Panoz Esperante/GTLM 2007
January 1, 2007
In a factory located by a vineyard in Hoschton, Ga., workers turn out a handcrafted American GT car, the Panoz Esperante. Built of aluminum, carbon fiber, and steel, the Esperante is powered by a sonorous Ford-sourced 4.6-liter dohc V-8. Inside are comfortable seats, with yards of perfect leather covering almost every surface. The fit and finish are impeccable, the car quick and agile. As with the best GT cars, the Panoz has a rich racing heritage. This year, Panoz vanquished the powerful Porsche and Ferrari teams at both Sebring and Le Mans, the most prestigious events in endurance racing. The road version of the victorious endurance-racing Esperante GTLM retains the special body configuration and unique rear suspension of the race winner, and it also includes a full roll cage concealed under its carbon fiber top. The GTLM features a 420 hp supercharged, 32-valve dohc V-8 and 6-speed transmission to deliver the kind of performance you need to win at Le Mans.
PRICE: $98,229 (Esperante coupe); $92,256 (Esperante convertible);
$128,319 (GTLM coupe); $121,325 (GTLM convertible)
ENGINE: 4.6-liter supercharged dohc V-8
TRANSMISSION: 5-speed manual or 4-speed automatic (Esperante); 6-speed
manual (GTLM)
POWER: 305 hp at 5,800 rpm (Esperante); 420 hp at 6,000 rpm (GTLM)
TORQUE: 320 ft lbs at 3,200 rpm (Esperante); 320 ft lb at 3,500
rpm (GTLM)
CURB WEIGHT: 3,379 pounds (coupe); 3,461 pounds (convertible)
0-60 MPH: 5.1 seconds (Esperante); 4.2 seconds (GTLM)
TOP SPEED: 155 mph (Esperante); 180 mph (GTLM)
PROS: A quick, comfortable GT with old-world craftsmanship. Special and
out of the ordinary
CONS: Some may consider the styling a little bland
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