Panoz AIV Roadster

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The Panoz AIV Roadster is a front-engine, front open-wheeled, two-seat, V8 roadster built by the Panoz Auto Development Company. The car incorporates a 4.6-liter engine from Ford and is one of the first cars built mainly of aluminum, hence the name AIV, which stands for "Aluminum Intensive Vehicle."

The body and frame of the AIV are bonded with an aluminum epoxy instead of with the use of normal welding techniques; the epoxy provides some unique characteristics in stiffness and strength.

Specifications

Curb weight: ~2500 lb (1150 kg)

Horsepower: ~305 hp (240 kW)

Torque: ~300 lbf·ft (410 N·m)

Engine: Ford aluminum V8 (also found in same-year Ford Mustang Cobras)

0-60: 4.6 seconds

1/4 mile: 13.5 seconds

Lateral force: 0.96 g' (9.4 m/s²)

Layout: front engine, rear drive

The original frame design was bought from a British racing-car designer (Costin). Most of the car's parts, including the transmission and brakes, are borrowed from Ford cars. The tires are BF Goodrich G-Force tires. The aluminum body panels are made by a special extrusion process that is performed by only one company, an aerospace company. This same company now extrudes the Morgan Aero 8 aluminum body.

Each model year brought subtle differences. Models from the first few years used the cast iron, 5.0-liter V8 engine from Ford's Mustang line. Starting in 1997, Panoz used the aluminum, 4.6-liter V8 engine, which was considerably lighter and increased the car's power significantly. With the weight savings, an air-conditioning system was installed with little overall weight or performance change. The last year the AIV Roadster was made was 1999, when about 10 were modified with special paints and superchargers and were signed to create the Signature Edition 2000 Panoz AIV Roadster.

The AIV Roadster was eventually discontinued in favor of the Panoz Esperante. The Esperante requires far less manpower to make and affords a greater profit margin for Panoz.

For more detail, see the non-commercial educational factory authorized registry site www.panozroadster.com