De Tomaso Automobili wins New York court battle as P72 launch returns to focus

The Italian marque De Tomaso Automobili has prevailed in a legal dispute against its former chief executive, Ryan Berris. A federal jury in New York unanimously rejected his claims seeking recognition of an alleged verbal agreement covering compensation, an ownership stake in the company, and entitlement to one of the supercars. The court also declined to uphold accusations of fraud and defamation levelled at the company’s owner, Norman Choi. In addition, De Tomaso was awarded damages on its counterclaims for breach of fiduciary duties.

The case, which began in 2023, had complicated the brand’s return to the market. With the dispute now resolved, the company says it can refocus on bringing the P72 to launch, a model first unveiled in 2019.

De Tomaso P72: powertrain and performance

The De Tomaso P72 is fitted with a supercharged 5.0-litre V8 producing 700 hp, paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox and rear-wheel drive. Estimated acceleration to 96 km/h is about 3 seconds, while top speed is roughly 322 km/h.

Production timing and brand heritage

Production of the supercar is scheduled to begin later this year. The model carries on the marque’s tradition, well known in the United States for the Pantera powered by a Ford V8. The P72 is counted among the sports cars of 2026, with its arrival expected following an extended development period.