someone could take a mini car originally designed as utilitarian transport for the masses, bloat it a few sizes and reposition it for yuppies, then bloat it again into a CUV .. oh wait a minute.
Who’s the gal in the top photo?
What an ugly SUV but I do believe that the man on the horse in the first picture is smiling.
I had to go back up and look again to notice that there was a woman in the photo. That’s how good looking that car was.
What gal? … oh yes, now that you mention it, there is a gal in that photo… but I would rather look at the car, if you don’t mind.
It’s not like De Tomasos were all that wonderful to begin with. The Mangusta and Pantera were crappy cars with gorgeous bodywork – there were kit cars with better engineering and build quality. As for the name purity, we’re talking about Alejandro De Tomaso here. Not only did he build lousy Jaguar XJ6 and Mercedes SLC near-copies, this was the the man who whored out his name to Lee Iaccoca for the Dodge 024 De Tomaso. Then look what he did to Maserati (Chrysler TC, anyone?). Go ahead and put Alejandro’s name on an SUV – I’m sure his ghost won’t mind. He’d be doing it himself if he was alive.
Is Fiat where they make the Italians work who didn’t show any aptitude for the car business?
Gandhi on Europeans’ reaction to pretty much every piece of idiocy originating in America:
“First they ignore you, then they laugh at you, then they fight you, then you win.”
Hmm, looks like they’re going after the styling cues of the Mediocrity with a bigger engine. Surprised it’s not beige.
Yeah another CUV thing-y because we don’t have enough of those.
It makes me cry.
It makes Jesus cry.
The original model is stunning.
http://www.autotransportdirect.com
Either the link is broken, or this is the lamest and most misplaced spam I’ve ever seen.
Yeah another CUV thing-y because we don’t have enough of those.
If to build those Snake eaters & Panthers there might be a market. For a small limited run. As long as not unreliable as the old ones.
Many of us probably knew why he called it Mangusta?
Him & Enzo both have a common Nemesis namely the Texas chicken farmer.
I am almost sure if anyone hedge against this new stock would make all the mulla back from the botched Porsche deal though.
That’s the saddest automotive news I’ve seen in a long time. Make it stop.
Please replace the photos of the new car with that of the old one. An amazing design for its time.
I have fond memories from my early teens of DeTomaso Pantera’s parked at my local Lincoln-Mercury dealer as well as some well to do family in my town having a red one parked in their driveway. Euro design with American reliability from the SB Ford. One of may favorite mid-engine supercars right up there with Ford GT.
To me more desireable than a Lambo. This CUV thingy kind of ruins those memories.