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Panoz-Esperante-08small
Panoz Esperante
Panoz
aka Type aka here, not up there
Production produced from when to when+total units made (optional)
Class Sports Car
Body Style 2-door 2-seat Front-engined Roadster
Length 176.3 in (4.478 m)
Width 73.2 in (1.859 mm)
Height 53.4 in (1,355.9 m)
Wheelbase 106.0 in (2.713 mm)
Weight 3200 lb / 1,450 kg (curb)
Transmission Tremec T45 5-speed manual, RWD
Engine engine
Power 320 hp (239 kW) @ 6,000 rpm
315 lb-ft (427 N·m) of torque @ 4,750 rpm
Similar similar (competition)
Designer Designer (lead designer if it was a team effort)

The Esperante is a sports car made by Panoz Auto Development Company.

There are several models of the Esperante: the base model, the GT, the GTLM, the GTS, and the JRD (an aftermarket upgrade brand similar to Roush Mustangs). Additionally, Panoz is more than willing to work with the buyer to make special modifications to any of the stock models. Each model has slightly different stats. The Specs below are for the base model. The GTLM, for example, uses a supercharger to boost power from 305 hp to 420 hp, raising performance from 0-62 in 5 seconds to 4 seconds. The GTS on the other hand is built as a driver's class spec car, to SCCA standards, with harness, roll cage, side bars, etc. Additionally, it is ~600 lb lighter than the base Esperante, has a steel 5.8 liter V8 racing engine that produces 385 bhp, and is made of easily replaceable panels to facilitate small impact race repair. It does 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, and can achieve 0.98 g of lateral grip.

See Autopedia's comprehensive Panoz Esperante Review.

Recent Changes[]

Mention any minor facelifts or major changes made to the vehicle here.

Styles and Major Options[]

Certain vehicles come in different trim levels or body styles. Features and major options should be mentioned here.

Pricing[]

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MODEL Trims
Trim1 Trim2 Trim3 Trim4
MSRP
$Price1 $Price2 $Price3 $Price4
Invoice
$Price1 $Price2 $Price3 $Price4

Gas Mileage[]

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As seen on the FuelEconomy.gov website, the City/Highway MPG averages are as follows:

Trim
Trim1 Trim2 Trim3 Trim4
MPG
c/h c/h c/h c/h

Engine and Transmission[]

  • Engine: Hand assembled DOHC, 32-valve, 90-degree, aluminum V8
  • Displacement: 4,601 cm³
  • Power: 320 hp (239 kW) @ 6,000 rpm
  • Torque: 315 ft·lbf (427 N·m) @ 4,750 rpm
  • Compression Ratio: 9.8:1
  • Bore by stroke: 3.55 by 3.54 in (90.2 by 90.0 mm)
  • Fuel injection: Sequential electronic
  • Ignition: Distributorless, coil-on-plug
  • Transmission: Tremec T45 5-speed manual
  • Gear Ratios: 1st: 3.37:1 2nd: 1.99:1 3rd: 1.33:1 4th: 1.00:1 5th: 0.67:1
Rev: 3.22:1 Final: 3.27:1
  • Differential: Limited-slip type, 8.8 inch (224 mm) ring gear, aluminum case

Performance[]

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If using information gathered from Road Test articles from a reputable automotive source, then please make sure to cite the quote.

Suspension[]

  • Front: Fully independent short-long arm (SLA) double wishbone configuration with gas charged Penske coil-over shock absorbers and anti-roll bar
  • Rear: Fully independent, double wishbone with horizontally opposed, pushrod-and-rocker activated Penske gas charged coil-over shock absorbers and anti-roll bar.
  • Wheels: Aluminum BBS, 17 by 9 inches (430 by 230 mm)
  • Tires: BF Goodrich P255/45ZR17

Brakes[]

  • Type: Four-wheel power assisted disc
  • ABS: Electronic three channel, four sensor
  • Front: Dual-piston caliper with high-pressure steel braided brake lines and 13 inch (330 mm) vented steel rotor
  • Rear: Single-piston caliper with 11.7 inch (297 mm) vented steel rotor

Steering[]

Other Dimesions[]

  • Body: Hand assembled lightweight SPF aluminum.
  • Chassis: Modular extruded aluminium, bolted and bonded to steel subframes
  • Track: front 60.9 in (1.55 m), rear 63.2 in (1.58 m)
  • Ride Height: 5.0 in (127 mm)
  • Fuel Capacity: 15.7 U.S. gal (59.4 L)

Reliability[]

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Safety[]

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Photos[]

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Colors[]

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Main Competitors[]

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Hybrid Models[]

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Unique Attributes[]

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Interior[]

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Resale Values[]

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<MODEL> Year
Year X Year X-2 Year X-3 Year X-4
Resale Value
$ $ $ $

Criticisms[]

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Generations[]

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Current Generation: (YYYY–present)[]

Fifth generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]

Fourth generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]

Third generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]

Second generation (YYYY–YYYY)[]

First Generation/Origins (YYYY–YYYY)[]

Worldwide[]

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Motorsport[]

Main article: Panoz Esperante GT2

An Esperante managed to win the GT2 class at the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is usually dominated by Porsche 911 GT3. The best of the 911s led until the final hour but ran into trouble, finishing one lap behind the Panoz, with a Ferrari F430 ten laps down. Other competitors in that class were two Spyker C8s which showed promising performance, but did not finish, like the second Panoz which managed only 34 laps. Anyway, this success is a remarkable one for the road-going version of Panoz.

Design quirks and oddities[]

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Awards[]

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See Also[]

image (between 170-190 pixels)
PANOZ

Panoz Motorsports Group


Current

Esperante · Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans"

Historic

AIV Roadster ·

Concept

·

Racing

Esperante GT2 · Esperante GTLM · Esperante GTR-1 · LMP-01


Van Diemen · Panoz Racing Series · Mosport International Raceway · Road Atlanta · Sebring Raceway · Panoz Racing Schools


Don Panoz and Danny Panoz Corporate website independent


External Links[]

News and References

Enthusiast Sites and Discussion Forums

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