Rahul Sharma (Editor)

Panoz Esperante

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Manufacturer
  
Panoz, LLC

Layout
  
FR layout

Production
  
2000–present

Panoz Esperante

Assembly
  
Braselton, Georgia 30548, United States

Engine
  
4.6 L (281 CID) Modular V8, 4.6 L Supercharged Modular V8

Transmission
  
4-speed Automatic, 5-speed manual 6-speed manual

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

Contents

There have been several Esperante models: the base model GT, the GTLM, the GTS, the JRD (an aftermarket upgrade brand similar to Roush Mustangs), the Brabham, and the 2015 430-hp Spyder and 560-hp Spyder GT. Each model has different specifications. 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 (293 km/h), and achieve 0.98 g of lateral grip.

Panoz's engines are sourced from General Motors and Ford Motor Company's Modular V8 family. Production continues today. The company currently builds the Spyder and Spyder GT, an Esperante convertible with a removable hardtop, and will soon introduce a new Esperante version later in 2016.

The specifications below apply to cars produced in the mid-2000s. The current Esperante Specifications can be found at the Panoz website

Body and chassis

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

    • Engine and drivetrain

  • Engine: Ford badged as Élan Motorsport Technologies, Hand assembled DOHC, 32-valve, 90-degree, aluminum V8
  • Displacement: 4,601 cc
  • Power: 305 hp (309 PS; 227 kW) @ 5800 rpm
  • Torque: 320 lb·ft (430 N·m) @ 4200 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
  • 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: 1,200 kg (2,600 lb)

    • Performance

  • 0-62 mph (0–100 km/h): 4.9 sec (Esperante GT)
  • 0-62 mph (0–100 km/h): 5.1 sec (Esperante)
  • Quarter Mile: 13.4 sec. @ 107.3 mph (Esperante GT)
  • Quarter Mile: 13.7 sec. @ 103.5 mph (Esperante)
  • Lateral Acceleration: 0.96 g (Esperante GT)
  • Lateral Acceleration: 0.92 g (Esperante)
  • Top Speed: 155.4 mph (250 km/h) with manual transmission
  • Top Speed: 150.4 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 ventiled 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)

    • Racing (Panoz Esperante GTLM)

    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 [1] 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.[2]

    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

    Panoz Esperante Wikipedia
    (Text) CC BY-SA