De Tomaso Automobili is a legendary supercar brand originating from Modena, Italy, founded in 1959 by Argentine racing driver Alejandro de Tomaso.The brand is known for hand-built mid-engine sports cars; historically, its unique combination of "American V8 power + Italian design" stood out in the supercar field.De Tomaso combined large-displacement V8 engines from American manufacturers such as Ford with exquisite Italian body designs to create classic V8-powered models such as Mangusta, Pantera.In its history, it owned the legendary brand Maserati from 1976 to 1993 and successfully launched the Biturbo model to help its revival; it also operated the Moto Guzzi motorcycle brand.In 2004, after the founder's death, the brand went bankrupt and was liquidated. After multiple ownership changes, it was acquired by Hong Kong Ideal Team Ventures in 2014, initiating a revival plan.As of early 2026, De Tomaso underwent restructuring after its parent company was acquired by ESGL Holdings and became the flagship platform of OIO Group.
Golden Era: From Racing to Classic Supercars (1959–1993)
Founder Alejandro de Tomaso relocated to Italy in 1955 due to political turmoil involving the overthrow of the Argentine president.In 1959, he co-founded the De Tomaso company with his wife Isabella, initially focusing on manufacturing prototype cars and race cars; in 1970, he developed F1 racing chassis for the Frank Williams Racing Team.In 1963, the first mass-produced road car Vallelunga was launched, adopting a mid-engine layout and aluminum chassis frame.In 1967, Mangusta was launched, equipped with a Ford 4.7-liter V8 engine, perfectly fusing American power with Italian design.The Pantera launched in 1971 became the brand's peak creation, equipped with a Ford 5.8-liter V8 engine, sold through Ford dealer networks in the US, with cumulative production exceeding 6,000 units.In 1976, the founder took over the Maserati brand as the chairman of GEPI; in the same year, the Bi-Turbo model was launched to help Maserati revive from a bankruptcy crisis.
Decline, Bankruptcy, and Multiple Ownership Changes (1993–2014)
In 1993 the founder suffered a stroke, and company operations began to deteriorate. Alejandro de Tomaso passed away in 2003, and the company declared bankruptcy in 2004.Subsequently, the brand experienced multiple revival attempts: in 2009 it was acquired by Fiat former CEO Gian Mario Rossignolo who planned an annual production of 8,000 units of three new cars, but the plan failed due to his arrest; in 2012 Italian ATS obtained usage rights but mass production was not realized. In 2014, Hong Kong Ideal Team Ventures officially acquired De Tomaso, resuming the brand revival plan.
Revival and New Era (2015–Present)
In 2019, the brand launched the P72 concept car at the Goodwood Festival of Speed, paying tribute to the 1965 P70 race car.In November 2022, it released the track-specific P900, limited to 18 units.In May 2025, the P72 production version was officially launched, limited to 72 units.In March 2025, De Tomaso was acquired by ESGL Holdings.In April 2026, De Tomaso completed a business merger with OIO Group, becoming the flagship brand of OIO's NASDAQ-listed ultra-luxury mobility platform.
De Tomaso's modern product line focuses on two flagship supercars.
P72 (2019–Present)
The brand revival creation, built to commemorate the 60th anniversary of the brand's founding, limited globally to 72 units.P72's design inspiration comes from the 1965 De Tomaso P70 prototype racer, with its appearance featuring low body, triangular headlight groups, and "Y"-shaped LED daytime running lights as iconic elements.The cockpit design implements a pure driving philosophy, removing the multimedia entertainment system, retaining only a flat-bottom steering wheel, binnacle-style gauges, and a ball-shaped gear shifter.The P72 launched its production version in May 2025, expected to begin delivery by the end of 2025, with an overseas price of approximately 5.85 million RMB.
P900 (2022–Present)
The brand's first track-specific Hypercar, limited globally to 18 units, its name comes from the curb dry weight.The P900's designer is Jowyn Wong, who previously participated in the design of Apollo IE.Equipped with a 7.0-liter V12 naturally aspirated engine, maximum output 900 hp, vehicle weight only 900 kg, achieving a 1:1 power-to-weight ratio.P900 is positioned as a track-specific car, starting price approximately 2.48 million GBP, the entire car is built on a carbon fiber monocoque chassis, equipped with an integrated roll cage.
