Autoblog

DeltaWing coming back with major updates, enclosed cockpit

Jonathon Ramsey — Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:57:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Specialty, Racing

The development of the DeltaWing is making a break and taking a left turn, with a report on Speed revealing that almost none of the partners who helped make the car possible are involved in its racing plans for 2013. That includes Ben Bowlby, the man who dreamed it up, Dan Gurney's All American Racers, Highcroft Racing and Nissan - all of them have apparently stepped away. The only potential supplier left is Michelin, and it's only potential because Michelin hasn't commented on the matter.

Don Panoz remains, and there's a lot of work going into the three races planned for the DeltaWing this year. A new 1.9-liter race engine with a billet block, direct injection and twin turbos, based off two different Mazda engines, is reportedly being built for the program. Lighter than the Nissan engine formerly used and running on the dyno now, output is at 345 horsepower and 350 pound-feet of torque, meaning it is also more powerful than the Nissan engine.

Its first outing will be at the 12 Hours of Sebring next month, where it will move up to the P1 category. After that, the radical racer will be enclosed - Bowlby originally envisioned a coupe - and it is expected to race at Laguna Seca on May 11 and at Baltimore on August 31. Assuming the racing and performance targets are met, plans are to bring the coupe version of the DeltaWing to market.

DeltaWing coming back with major updates, enclosed cockpit originally appeared on Autoblog on Sat, 09 Feb 2013 14:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Panoz wants to race fields of DeltaWings in American Le Mans Series

Noah Joseph — Fri, 25 May 2012 16:30:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Motorsports, Nissan, Racing

In pretty much any racing series you go to, the cars tend to progress in an evolutionary, not revolutionary fashion. This year's crop of Formula One cars, for example, may have those ungainly stepped noses, but they otherwise look pretty much the same as last year's cars, which looked mostly the same as the cars the year before and the year before that, and so on and so forth. The same could be generally said of Indy, Le Mans prototypes...even stock cars. The DeltaWing project, however, is another story altogether.

Designed and developed by an alliance of some of the biggest names in racing and recently backed by Nissan, the DeltaWing represents a comprehensive rethink of what form a race car can and should take. The idea was originally fielded as a proposal for the new IndyCar chassis, but that series' organizers went once again for something much more conventional. So the brain trust behind the project adapted it for endurance racing and are taking it to Le Mans this year.

But surely they didn't put all that work into it just to race it once - outside the classifications as a demonstration only - did they? Not if Don Panoz has anything to say about it. One of the partners in the DeltaWing project and the father of the racing car manufacturer that bears his name, Panoz hopes to find a way to race the DeltaWing in the American Le Mans Series which he essentially founded.

A way to equalize its performance with either the LMP1 or LMP2 classes would need to be found with the IMSA and the FIA, but considering how it was adapted from an IndyCar proposal to a Le Mans racer, the platform seems pretty flexible. But Panoz doesn't want to race just one. Sure, a solitary entry in the full ALMS calendar would be a great start, but Panoz reportedly envisions assembling a quantity of DeltaWings at his factory in Georgia that has over the years built cars for Indy, Champ Cars, Superleague Formula and of course Le Mans and the American Le Mans Series.

Just how many remains to be seen, but with powerhouses like Panoz, Nissan, Highcroft, Chip Ganassi and Dan Gurney on board, we would be very surprised if the DeltaWing ran just the once.

Panoz wants to race fields of DeltaWings in American Le Mans Series originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 25 May 2012 16:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Mosport purchased by Ron Fellows-led investor group

Jeff Glucker — Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:31:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Canada

Mosport International Raceway is Canada's motorsports mecca. Located in Ontario, the facility features a 2.5-mile-long track, 1.5-mile-long driver training circuit and a nearly 1-mile-long kart track. Now Mosport also features new owners.

Canadian Motorsports Ventures has taken over ownership of the track. The business group was established by Corvette master wheel-man Ron Fellows. His group takes over control of the facility, which was previously owned by Panoz Motor Sports Group. Fellows and his team are happy to have Mosport under a Canadian-controlled business group, while the Panoz crew has expressed happiness in making the deal happen. Panoz owns the American Le Mans Racing series, which includes a stop in Ontario to race around Mosport, so the two groups will clearly be working together in the future.

