Autoblog

Panoz Abruzzi makes on-track appearance, gearing up for competition

Jeff Glucker — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, MISC, Racing

Panoz Abruzzi on the track at Petit Le Mans - Click above for high-res image gallery

Panoz recently revealed its long-awaited new sports car, the Abruzzi, at the 24 Hours of Le Mans in France. We finally have a better look at the Abruzzi on our own home soil thanks to a surprise on-track appearance at Petit Le Mans a few weeks ago.

The Panoz Abruzzi is powered by a front-mounted V8 engine producing 640 horsepower and over 600 pound-feet of torque, while it's styling is derived from pre-war classics such as the 1935 Delahaye.

It has been five years since Don Panoz and his racing team have experienced a win in the American Le Mans series. They plan to change that next year when they enter the Panoz Abruzzi into the 12 hours of Sebring using the race-prepped version, which also got some track time at Road Atlanta. While the race version didn't compete in the Petit Le Mans, it was shown off during the parade lap as well as in the Panoz Motorsports booth.

Gallery: Panoz Abruzzi on the track at Petit Le Mans

[Source: American Le Mans]

Continue reading Panoz Abruzzi makes on-track appearance, gearing up for competition

Panoz Abruzzi makes on-track appearance, gearing up for competition originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 21 Oct 2010 14:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans live from France [w/video]

Noah Joseph — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:31:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, Videos, MISC

Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans - Click above for image gallery

Didn't get close enough a look at the new Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans yesterday? Well, get used to the idea. Because with 600 horsepower and only 81 examples scheduled to be built, you're not likely to get a closer look anytime soon. But if you want to hear it straight from the proverbial lion's mouth, well then you'll want to talk to Don Panoz (video after the jump).

Not only is Don the father of the Abruzzi, but as the founder of the American Le Mans Series, he is probably the American most familiar with the famous French endurance race and its offshoot series. In creating the Abruzzi, Panoz and company culled all of their expertise from racing and put it into a roadgoing chassis.

From what we we've gathered, here are the important highlights:

Front mid-engine design
600+ horsepower/600+ pound-feet of torque from unspecified engine
Rear-mounted radiators fed through ducts in the rear and side glass
Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System (REAMS) body, lighter and cheaper than carbon fiber
81-vehicle production run over three years, coincides with 81st running of 24 Hours of Le Mans in 2013
Only available in Europe, delivery at Le Mans
Two-day professional training course on Bugatti Le Mans circuit with purchase
Opportunity to drive full Le Mans circuit included with purchase
Price: 400,000 Euros (circa $480,000 USD)
Colors: blue, black pearl and red

We've got video after the jump of Panoz himself explaining the inspiration for the Abruzzi and all of its special technical details, as well as live shots of the car from its debut at Le Mans yesterday courtesy of our colleagues at Autoblog France.

Gallery: Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans: Live from France

Gallery: Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans

[Source: Panoz, Autoblog France]

Continue reading Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans live from France [w/video]

Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans live from France [w/video] originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 09 Jun 2010 12:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panoz Abruzzi teased again ahead of Le Mans debut

Noah Joseph — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance, MISC, Racing

Panoz Abruzzi teaser - Click above for high-res images

Anticipation of a new sportscar from Panoz has been mounting for some time now. Initial reports back in October forecasted the arrival of a successor to the current Esperante, followed by confirmation a couple of months ago, and finally the first cropped teaser image just a few weeks ago. Now the independent constructor has released its second image as it prepares to unveil the first prototype next week during the 24 Hours of Le Mans.

Called the Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans", the new sportscar features a number of new technologies for Panoz, including Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System (REAMS) construction and a new TrifectaCooling system developed to improve both performance and efficiency.

The Abruzzi - apparently so named in reference to and solidarity with the recently disaster-striken Italian region - will be officially unveiled at La Sarthe at noon on Tuesday, June 8, so stay tuned. In the meantime, you can check out the press release after the jump and the pair of high-res teaser images in the gallery below.

