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Project M supercar revealed as Corvette ZR1-based Mantide

 
15 15,211 views Apr 20, 2009

inside project m 005

inside project m 005

inside project m 005

Enlarge Photo
Giving brilliant people free rein to build their dreams has led to some of the best designs in automotive history, no small portion of which were penned by people working for Stile Bertone. Ex-Pininfarina designer and now head of Stile Bertone Jason Castriota is one of those people - the author of James Glickenhaus' fantastic P4/5. Now he has designed his own supercar, called the Mantide.

Though Castriota is at the center of the project, his ties to Stile Bertone are also being kept at the forefront. Castriota's own combination of American birth and Italian heritage echoes the ties between Bertone's past and the supercar design of the present.


The Mantide features aerodynamic aids similar to those used in F1

The Mantide features aerodynamic aids similar to those used in F1

Enlarge Photo
The car, which made its debut today at the 2009 Shanghai Auto Show, is built off a Chevrolet Corvette ZR1 platform but its entire body is completely new, composed mostly of carbon-fiber and magnesium. The use of the lightweight materials meant designers were able to shave almost 250lb from the kerb weight of the already lightweight ZR1. Furthermore, aerodynamic aids similar to the ones used in F1 sees the Mantide feature 25% less drag and 30% more downforce than the ZR-1 on which it’s based.

The end result is a 0-60mph time of 3.5 seconds and a top speed in excess of 200mph. Unfortunately, no production plans have been revealed yet.

For more of Castriota's shockingly awesome design work, check out the Ferrari 599GTB, Rolls Royce Hyperion and the Maserati GranTurismo.

Inside Jason Castriota's Project M

Inside Project M Episode VII


HI-RES GALLERY: inside project m 005




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Comments (15)

  1. ma_InsideProjectM avatar InsideProjectM Posted: 3/3/2009 4:56am PST

    Thanks for the quality post. We'll be sure to keep you updated with new developments. We gave you props on Twitter
     
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  2. ma_Damien Thomas avatar Damien Thomas Posted: 4/14/2009 5:43pm PDT

    Ok i hope these teasers are a ruse because that car looks like it’s been hit one too many times by the ugly stick.

    That poor ZR1 :(
     
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  3. ma_DavidSilverM3 avatar DavidSilverM3 Posted: 4/20/2009 6:33am PDT

    Wow, that is very different looking. I applaud the effort. Looking forward to seeing the end result. Any pics of the front?
     
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  4. ma_Mike avatar Mike Posted: 4/20/2009 8:37am PDT

    Looks like it should be in the new "Transformers" movie; it's other-worldly.
     
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  5. ma_solo84 avatar solo84 Posted: 4/20/2009 2:44pm PDT

    hell
    no
     
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  6. ma_gus avatar Gus Chyba Posted: 4/20/2009 4:03pm PDT

    I'll take a ZR1, thanks.

    "Man-Tide"? Sounds like a club. In San Francisco. In the Castro district...
     
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  7. ma_InkMaster avatar InkMaster Posted: 4/20/2009 4:30pm PDT

    What the hell... Wow... I'm sorry but what a waste of time and resources...

    All this teasing and such for a slightly riced Corvette... ugh.
     
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  8. ma_Damien Thomas avatar Damien Thomas Posted: 4/20/2009 4:37pm PDT

    This is just too cartoonish and messy. Lets see how many people like it/dislike it.

    My opinion: UGLY
     
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  9. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 4/20/2009 8:20pm PDT

    It all seems a bit of a new take on the old Ferreri "bread van" of the sixties. In other words it screams been there done that!! I can not say that all the hype was worth the eventual product, although I'll give him 10 out of 10 for marketing skills.

    P.S. Gus do you visit the Castro district often?
     
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  10. ma_www.mywheelsonwalls.com avatar www.mywheelsonwalls.com Posted: 4/20/2009 8:23pm PDT

    Some images of the Ferrari bread van for you all. It came for auction last year and failed to sell I wonder why??

    http://cache.jalopnik.com/assets/resources/2007/10/breadvan2.jpg

    http://www.pestalozzi.net/sb/ferrari_breadvan/bv_kloepfel1.jpg

    http://media.photobucket.com/image/ferrari%20breadvan/blitzen/F1%20Old%20Style/Breadvan_1962_Brands_inaction.jpg
     
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  11. ma_Elmo187 avatar Elmo187 Posted: 4/21/2009 12:41am PDT

    I'll take a ZR1, thanks.

    "Man-Tide"? Sounds like a club. In San Francisco. In the Castro district...

    its pronounced Man-tih-day.
     
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  12. ma_gazzed avatar gazzed Posted: 4/21/2009 12:45am PDT

    It sure is quite different and very striking... but somewhat too "thunderbirdie" if you know what I mean.
     
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  13. jedrek Posted: 8/14/2009 6:48pm PDT

    nice cars
     
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  14. J. Harrell Posted: 9/7/2009 7:18pm PDT

    I dont know why everyone on this forum is trying to compare the ZR-1 with the GTR and the 599 GTB. Look at this video.
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OZlGMX8G3B4
     
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  15. buy dsi r4 Posted: 1/20/2010 2:23am PST

    I wonder if GM would serve themselves well by offering the corvette chassis to companies like Pininfarina, Bertone, and other smaller, niche companies. The chassis and drive line are amazing for the money but the interior and styling?? Perhaps GM could usher in the renaissance of the coachbuilder.
     
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