Historical Model
1993-2004
Guarà
Presented at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show; the Guarà was the final model created by Alejandro. The car was based upon the Maserati Barchetta Stradale prototype race car from 1991 and was styled by Carlo Gaino. The Guarà was offered initially as a coupe and later came a spider and an open barchetta variant.
Guarà
the story
Presented at the 1993 Geneva Motor Show; the Guarà was the final model created by Alejandro. The car was based upon the Maserati Barchetta Stradale prototype race car from 1991 and was styled by Carlo Gaino. The Guarà was offered initially as a coupe and later came a spider and an open barchetta variant.
For the creation of the Guarà, De Tomaso went back to his racing roots, resurrecting his trusted and successful formula of a spine 'backbone' chassis, mid-mounted engine and lightweight alloy components.
A unique element of the chassis design was the use of an inboard-mounted shock absorber system, employing push and pull rods to actuate the shock units (a system that was similar to Formula 1 and IndyCars of the time.) This design allowed the suspension to react to road changes more quickly. Additionally, Brembo ventilated disc brakes and Campagnolo cast alloy wheels completed a suspension system that would have been be at home on both race track and autostrada. In the interior, some of the body colour composite materials were on show, presumably as a race inspired design element.
The press praised the acceleration and handling prowess of the Guarà. However, this was to be the final project to be produced out of the De Tomaso factory at Modena.
Guarà
Quick Facts
•Designed by Carlo Gaino
•Estimated 50 produced
•Sports car, 2 door coupe, spider and barchetta
•Mid engine, rear wheel drive layout
•BMW M60 B40 V8 (1993–1998)
•Ford/Visteon V8 (1998–2004)
•Transmission: 6-speed manual
Engine
- Type: BMW M60 B40 V8 (1993–1998) / Ford V8 (1998–2004)
- Layout: Mid-engined, longitudinally mounted.
- Aspiration: BMW: Naturally Aspirated / Ford: Supercharged
- Power Output: BMW: 279 bhp / Ford: 316 bhp
- Power Ratio: 66 bhp / liter
Dimensions
- Weight: 1,200 kilo (BMW Variant) / 1,400 kilo (Ford Variant)
- Length / Width / Height: 4,191 mm (165 in) / 2,029 mm (79.9 in) / 1,199 mm (47.2 in)
- Wheelbase / Track: 2,609 mm (102.7 in) / 1,631 mm (64.2 in) / 1,661 mm (65.4 in)
- Tyres: (fr/r) 245/40ZR-18; 285/35ZR-18
Drivetrain
- Body: Composite body panels on aluminium honeycomb backbone chassis
- Suspension:double wishbones, push-rod actuated coil springs over dampers, anti-roll bar
- Steering: Rack-and-pinion
- Gearbox: ZF 6 speed Manual
- Brakes: Ventilated discs, all-round
- Drive: Rear-wheel drive
Performance
- Power to weight: 0.22 bhp / kg
- Top Speed: 277 km/h (172 mph)
- 0-60 mph: 4.7 s
- 0-100 mph: 13.5 s