Continue reading Mosport purchased by Ron Fellows-led investor group

Mosport purchased by Ron Fellows-led investor group originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 03 Jun 2011 08:31:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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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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Officially Official: Panoz reveals the Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans

Sam Abuelsamid — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:59:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Coupe, Performance, Europe, Design/Style

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

As Le Mans week has begun in France, ALMS founder Don Panoz has revealed the new limited production Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans road car. From a design perspective, the Abruzzi clearly draws on the GTR-1 "Batmobile" racer of the late-1990s, Like the GTR-1, the Abruzzi is a front mid-engine design with an unspecified engine providing 600+ horsepower and 590 pound-feet of torque mounted low and behind the front axle. Also following in the footsteps of its predecessor, the Abruzzi has its radiators mounted in the rear with cooling air being drawn from a duct in the roof and along the rear side windows.

Uniquely, only 81 cars will be built over three years, each corresponding to a Le Mans race up until 2013, and all of the cars will be delivered at Le Mans. Each buyer will be given a driving course with the car on the Bugatti circuit at Le Mans and invited to the next race as a guest of Panoz and race organizer Automobile Club de l'Ouest where they will have the opportunity to drive their cars on the full circuit prior to the race. For the moment, at least, the Abruzzi is only being homologated to European road regulations. No pricing has been announced yet, but we're pretty confident it won't fit into most bloggers' budgets.

Gallery: Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans

[Source: Panoz Auto Development]

Continue reading Officially Official: Panoz reveals the Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans

Officially Official: Panoz reveals the Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 08 Jun 2010 07:59:00 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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Carl Haas takes over distribution of Panoz race cars and parts

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:29:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Racing

Before Carl Haas became better known as Paul Newman's partner in Newman-Haas racing, racers themselves knew Haas as the importer for Lola racecars and parts in North America. In recent years, Haas has continued as a distributor for Hewland gearboxes and has now assumed distribution and service responsibilities for Elan Motorsport Technologies (EMT).

EMT is the race car branch of the Panoz Motor Sport Group and builds machines under the Van Diemen and Panoz brands, including the Panoz Esperante GTLM. EMT products race in Formula Ford, American Le Mans Series and Superleague Formula among others.

Haas' operation will stock and sell EMT's cars and parts around the world and provide trackside service at races to help keep competitors running.

[Source: Panoz]

Continue reading Carl Haas takes over distribution of Panoz race cars and parts

Carl Haas takes over distribution of Panoz race cars and parts originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 22 Jan 2010 08:29:00 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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Panoz could return to ALMS prototype class with algae butanol power

Sam Abuelsamid — Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Hybrid, Green, Technology

Don Panoz, founder of the American Le Mans Series, wants to return his brand back to the top ranks of the series and possibly bring a new greener fuel as well. Panoz spoke at press conference in the run up to Saturday's 12 Hours of Sebring and announced that the race car manufacturer he owns is working on a LMP1 class coupe. Like the Panoz GTR-1 that ran successfully both in ALMS and in Europe in the late '90s first in GT1 and later with modifications as P1 car, this one would be front-engined, which would make it unique in the class. Unlike the GTR-1, which used a Ford-based V8 engine, the new car will use Chevrolet power, likely derived from the Corvette C6R engine.

To really spice things up, though, Panoz also discussed the possibility of a new fuel to power the car: butanol derived from algae. Like ethanol, butanol is an alcohol, but with four carbon atoms rather than two. This gives it properties closer to gasoline and requires almost no modifications to the engine to use. Producing it from algae is also potentially much more cost effective and environmentally friendly than ethanol production.

When we spoke to ALMS CEO Scott Atherton at the Detroit Auto Show in January, he indicated that there was interest in bringing a fourth fuel into the mix along with diesel, E10, and cellulosic E85. ALMS spokesman Bob Dickinson has confirmed that he was talking about butanol. However, it was another manufacturer that first raised the possibility, so it was something of a surprise to hear Panoz bring it up. We still don't know if butanol will be approved for ALMS, but in the meantime, the new car could possibly race as soon as the season finale at Laguna Seca in October. Thanks to DC for the tip!

[Source: AutoWeek]

Panoz could return to ALMS prototype class with algae butanol power originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 20 Mar 2009 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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FortuneSport releases specs, pricing for Rt.R & Rt.S

Dan Roth — Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:06:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Supercars, Specialty

How to sell an exclusive, expensive sports car: release mocked up digital images, create the track version first, and use it to develop the streeter. FortuneSport, brainchild of Teritius Fortune, is working with the Elan Motorsports Technologies arm of the Panoz Group to build the carbon fiber vehicles with exotic spec sheets. Available first will be the non-street version, the Rt.R. After ponying up an initial deposit, WorldCarFans says $200,000, a trip to Atlanta for pampering in luxury accomodations while the vehicle is fitted expressly to your specs makes each vehicle essentially a custom. The important details: 6-liter V8, sub-2000 pound weight (1650 lbs for the Rt.R, 1980 lbs for the Rt.S), 350 hp in street trim, 510 for the track, and 0-62 mph in four seconds flat for the Rt.S. The Rt.R should be significantly faster. Sounds especially good for $85,000, though we'll have to wait until at least 2010, and possibly even longer.