Gallery: Panoz Abruzzi "teaser"

[Source: Panoz]

Continue reading Panoz Abruzzi teased again ahead of Le Mans debut

Panoz Abruzzi teased again ahead of Le Mans debut originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 14:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panoz teases new Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" sports car

Sam Abuelsamid — Mon, 03 May 2010 14:26:00 EST

Filed under: Coupe, Performance

Panoz Abruzzi teaser - Click above to enlarge

After nearly two decades of building cars, Panoz Auto Development is just now getting ready to introduce its third new model. The Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" will officially debut next month in conjunction with the French endurance classic. Panoz has released the first official teaser image of the new coupe, with founder Don Panoz mentioning that none of the numerous renderings purporting to show the Abruzzi are accurate.

No details about the powertrain have been revealed, but the body is made from a Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System which apparently utilizes lots of recaptured materials. The Abruzzi also incorporates a three-stage cooling system that benefits performance and efficiency. Given that the ALMS is such a strong proponent of alternative fuels we wouldn't be surprised to see something unusual under the hood, perhaps even a hybrid. We'll find out soon enough.

[Source: American Le Mans Series]

Panoz teases new Abruzzi "Spirit of Le Mans" sports car originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 03 May 2010 14:26:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panoz to unveil new Abruzzi sportscar at Le Mans

Noah Joseph — Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance, MISC, Racing

Panoz fans, take heart. We know it's been a while since the American sports and racing car manufacturer had anything new for us, but the dry spell is about to end.

This directly from the lion's mouth, and the lion, in this case, is one Don Panoz. The motorsport and pharmaceutical mogul announced his plans at this past weekend's 12 Hours of Sebring that the sportscar-maker founded by his son Danny and which bears the family name will unveil the new Abruzzi model to the public at the 24 Hours of Le Mans this coming June.

Little is known at this point regarding what form the Abruzzi will take. Previous reports indicated that initial plans for a dedicated prototype racer were scrapped in favor of a series production sportscar, which would in turn breed a GT2 competition version. Otherwise your guess is as good as ours.

The sketch above was reportedly released by a former Panoz designer, and bears a striking resemblance to the Esperante, which the Abruzzi will either replace or join in the company's line-up. The name, meanwhile, is taken from a region in southern/central Italy that was recently ravaged by natural disaster. Hopefully the Abruzzi will bring better fortunes to Panoz. We'll be watching to find out.

[Source: PanozLife]

Panoz to unveil new Abruzzi sportscar at Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 23 Mar 2010 15:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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REPORT: Panoz ditches proposed LMP1 program in favor of new Esperante successor

Noah Joseph — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Performance

Panoz Esperante GT-LM - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's been a while since we've heard anything from Panoz Auto Development. The American sportscar manufacturer came onto the scene in the late Nineties with their AIV Roadster, and later went onto create various road and race versions of the Mustang-based Esperante. Around the same time company founder Danny Panoz started building cars, his father Don Panoz also started the the American Le Mans Series, vaulting the family business from automaker and race team to race series organizer.

In the past few years, Panoz has crafted several Le Mans prototype racers and even some Indy/Champ Car chassis. The company has achieved limited success with its front-engined LMP1 program, but the Esperante GT-LM racecar made history when it took GT2 class victories at both the 12 Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans back in 2006. More recently, the company had been focusing its energies on a revolutionary new front-engine LMP1 design called Abruzzi to compete with the field of mid-engine rivals. Reports from the motorsport world, however, now indicate that Panoz has aborted the Abruzzi project in favor of a new GT2 program. But as we all know, GT racers are based on road cars, and that's exactly what Panoz appears to have in the works.

According to Autosport, Panoz decided against a purpose-built racing prototype in favor of a road car, and from that they plan make a racing version. Exactly what the car will be like is up to speculation at this point, but we're looking forward to finding out.

Gallery: Panoz Esperante GT-LM

Photos copyright (C)2009 Drew Phillips / Weblogs, Inc.

[Source: Autosport]

REPORT: Panoz ditches proposed LMP1 program in favor of new Esperante successor originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 15 Oct 2009 17:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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