We showed a video last week with the De Tomaso SLC, a luxury crossover unveiled by the Italian automaker during a small reception in Rome, Italy. Well as the world premiere day at the Geneva Motor Show is almost here, the company seems to have changed its mind, and is now referring to its upcoming concept as the De Tomaso SLS.
This won’t be the actual name used for the production model, but we’ll have to wait one more day to find out what will it be.
The 4WD De Tomaso SLS will be launched with two powering options, a 550 HP V8 and a 300 HP V6, with a diesel plant also expected to become available at a later date.
Production for the De Tomaso SLS will reach 3,000 units per year, plus the automaker wants to intorduce limousine and coupe models based on the same architecture used by the SLS.
The cars will be built at De Tomaso Automobili S.p.A. plant, a former Pininfarina S.p.A. factory near Turin and in the Livorno factory by the ex-Delphi workers.
De Tomaso’s business plan foreseen for a three-model range of aluminum vehicles based on an innovative construction technology called Univis. Univis requires just about 30 dies to build a vehicle.
During a 22-year career with Fiat group, Gianmario Rossignolo was a top marketing executive at the company and CEO of the Italian automaker’s Lancia brand from 1977 to 1979.
In December 2009, Rossignolo signed a deal to rent Pininfarina’s factory in Grugliasco, in the western outskirts of Turin, one of three Pininfarina plants.
The new De Tomaso company will invest 116 million euros in its rebirth project.
The Grugliasco plan currently employs 900 people and includes a body shop, paint shop and final assembly facility, while in the Livorno one will be employed 150 people.
