the farus is a mid-engined sports automobile built in brazil by industria de veiculos esportivos ltda beginning in 1979. the farus company, located in the southern brazilian city of belo horizonte, was founded in 1979. the name of the company is a portmanteau of familia russo, as the cars were built by alfio russo and his son giuseppe. their original mid-engined ml and ts cars were followed by the larger farus quadro, which was also part of an abortive effort to be sold in the united states. after a change of name to tecvan ("tecnologia de vanguarda ltda.", vanguard technology ltd.), the company shut its doors in 1990 as a result of the "plano collor" market liberalization.