Panoz Esperante

Panoz Esperante
Overview
Manufacturer	Panoz Auto Development
Production	2000–2014
Assembly	Braselton, Georgia 30548, United States
Layout	FR layout
Powertrain
Engine	4.6 L (281 CID) Modular V8, 4.6 L Supercharged Modular V8
Transmission	4-speed Automatic, 5-speed manual 6-speed manual
Dimensions
Wheelbase	106 in (2,700 mm)
Length	185.9 in (4,720 mm)
Width	73.7 in (1,870 mm)
Height	53.2 in (1,350 mm)
Curb weight	3,384 lb (1,535 kg)
Chronology
Predecessor	Panoz AIV Roadster
Successor	Panoz Abruzzi

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). 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 The Ford Motor Company's Modular V8 family. If this were a Ford it would be slotted between the Mustang sports car and the GT supercar; just like how the Corvette is slotted in Chevrolet's lineup between the Camaro and the ZR1. Production has ended in 2014

Specification

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)

Panoz Esperante GTLM

250px PTG's Panoz Esperante GT-LM at the 2007 Generac 500
Category	American Le Mans Series GT2 24 Hours of Le Mans GT2 Super GT GT300
Constructor	Panoz
Designer(s)	Don Panoz Tom Milner Sr. Simon Marshall Nick Alcock
Technical specifications
Chassis	Modular extruded aluminium peripheral frame forming the basis for a semi monocoque central structure, unibody space frame, bolted and bonded to optimized tubular front and rear steel subframes
Suspension (front)	Double A-arm with coil springs, adjustable anti-roll bar
Suspension (rear)	As front
Length	4,722 mm (186 in)
Width	1,872 mm (74 in) excluding side rear view mirror 1,973 mm (78 in) including side rear view mirror
Height	1351-1356 mm (53.2-53.4 in) depending on use of ride height (medium ride height: 1,353.5 mm (53.3 in))
Axle track	Front: 1552-1608 mm (61.1-63.3 in) Rear: 1542-1626 mm (60.7-64 in)
Wheelbase	2,692 mm (106 in)
Engine	Ford-Élan Modular M-6007-T50EA 5.0 L (5,000 cc; 305 cu in) V8 90° cylinder angle, 32-valve, DOHC, four valves per cylinder, naturally aspirated (no Turbocharger), front engined, longitudinally mounted
Transmission	Hewland IGTC 6-speed sequential manual gearbox, Xtrac Salisbury adjustable mechanical limited-slip differential
Power	476 hp (355 kW) @ 5500 rpm
Weight	1,200 kg (2,646 lb) (including driver)
Fuel	Ethanol E10, 90% gasoline
Lubricants	Moty's
Tyres	Yokohama ADVAN Dunlop Front: 320/65 - R18 Rear: 330/71 - R18 BBS aluminum wheels Front: 12.5 x 18 inches Rear: 13 x 18 inches
Competition history
Notable entrants	Multimatic Motorsports Panoz Team PTG Robertson Racing
Notable drivers	Scott Maxwell David Brabham Gunnar Jeannette Tommy Milner Sébastien Bourdais Bill Auberlen Joey Hand Tom Kimber-Smith Ross Smith David Robertson Andrea Robertson David Murry Arie Luyendyk Jr. Bryan Sellers Tom Sutherland Dominik Farnbacher Ian James
Debut	2006 12 Hours of Sebring
Races Wins Poles F.Laps 43 0 0 0
Constructors' Championships	0
Drivers' Championships	0

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.

External links

• Panoz Auto Development Company
• Team LNT
• Team PTG Panoz