A blog devoted to RANTS ON AUTOMOTIVE DESIGN, car reviews, and - above all - fugly autos. whether looking for vehicular plagiarism or rides of extreme tastelessness, you've come to the right place.


Thursday, February 17, 2011

De Tomaso Revival is a Dodgey Proposition

Can you find the car that isn’t a Dodge in the image to the left?

De Tomaso is forever etched fondly in my mind with memories of Panteras and Mangustas, but its revival threatens to change that. Similar to the misguided attempt to relaunch the Lagonda brand, this oversized sedan / SUV / crossover / thing is apparently what defines De Tomaso for the millennium. Where most original De Tomasos were exotic machinery with potent Ford engines, the new De Tomaso unfortunately is little more than a new body sitting atop a Cadillac SRX – a vehicles that is decidedly mediocre to start with. And speaking of that body, it's a bit generic with some decidedly low-rent looking taillights that wouldn't look out of place on a Dodge. Even the interior is little changed, save for being slathered in leather. Truly a sad day for fans of exotic cars of the 60’s and 70’s.