Panoz Esperante

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Panoz Esperante front quarter view
Panoz Esperante front quarter view
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Please improve this article if you can. (March 2008)

The Esperante is a sports car made by Panoz, an American car manufacturer.

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 statistics. The Specs below are for the base model. The GTLM, for example, uses a supercharger to boost power from 305 hp (227 kW) to 420 hp (310 kW), raising performance from 0-62 mph 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 (270 kg) lighter than the base Esperante, has a steel 5.8 liter V8 racing engine that produces 385 bhp (287 kW/390 PS), and is made of easily replaceable panels to facilitate small impact race repair. It can do 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds, go up to a top speed of 182 mph, and achieve 0.98 g of lateral grip.

Panoz's engines are sourced from The Ford Motor Companies family of Mod Motor V8s.

Contents

[edit] Racing

PTG's Panoz Esperante GT-LM at the 2007 Generac 500.
PTG's Panoz Esperante GT-LM at the 2007 Generac 500.

2006 was a year of noticeable achievement for Panoz.

The #50 Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz Esperante GT-LM took a first place podium finish at the 55th Annual Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring beating GT2 regulars BMW, Porsche, Ferrari, and Spyker

That June the #81 Panoz Esperante GT-LM campaigned by England based Team LNT [1] managed to outlast and overtake the remaining LMGT2 contenders in the final hour of the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans.

During the 2007 American Le Mans season the Panoz Esperante will be managed, stateside, by Tom Milner and Team PTG. They will be campaigning two GT-LMs (#20 and #21)

In Europe, Team LNT will be campaigning two Esperantes also. They will be competing in the British GT Championship and Le Mans Endurance Series. Team LNT will be returning to the 24 Hours of LeMans in 2007 with both the #81 and #82 cars.[2]

[edit] Technical

[edit] Body and chassis

[edit] Engine/Drivetrain

Rev: 3.22:1 Final: 3.27:1
  • Differential: Limited-slip type, 8.8 inch (224 mm) ring gear, aluminum case
  • Weight: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb)

[edit] 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

[edit] 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

[edit] Steering

[edit] Dimensions and capacities

  • Seating Capacity: 2
  • Wheelbase: 106.0 in (2.713 mm)
  • Track: front 60.9 in (1.55 m), rear 63.2 in (1.58 m)
  • Overall Length: 176.3 in (4.478 m)
  • Overall Width: 73.2 in (1.859 mm)
  • Overall Height: 53.4 in (1,355.9 m)
  • Ride Height: 5.0 in (127 mm)
  • Curb Weight: 3200 lb (1,450 kg)
  • Fuel Capacity: 15.7 U.S. gal (59.4 L)

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to:


Panoz Auto Development
Road Cars:
Roadster/AIV Roadster • Esperante • Abruzzi

Race Cars:
Esperante GTR-1 • LMP-1 Roadster-S • LMP07 • LMP01 Evo • Esperante GTS • Esperante GT-LM • DP01
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