(September 9, 2014) HOSCHTON, Ga. — The 2015 Panoz 25th Anniversary Edition Esperante Spyder and Spyder GT mark a new chapter in the Panoz history where all-new performance features and luxury amenities thrust this hallmark of Panoz sports car design far forward while remaining true to its Esperante styling roots.
 
“When it came to painting a new interpretation of the Esperante, it was very important to not abandon our origins and recognize that an Esperante must look like an Esperante,” said Panoz president and COO Bill Orr.  “At the same time, we knew we needed to deliver the performance and features that Panoz sports car aficionados and fans of performance expect in the 21st century.”
 
According to Panoz's Director of Product Planning/Engineering John M. Leverett, the development team retained important and proven lightweight measures such as using SPF (Superplastic Forming) aluminum body panels and Panoz LLC’s patented modular extruded aluminum chassis with a light-but-strong carbon fiber superstructure.  But nearly everything else — from engine and transmission packages and suspension and brake systems to the luxurious interior and functional carbon fiber cockpit structures — is all new or significantly upgraded.
 
“This is not yesteryear’s Esperante,” said Leverett.
 
According to John A. Leverett, Panoz’s vice president of sales and marketing, the 25th Anniversary Edition Esperante Spyder is a special exclusive hand-built model that celebrates the company’s racing heritage as well as Panoz sports cars of the past 25 years. It is the direct result of close technological collaboration among the various Panoz affiliates, including Élan Motorsports Technologies, Élan Composites, Panoz Engineering Services, JRD Tuning, and Panoz LLC.
 
A hallmark of the Panoz approach is its one-on-one “Extreme Personalization” process with the customer and the Panoz designer driving the results to create the customer’s dream car while nurturing a true personal relationship.
 
Panoz expects to produce about 25 examples of the 25th Anniversary Edition Esperante Spyder and Spyder GT to commemorate the anniversary milestone. Production will be intentionally limited to a handful of custom builds for select customers, keeping with Panoz LLC’s goal of creating America’s most exclusive custom sports car.



Keeping with its customization objectives, Panoz LLC offers customers several high-performance powertrain packages ranging from 430 naturally aspirated horsepower to 560 supercharged horsepower.
 
The standard powertrain package is a Panoz/ Élan Power Products-tuned naturally aspirated 430-horsepower V8 engine featuring an all-aluminum block and aluminum heads. Optional is a 560-horsepower supercharged aluminum block V8 with aluminum heads. Both are mated to a heavy duty, close-ratio Tremec T56 Magnum six-speed manual transmission as standard equipment. A six-speed automatic transmission with paddle shifters is available as an option.
 
For those desiring more power, Panoz LLC, with help from Élan Power Products (a division of Panoz LLC affiliate Élan Motorsports Technologies), can custom build engines producing 800-plus horsepower. Élan Power Products has decades of experience producing high-performance engines for street applications as well as sports car and open-wheel competition.
 
The Esperante Spyder takes just 3.7 seconds (estimated) to reach 60 mph (3.9 seconds estimated to 62 mph or 100 km/h) on its way to a top test track speed of 172 mph. It can cover the quarter mile in 12.5 seconds @112 mph.
 
On the braking side of the spectrum, the Esperante Spyder goes from 60 mph to zero in just 112 feet. The performance specifications for the Esperante Spyder GT are not yet available
 
The common ingredient in all outstanding sports cars is a lightweight yet robust and stiff chassis that is capable of handling the acceleration, braking and lateral g-force rigors of performance driving.
 
The Esperante Spyder starts with the company’s patented modular extruded aluminum chassis, adds a few highly modified stampings sourced in the United States, Panoz tubular steel subframes and carbon fiber composite superstructures. Engineers added tubular steel A-pillars as an important structural upgrade over traditional stamped parts and also added more tubular bracing to the rear subframe.

“This setup works well,” said John M. Leverett. “The end result is very stiff, strong, durable and lightweight structure in an open-cockpit sports car with the performance attributes rivaling the inherently strong and stiff closed-top construction of a coupe or sedan.”
 
The Spyder has a new, shorter windshield reinforced by the aforementioned tubular steel A-pillars with an all-new carbon fiber windshield frame. The carbon fiber windshield frame is not just high-tech window dressing; it makes extensive use of uni-directional carbon fiber for additional strength and stiffness.  Twin high-strength steel roll hoops braced into the rear subframe also help contribute to the vehicle’s stiffness and increased structural integrity. It also contributes greatly to the new car’s low-slung profile. 
 
Engineers struck an ideal balance between the chassis rigidity needed to deliver very high levels of traction, braking and cornering and a design that would not severely impact overall ride comfort.
 
The Esperante Spyder and Spyder GT each offer unique sports car bodies. The Esperante Spyder has the proven and lightweight SPF (Superplastic Forming, commonly referred to as ‘super formed’) aluminum body revolutionized on previous Esperante variants. It is made in Riverside, Calif. through a process developed for aerospace applications.
 
Panoz was the first U.S. auto manufacturer to use super formed aluminum panels for its bodies when it created the 1992 Panoz Roadster. It followed up in 1996 adding an aluminum chassis and an all-aluminum modular V8 engine for the Panoz AIV Roadster. It became America’s first Aluminum Intensive Vehicle (AIV), a process used by some of the world’s most elite vehicle manufacturers.
 
The Esperante Spyder GT is a wide body version that features a mix of SPF aluminum panels and strong and lightweight carbon fiber body panels that are created with help from Élan Composites. A division of Élan Motorsports Technologies (a Panoz LLC affiliate), Élan Composites is an advanced composites parts and tooling maker that uses modern, ultra-lightweight materials such as carbon fiber, prepreg glass, aramid fibers, Kevlar®, aluminum and Nomex core, and woven polypropylene to create components for automotive, motorsports, aerospace and many other applications.
 
A key visual difference with past Esperante sports cars is the car’s namesake Spyder configuration. The low-slung, open-cockpit, two-seat configuration features a visually dynamic carbon fiber panel where the convertible top traditionally is located.

It conceals the functional twin roll hoops, houses the car’s twin fuel doors and assemblies, and gently flows to the leading edge of the Esperante’s trunk lid. Included is a tonneau cover to seal and protect the cockpit from the elements. Engineers are developing an optional hardtop as well as a soft top that Panoz LLC is planning to offer in the very near future.
 
Both bodies feature completely redesigned and aggressive front fascias. In back is a new rear fascia with a center exhaust port and a blacked-out taillight and license plate section that coordinates with the black carbon fiber trim on the car.
 
The Spyder GT features a wide body version with flared carbon fiber fenders and rocker panels with an optional clear-coated carbon fiber front splitter and rear diffuser.