Mid-engine supercar designed and built by Ares
NA V8 revs to nearly 9,000
The Italian coachbuilders at Ares Design have really done it this time, with the S1. A custom-built supercar with an 8,800 rpm NA V8, bodywork devoid of spoilers and wings, and clad in carbon fibre. All limited to just 24.
If you don’t recognize the name, Ares is the next venture from former Lotus boss Dany Bahar. The company has reimagined a Ferrari 412 based on a GTC4, made a modern Pantera using a Huracan V10, and even redoing the original Corvette Stingray. This time, though, they’re saying it is their own design throughout.
Though this isn’t a running car, just a model, it’s set to debut at the Salon Privé later this month. Production is set to start January, with no more than 24 of the mid-engine supercars to be built. It was styled using computational fluid dynamics to ensure that the dramatic profile was also aerodynamically efficient, with the forward cockpit adding aggression but also maximising downforce and minimising drag.
Powering the S1 is an NA V8 that will rev to 8,800 rpm and make 715 hp, sent to the rear through an eight-speed dual-clutch box. Ares says 0-100 km/h will happen in 2.7 seconds.
The suspension is a double-wishbone layout with aluminum axles and Magnetic Ride Control, which Ares says “will deliver a potent yet uncomplicated drive for its owners.”
“We did extensive research with our clients and potential clients to find out what they really wanted in a supercar and, time and again, it came back to them wanting to enjoy driving a car; to have fun and not to be worried about power that supercars have. So, we set about achieving that. The aim was not to produce the fastest, the lightest or the most technologically advanced supercar; we want to produce a car that our clients want,” said Bahar.
Inside, the car will be trimmed with Alcantara, Nappa leather, carbon, and aluminum, with a Ferrari-like dashboard and interface display.
