I can’t get enough of the DeTomaso P72

The DeTomaso P72 is just gorgeous!
The DeTomaso P72 might be my new favorite car! Photo © 2019 G.F Williams / DeTomaso

I really do think this is the best-looking car ever.

This past weekend, the Goodwood Festival of Speed started and ended while I was away from the desk. I did manage to cover some of the more notable events in my new series “Weekend Rear-view”, but there was one piece of news that I simply couldn’t get enough of; The reveal of the DeTomaso P72!

Oh God; that EXHAUST NOISE!

In my Weekend Rear-view, I mentioned that the car is based on the Apollo Intenza Emozione. Personally, I think the P72 is much, much better looking! But, it does use the same naturally-aspirated 6.3-liter V12, so it looks as good as it sounds! Speaking of its looks; the car is inspired by the styling of some famous prototype race cars from the 60s. Cars like the Ferrari 330 P4 / 412P and Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale are definitely reflected in the lines of the car. In fact, this has actually caused some issues with Scuderia Cameron Glickenhaus, who has called out DeTomaso for copying their design for the Pininfarina P4/5.

I think this is a bit of a moot point since it’s clear that both cars were inspired by the design of the Ferrari 330 P4 and other similar race cars. That being said, I think the P72 pulls it off a little better than the Pininfarina P4/5. I mean, just look at it!

It’s just gorgeous!

The car looks exactly like the kind of thing I would sketch in the margins of my notebooks during elementary school. Hell, I still sketch cars like this when I get a chance! It has all the classic lines and proportions, and the interior is simply beautiful. Polished and machined copper adorn the inside and outside of the car, and most notably, the top-mounted exhaust. Both the wing mirrors and wheels are finished with polished copper as well, giving the car a weird combination of retro 60’s styling and steampunk aesthetics. I might even go far as to say that the interior looks just as good, if not, better than the Pagani Huayra’s!

A quick pencil sketch I did in 2016.
A quick pencil sketch I did back in 2016 during a meeting at work. I prefer flowing lines over sharp edges!

Now, I know what I said about hypercars. But, this car just happens to be one of the very few that I’m actually excited about! Part of that is because this car looks nothing like your typical hypercar. Cars like the Aston Martin Valkyrie have their designs dictated purely by aerodynamics, and in a way, that takes away from the overall design. The cars aren’t beautiful; they’re purposeful. The P72 is the opposite of what a typical hypercar looks like, and that’s why I like it so much. The P72 is retro design absolutely done right.

DeTomaso couldn’t have picked a better way to return.

Weekend Rear-view: The Goodwood Festival of Speed

Photo by Snapwire on Pexels.com

While I was enjoying my weekend setting off fireworks and napping on a boat in the middle of a lake, The Goodwood Festival of Speed kicked off and some amazing and wonderful cars were revealed! So, to keep up with everything I missed, I’m starting a new blog series: Weekend Rear-view! (Get it? Review / Rear-view? Ok.) So without further ado, here’s my Weekend Rear-view: The Goodwood Festival of Speed!

The Ford GT goes out with a Bang

Photo © 2019 Motor1.com / Ford
Photo © 2019 Motor1.com / Ford

This past Le Mans saw the Ford GT program, unfortunately, end on a low note, as none of the cars took the class victory. Aside from this, the Ford GT program was Ford’s successful reentry into endurance racing since the Matech Ford GTs from more than a decade ago. To celebrate this now legendary car’s swan song, Ford has created a new customer program with a very limited edition, rule-breaking race car: the Ford GT MkII.

The Ford GT Mk II takes the hill.

Designed with the FIA rulebook firmly in the trash bin, the GT MkII makes 400 more pounds of downforce with a revised aerodynamic body, and 200 more horsepower from the 3.5L EcoBoost twin-turbo V6! This monster is even said to be able to drive upside down like an F1 car thanks to its massive downforce! Only 45 of these machines will be built-to-order.

The DeTomaso P72 might be the most beautiful car ever

Oh God, it's PERFECT! Photo © 2019 G.F Williams / DeTomaso
Oh God, it’s PERFECT! Photo © 2019 G.F Williams / DeTomaso

To say I was pleasantly surprised would be an understatement. I nearly fell out of the boat when I heard that DeTomaso was making a comeback with what I honestly think is one of the most beautiful cars I’ve ever seen! The DeTomaso P72 made its worldwide debut at Goodwood, probably snapping necks as it went up the hill. Just LOOK at it! It’s like the Spyker C8 Preliator had a baby with The Alfa Romeo Tipo 33 Stradale, and went to reform school with the Pagani Huayra!

Of course, looks this good comes with a price. The P72 would have a limited production run of 72 units, all priced around $841,000 USD. The car is being built by the same people that brought us the Apollo Intenza Emozione so that glorious V12 sound emanating from the “trumpet” exhaust in the video might be the same 780 horsepower 6.3L V12!

Who would have thought polished copper would look so good?

The Volkswagen ID.R Breaks another record

Hot off the heels of their latest record-breaking run, Volkswagen Motorsport brought out the ID.R electric prototype and proceeded to break the 20- year speed record set by Nick Heidfeld in a McLaren MP4/13 Formula 1 car. That is to say, an 800 horsepower, 1300 pound, V10-powered F1 car. And the ID.R beat it.

It’s kind of hard to explain exactly how fast that is until you see the actual video. That car is FAST. The amazing thing here is that the ID.R actually weighs more and makes less power than the legendary F1 car. The ID.R was better equipped to tackle the hill than the McLaren thanks the crew setting the car up specifically for the hillclimb. Next, I want to see what that thing would do at the Circuit De La Sarthe!

That’s a wrap!

Well, that’s it for the Weekend Rear-view: The Goodwood Festival of Speed! See you next time!