Historic Models
The brand historically owned multiple classic models: 1963 Vallelunga (brand's first road car), 1967 Mangusta (equipped with Ford 4.7-liter V8 engine), 1971–1993 Pantera (brand's highest production model, cumulative production over 6,000 units), additionally there were Deauville, Longchamp and other luxury sedans, as well as Kyalami (Maserati facelift car), Guara launched in 1993, etc.
De Tomaso is positioned today as an ultra-luxury custom supercar manufacturer with extreme scarcity; all models are produced in limited quantities and are not measured by conventional sales data. P72 is limited globally to 72 units, P900 limited to 18 units.The brand has undergone multiple acquisitions; the latest valuation and revenue are not publicly disclosed.In April 2026, it completed business restructuring with OIO Group and listed on NASDAQ, marking the brand's repositioning in the capital market.
P72 Core Technology
P72 adopts a custom carbon fiber monocoque chassis, composed of a central monocoque body and front and rear subframes, derived from Apollo Intensa Emozione's lightweight architecture, compliant with FIA LMP level racing safety standards.Power is supplied by a 5.0-liter supercharged V8 engine tuned by Roush, maximum power 700 hp, peak torque 820 N·m, matched with a six-speed manual transmission developed by De Tomaso.Pushrod suspension is equipped with three-stage manual adjustable modes, allowing setting adjustments according to different road conditions. The interior adopts a screen-free design, returning to a pure mechanical experience.
P900 V12 Naturally Aspirated Engine
The core of P900 is a 7.0-liter V12 naturally aspirated engine jointly developed by De Tomaso and Italian power expert Italtecnica, maximum output 888 to 900 hp.The engine adopts a 65-degree cylinder bank layout (instead of the traditional V12's 60 degrees), double overhead camshaft structure, four valves per cylinder.To cope with extremely high RPM, the engine uses a racing-grade all-gear driven timing system, rather than the chain or belt structures common in mass-produced cars.It is also equipped with an eight-stage dry sump lubrication system to ensure stable lubrication during intense track driving.The engine block uses a billet aluminum structure machined from a solid aluminum block, with a large number of titanium alloy connecting rods, ultra-lightweight pistons, and high-strength crankshafts and other forged lightweight components used internally.The exhaust system adopts an extremely exaggerated "12-in-1" central intertwined exhaust piping, which optimizes exhaust efficiency and also creates a rich exhaust note performance.
De Tomaso headquarters and production base are both located in Modena, Italy; historically it opened the North American market through Ford cooperative distribution networks, with the Pantera model being a typical example. In 2014, it was acquired by Hong Kong Ideal Team Ventures and incorporated into a Chinese-owned background.In March 2025, De Tomaso was acquired by Singaporean ESGL Holdings.In January 2026, De Tomaso and ESA Company under ESGL jointly launched a collaborative R&D project for sustainable high-performance composite materials such as carbon nanotubes.In April 2026, De Tomaso completed a business merger with OIO Group, becoming the flagship brand of OIO's ultra-luxury mobility platform listed on NASDAQ in the US.
De Tomaso's future core strategy is led by OIO Group, intending to build De Tomaso into a flagship platform for an ultra-luxury automobile brand, focusing on extremely low-volume, high-value collector-grade models and customization projects.Short-term priorities include completing customer delivery of existing P72 and P900 models, ensuring product quality and brand tone, and based on this, considering the development of new models based on existing technology platforms.Regarding new material technology, P72 has been positioned as a reference platform for future carbon nanotube technology innovation.Under the trend of electrification, De Tomaso will continue to adhere to the non-electrified pure internal combustion engine route, providing an irreplaceable choice for top collectors pursuing mechanical purity with P900 such a "counter-trend" V12 naturally aspirated Hypercar.
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