Leave it to an Italian company to turn the latest Chevrolet Corvette into a supercar.
Modena-based Ares is using the mid-engine C8 as the basis for its new S1 coupé, according to Car and Driver. This isn’t the first time that an outfit from the European country has rebodied the legendary American sports car, either.
The Corvette may be one of the most revered vehicles to ever come from the U.S., but that has never stopped gearheads from ripping it apart to make something new—especially in Italy, according to the magazine. All the way back in 1959, Carroll Shelby, Jim Hall, and Gary Laughlin had three bare C1 chassis sent to Scaglietti so they could be restyled as Italian coupés. Then, just three years later, General Motors itself asked Pininfarina to reimagine the C2 with a little more European flare (the result was a gorgeous one-off). And the Modena-based Ares, which was founded by former Lotus CEO Dany Bahar, is keeping the tradition alive.
Ares S1
Ares
Of course, you won’t immediately see much of the C8 in the S1. That’s because Ares takes the base car’s chassis, firewall, floor, engine and transmission, and disposes of the rest (it sells the leftover parts to keep costs down). The new body’s smooth flowing lines, rounded fenders and gullwing doors are closer to what you’d expect to see from Koenigsegg than Chevy. The same goes for the interior, which sports a more elegant look, as well a completely redesigned dashboard with even more screen space.
The mechanical changes are more nuanced. The engine has been given the slightest of tunes. The 6.2-liter V-8 now produces 530 horses, which is 35 more than the standard C8 Stingray. That’s significantly less than the 715 hp Ares promised when it first announced the model back in 2020, but the car can still move. The suspension has largely been left untouched, despite the S1 weighing 550 pounds less than the car it’s based on.
Inside the S1
Ares
Intrigued by the Italian-flavored C8 that looks like a supercar? You’ll want to reach out to Ares to reserve yours, but be quick as the firm plans to build just 100 examples of the coupé. Pricing starts at around $1 million, but with plans for plenty of customization options don’t be surprised if the build of your dreams comes in higher than that.
Click here for more photos of the C8 Corvette-based Ares S1.
Ares