Panoz Esperante Jan Magnussen Edition
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). Additionally, Panoz is more than willing to work with the buyer to make special modifications to any of the stock models. Each model has slightly different stats. The Specs below are for the base model. The GTLM, for example, uses a supercharger to boost power from 305 hp to 420 hp, raising performance from 0-62 in 5 seconds to an amazing 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 lighter than the base Esperante, has a steel 5.8 liter V8 racing engine that produces 385 bhp, and is made of easily replacable panels to facilitate small impact race repair. It does 0-60 in 4.2 seconds, and can achieve 0.98 g of lateral grip.
An Esperante managed to win the GT2 class at the 2006 24 Hours of Le Mans, which is usually dominated by Porsche 911 GT3. The best of the 911s led until the final hour but ran into trouble, finishing one lap behind the Panoz, with a Ferrari F430 ten laps down. Other competitors in that class were two Spyker C8s which showed promising performance, but did not finish, like the second Panoz which managed only 34 laps. Anyway, this success is a remarkable one for the road-going version of Panoz.
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