Once the Rt.Rs are in owners hands, track day support at non-pro events will be offered, as well as at FortuneSport events coordinated with Skip Barber. One bit that's a bit confusing to follow is that FortuneSport says the deposits are refundable once the program runs its course in three to five years. How FortuneSport will use some of the initial deposits to build the racers, which will then serve as prototypes for the Rt.S street version, and then turn around and hand back all the money, isn't totally clear. Hmmm. Not that this affects us, seeing as how our piggy banks are a little light to afford the lightweight, high powered vehicle, anyway.

[Source: World Car Fans]

FortuneSport releases specs, pricing for Rt.R & Rt.S originally appeared on Autoblog on Sun, 27 Jul 2008 16:06:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Honda hearts Linux, wants cash

Dan Roth — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:58:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Etc., Honda

Linux is pretty good at harnessing processor speed, and Chastain Motorsports is hoping to snare some of that effect to propel their Panoz/Honda to victory. The distinctive Penguin logo, "Tux," has been affixed to the nose of the 200+ MPH car in anticipation of meeting a donation goal. The famously open-source OS is applying that philosophy to sponsorship. The Tux 500 is an effort to raise $350,000 in exchange for those high-speed chilled fowl on the race car. There are perks for large donation amounts, but there is no shame in collecting lots of $1 gifts, either. It is an interesting concept, and we will be looking for the distinctive blue car when the checkered flag drops at the Indy 500. As long as the effort secures $25,000, the decals will stay on the car. Currently, donations total $7,600, and the organizers are confident that they'll at least make it to that $25K figure.

[Source: Wired]

Honda hearts Linux, wants cash originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 09:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Champ Car teams receive new Panoz chassis

Noah Joseph — Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:03:00 EST

Filed under: Motorsports, Plants/Manufacturing

American motor racing has been steadily moving towards "Spec", that is, each team racing the same car with the same engine and other components. The Indy Racing League runs Dallara chassis powered by Honda engines. (Although NASCAR technically uses a few different cars with different engines from different suppliers, they all look pretty much the same.) Now the latest spec racing cars for the Champ Car series - IRL's rival formerly known as CART - have just been delivered.

The new Panoz DP01 has been received by ten Champ Car teams, the first ten before the entire field makes the switch from the previous Lola-built cars. The new chassis will use the same turbocharged Cosworth V8 engines, the now independent engine supplier owning majority rights to the series and having involuntarily withdrawn from supplying engines in Formula One. They all run on spec Bridgestone tires, just as Formula One makes the switch next season.

Constructed primarily of carbon fiber, the new cars weigh an impressive hundred pounds less than their predecessor Lola counterparts. The chassis were delivered unpainted and all-but-identical to the teams who'll be adding their own team and sponsors' livery. We're looking forward to seeing the new cars in action.

[Source: Edmunds Inside Line]

Champ Car teams receive new Panoz chassis originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 27 Dec 2006 13:03:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Southern Comfort: the Southern 358 street rod pickup

Frank Filipponio — Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:53:00 EST

Filed under: Classics, Truck

A new American auto manufacturer has just popped up on our radar promising a product that is all-American, completely retro, and thoroughly modern at the same time. Fashioned after a 1950s era Chevy pickup, Southern Motor Company's first model will be called the Southern 358 and be built in the good ole U.S. of A. It features a stamped steel body over a tubular ladder frame running a Mustang V8 (huh?), all engineered with help from Panoz Auto Development. Maybe the Ford mill seems out of place in a Chevy look-alike, but hot rodders go where the reliable horsepower is and there are tons of Deuces out there sporting Chevy small blocks underhood, so turnabout should be fair play.

Looks damn good. And Southern Motor Company wants you to know that the $55,000 preorder price can be easily explained as quite reasonable. You see, they chose American parts suppliers wherever possible, even if they weren't the most cost-effective. It's more about quality than profit. While the handsome retro good looks might make most people take notice, Southern has made this a new car that will meet all your expectations and all legal requirements as well. What they call "a modern, classic American street rod," it will feature driver and passenger airbags, and comply with all federal crash and emissions standards. It's even backed by a three-year, 36,000-mile new-vehicle limited warranty.

[Source: Southern Motor Company via Straightline]

Southern Comfort: the Southern 358 street rod pickup originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 10 Oct 2006 17:53:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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