Panoz Esperante

First generation

2-door convertible 4.6 L supercharged Modular V8

First shown at the 2000 New York Motor Show, the Esperante followed up on the company's first model, the minimal Roadster. The company designed the Esperante to be easy to manufacture, with the chassis designed in five modules making extensive use of extruded aluminum. There was no welding involved; pieces were bonded and bolted together instead. The engines for the first generation were sourced from Ford Motor Company's Modular V8 family.

There have been several versions of the original Esperante: the original base model (later given the GT moniker), the GTLM coupe, the GTS, the JRD (an aftermarket upgrade brand similar to Roush Mustangs), and the Brabham. Each model has different specifications. The GTLM, for example, uses a supercharger to boost power from 305 hp to 420 hp, raising performance from 0–60 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 around 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 can do 0–60 mph (97 km/h) in 4.2 seconds, go up to a top speed of 182 mi/h, and achieve 0.98 g of lateral grip.

Specifications

Body and chassis

• Layout: Front/mid-engine, rear wheel drive, luxury sport convertible
• Body: Hand assembled lightweight SPF aluminum.
• Chassis: Hand built modular extruded aluminum, bolted and bonded to steel subframes

Engine and drivetrain

• Engine: Ford Modular, hand assembled DOHC, 32-valve, 90-degree, aluminum V8
• Displacement: 4,601 cc
• Power: 305 hp at 5,800 rpm
• Torque: 320 lbft at 4,200 rpm
• Compression ratio: 9.8:1
• Bore by stroke: 3.55 by 3.54 in (90.2 by 90.0 mm)
• Fuel: Gasoline 93 octane
• Fuel injection: Sequential electronic indirect multi-point
• Ignition: Distributorless, coil-on-plug
• Transmission: Tremec T45 5-speed manual; 4-speed automatic (optional)
• 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
• Weight: 1200 kg

Performance

• 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h): 4.2 seconds (Esperante GTLM)
• 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h): 4.9 seconds (Esperante GT)
• 0–62 mph (0–100 km/h): 5.1 seconds (Esperante)
• Quarter mile: 13.4 seconds at 107.3 mph (Esperante GT)
• Quarter mile: 13.7 seconds at 103.5 mph (Esperante)
• Lateral acceleration: 0.96 g (Esperante GT)
• Lateral acceleration: 0.92 g (Esperante)
• Top speed: 155 mph (250 km/h) with manual transmission
• Top speed: 150 mph (242 km/h) with automatic transmission

Suspension

• Front: Fully independent short long arm (SLA) double wishbone configuration with gas charged Eibach 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)
• Installed tires: Yokohama, Dunlop P255/45ZR17

Brakes

• Manufacturer: Performance Friction Brakes
• Type: Four-wheel power assisted ventilated discs
• 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

• Type: Power assisted rack and pinion
• Turns lock-to-lock: 2.5
• Ratio: 15:1

Dimensions and capacities

• Seating capacity: 2
• Wheelbase: 106.0 in (2.713 m)
• 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 m)
• Overall height: 53.4 in (1.356 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)

Other technical specifications

• AM/FM/ audio system with subwoofers and dual speakers
• Air conditioning
• Power windows
• Cruise control
• Traction control
• Stability control
• Power folding convertible top for the convertible model

Second generation

|5.0 L Coyote NA V8 |6.2 L LT1 NA V8 |6.2 L LSA supercharged V8 |6.2 L LT4 supercharged V8 6-speed automatic

Introduced in 2014, the 2015 430-hp Spyder and 560-hp Spyder GT were only in production for about a year. As well as the Ford Modular V8, the second generation was equipped with more powerful General Motors LS engines, with available supercharging.

Racing (Panoz Esperante GTLM)

24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 Tom Milner Sr. Simon Marshall Nick Alcock USA Panoz Team PTG USA Robertson Racing AUS David Brabham USA Gunnar Jeannette USA Tommy Milner FRA Sébastien Bourdais USA Bill Auberlen USA Joey Hand GBR Tom Kimber-Smith USA Ross Smith USA David Robertson USA Andrea Robertson USA David Murry NED Arie Luyendyk Jr. USA Bryan Sellers USA Tom Sutherland GER Dominik Farnbacher GBR Ian James 1973 mm including side rear view mirror Rear: 1542–1626 mm (60.7–64 in) |Turbo/NA = naturally aspirated (no Turbocharger), Dunlop Front: 320/65 - R18 Rear: 330/71 - R18 BBS aluminum wheels Front: 12.5 x 18 inches Rear: 13 x 18 inches

A racing version of the Esperante known as the Esperante GT-LM was developed by Panoz for the GT2 category of the 24 Hours of Le Mans. 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 managed to outlast and overtake the remaining LMGT2 contenders in the final hour of the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans.

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 Le Mans in 2007 with both the #81 and #82 cars.http://teamlnt.com/2007/News/LeMans07/LeMans07.html

During the 2007 American Le Mans season the Panoz Esperante GTLM will be managed, stateside, by Tom Milner and Team PTG. They will be campaigning two GT-LMs (#20 and #21). Team PTG scored 1 GT2 class podium in the hands of Bill Auberlen and Joey Hand in 2007 Sports Car Challenge of St. Petersburg. In the same year, Panoz Esperante GTLM also fielded Robertson Racing Team as 2007 ALMS season part-time entries in the hands of Andrea Robertson, David Robertson and Arie Luyendyk Jr.

References

Bibliography

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References

1. (23 November 2024). "Ever Seen One Before? This Is The Unusual American-Made Panoz Esperante". Silodrome.
2. (8 October 2023). "This $56k Panoz Esperante is a rare bit of American sports car history". Hagerty.
3. {{Holmes-UltConv
4. [http://panoz.com/ Panoz Motors {{! Elite Custom Handmade Sports Cars]
5. Lyons, Pete. (2000-04-24). "Practical Passion". Crain Communications Inc..
6. Lyons 2000]], p. 19
7. (January 2025). "2015 Panoz Esperante Spyder GT". TopSpeed.com}}{{dead link.