The best info I could find is Jentz, "Panther, the quest for combat supremacy" Chapter 1.
There was the MAN VK 30.02 and Daimler-Benz VK 30.01
-------------- MAN ---- DB
Turret Front – 80@12 80@30
Turret Side – 45@25 45@30
Glacis – 60@55 60@55
Hull Side – 40@0 40@0
Both had sustained speed 40kph, max 56kph. Both had similar performance. The MAN had front drive, a single radius turning, , interleaved wheels and twin torsion bars. The D-B has rear drive, clutch brake turning, 4x pair of road wheels and leaf spring suspension. Both had similar dimensions and performance with the Maybach HL 230. Both were to be 35 tons and armed with the 75L70 gun.
Also mentioned was Rheinmetall making a turret with 100mm armor that sounds like what it ended up with. Hitler originally wanted a diesel engine and wanted to see a glacis of 100mm. DB submitted a diesel and transmission in the rear but that pushed the turret forward and too much overhang of the gun. It seems Hitler preferred the D-B design.
Typical squabbling and political intrigue followed.
Based on a quick comparison the initial requirements look very similar to a Sherman and T-34. Hitler wanted something very superior to those. The T-34/85 could penetrate 100mm of armor out to about 1100m so the glacis of 60@55 is a real liability.
Wolfhag
goes into repair mode when painted models are damaged in shipping.