De Tomaso Biguà
| Qvale Mangusta | |
|---|---|
_2010-05-22_bearb.jpg) |
|
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Qvale |
| Also called | De Tomaso Biguá |
| Production | 2000–2002 (284 produced (55 with automatic), including 18 for the European market and 1 RHD version) |
| Assembly | Modena, Italy |
| Designer | Marcello Gandini |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Sports car |
| Body style | Three-position coupe/targa/full convertible |
| Related | MG XPower SV |
| Powertrain | |
| Engine | 4.6 L Ford Cobra SVT V8 |
| Transmission | BorgWarner T45 5-speed manual (or optional automatic transmission) |
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 105.1 in (2,670 mm) |
| Length | 165.1 in (4,194 mm) |
| Width | 74.8 in (1,900 mm) |
| Height | 51.8 in (1,316 mm) |
| Curb weight | 3,351 lb (1,520 kg) |
The Qvale Mangusta is a sports car produced in limited numbers in Italy by the automaker Qvale between 2000 and 2002. During development and very early production, it was badged as the De Tomaso Biguá. After this, other early production cars were badged as the De Tomaso Mangusta (named after the car originally built between 1967 and 1971) before De Tomaso became disassociated from the project and all subsequent cars received Qvale nameplates.
The Mangusta uses a front mid-engine, rear-wheel drive layout, and is powered by a Ford 4.6L DOHC V8. It was offered with either a BorgWarner T45 5-speed manual gearbox or a 4-speed automatic.
In 1993 and 1994, Maserati technical director Giordano Casarini made a number of business trips to the United Kingdom and, while there, first saw the TVR Griffith. He was impressed by the style and sales success of such a low-production-volume car.
Alejandro de Tomaso had meanwhile suffered a stroke in 1993. After a period of recovery, de Tomaso asked Casarini (whom he considered a trusted friend) what should be done with the De Tomaso company. Casarini suggested that De Tomaso make "an Italian TVR", pointing out the positive design elements that made the Griffith attractive. Alejandro de Tomaso negotiated with the Maserati chairman to release Casarini to De Tomaso, so that work on the design could begin.
Casarini intended to use an existing, inexpensive V8 engine that would reduce the purchase and maintenance costs of the car. In the tradition of De Tomaso cars, he wished to use a Ford V8 and explored the possibility of using the new Ford Modular 4.6L V8, but discovered that Ford was not yet ready to sell it to manufacturers.
Casarini learned that TVR was investigating the possibility of using differentials made by Australian company BTR Automotive in its cars. When communicating with a supplier for the differentials, he was directed towards Holden Special Vehicles (HSV), who indicated that they would be able to offer engines and transmissions. At this stage, the De Tomaso project was given the internal code name "ETX".
...
Wikipedia