|
|
 |
| |
|
Home > Car Resources > Cars > Panoz Esperante
Panoz Esperante
The Panoz Motor Sports Group is an entity made up of the many motorsports holdings of Don Panoz. Headquartered in Braselton, Georgia, the Panoz Motor Sports Group includes several racing series and race tracks. The group also owns a racing school operating at multiple locations. The Esperante is a sports car made by Panoz Auto Development Company.
The Panoz Esperante comes as either a coupe or a soft-top roadster, each available in base, GT and GTLM trim levels. A carbon-fiber hardtop is available. A full leather interior, a power top for the convertible and a Rockford-Fosgate audio system are among the standard features. Options, such as carbon-fiber spoilers, BBS alloy wheels, upgraded Brembo brakes, custom-matched luggage and even matching golf bags allow customers to personalize their Esperante. The GT adds more aggressive suspension geometry, a lighter body and revised fascias. The GTLM includes all of this, plus a supercharged engine.
A Ford 4.6-liter V8 with 320 horsepower and 317 pound-feet of torque provides the thrust for the Panoz Esperante. The GTLM includes a supercharged version good for 420 hp, horsepower. A five-speed manual is standard, with a four-speed automatic available as an option. Panoz claims that the non-supercharged Esperante will run from zero to 60 miles per hour in 5.1 seconds, through the quarter-mile in 13.7 seconds and on to a top speed of 155 mph, miles per hour.
Traction control and antilock brakes highlight the safety features list. Side airbags and stability control aren't available, and no crash tests have yet been conducted. Panoz claims that the Esperante's aluminum intensive and modular construction makes the car more crashworthy, especially in side impacts. An elegant cockpit features a center-mounted instrument panel, white-faced gauges, real wood trim and a gorgeous aluminum shifter. Wind buffeting with the top down is minimal, though the plastic rear window is surprising, given that the Esperante's competitors have all made the switch to glass.
The Panoz Esperante is the second road car to be released by the small independent sports carmaker located near Atlanta. With a curvaceous body reminiscent of a Jaguar XK8, the Esperante uses mostly aluminum for its hand-built body and chassis. Panoz reputation for thrilling performance, unsurpassed comfort, and innovative safety features, and exceptional reliability stems from a dedication to the most exacting criteria for quality in the industry. Every aspect of the design and manufacturing process reflects a quest for uncompromising quality and a devotion to pushing the envelope.
Back to Cars
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|