Panos Abruzzi

[Stotty]

From Autocar.com...

This is the Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans, a new limited edition sports car revealed today at the famous Le Mans circuit in France.

Just 81 units will be built, one to celebrate every year of the Le Mans between its inception in 1923 and the event in 2013 (2013 will be when of the Abruzzi production ends).

Company boss Don Panoz said the car will “deliver an exotic automobile experience” to Panoz’s customers and Abruzi would take the company to “a completely new level”.

Despite today’s unveiling, exact details on the car remain sketchy. It will be front-engined and rear-drive although what powertain it will use hasn’t been confirmed.

Power will be around 590bhp and torque is rated at around 590lb ft. Panoz claims the car’s advanced design and aerodynamics will offer “astounding downforce and road-holding”.

The Abruzzi will be the first production car to use a Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System (REAMS) body. Panoz claims that REAMS is lighter than carbonfibre but equally strong; it is also dent resistant, shatterproof and recyclable.

Panoz says he is “a believer in efficient construction and design” and “this philosophy continues with our Abruzzi”.

Each Abruzzi will come with an individual plaque with the car’s chassis number that’s linked with a particular year of Le Mans, including the winning car and drivers from that year.

Each owner will also get professional instruction at Le Mans and will get to drive a parade lap in their car at the Le Mans 24 Hours event itself.

Paint it black and it would make a great next car for Batman.

 

[TheCracker]

Well, it's hardly blessed in the looks department is it. Then again, when has any Panoz?

 

[J-PaP]

Looks straight out of a movie. I like it!

 

[Horde_R35]

I like it, but its looks like a Batmobile !

 

[homeforsummer]

I'd echo the batmobile comments. Not pretty, but the back end has a touch of Morgan Aeromax about it which is cool.

 

[Neal]

Hmmm...it doesn't look very practical... I'm not sure Noel Edmonds would approve!

 

[Eric.]

I don't care for the back end too much but I think the front might look cool in person. Has a sort of Esperante GT1 look to it (which has always been a Batmobile anyway )

 

[Dan_]

Styling-wise it's weird, but it's always good to have some fresh new design ideas coming to production. I like it. 👍

 

[ExigeEvan]

You'd have to clear the grills of small mammals and birds farilt regularly I'd imagine.

 

[opladener]

Wouldn't be a true Panoz if it hadn't been hit with the ugly stick a few times

 

[Robin]

I see lots of Maybach Exelero in there, which could have also been Batman's new car!

Quite similar at the rear...

Robin.

 

[Dave A]

I actually quite like that, it's certainly not pretty but it's interesting and different.

 

[JCE]

Good god is that thing fugly...

 

[McLaren]

I'm sorry to say that Panoz has built much better looking vehicles than this.

 

[Whitman]

i had to think of Prison Break when i read the headline first

 

[Stevisiov]

I quite liked the looks of the Panoz roadster, and the GTR-1. This thing looks awful though.

 

[Speedster502]

It's rather...erm...hideous. It's like someone has just taken the car straight out of one of the Burnout Games.

Also considering the links with Le Mans, it's rather strange that Panoz hasn't had a car in Le Mans for quite some time now...I think 2007 was the last time an Esperante entered the 24 Hours. I might be wrong though.

 

[Bram Turismo]

I quite liked the looks of the Panoz roadster, and the GTR-1. This thing looks awful though.

Seconded.

I do think the GTR-1 looked absolutely fantastic, though:

 

[Frizbe]

Saw this earlier, I love it it almost looks like it came out of Ridge Racer to me. I do hope they use an original gauge cluster though, the standard issue Mustang cluster brings the Esperante down IMO.

 

[Jim Prower]

The rear is a bit too....trying-to-be-Bugatti-Atlantic-and-failing, but I do like the GTR-1-esque front.

 

[YSSMAN]

I thought this was pretty awesome, especially when they mention a 600+ BHP V8 being used. Personally, I just imagine this car barreling down the road at 120 MPH with the gargle of a Panoz GT1 and its just about perfect. Frankly, this is the kind of car that makes me miss the fact that we won't be seeing any more Project Gotham titles.

 

[oldmodelt]

I too like the Panoz Esp.

Any word on how many credits this thing will cost?

 

[Paulie]

It doesn't look too bad, the performance should excuse all else. How does it pass pedestrian safety standards though?

 

[Vince_Fiero]

Wonder if the ugliness many seem to agree on, has a function.

The Gumpert Apollo when first presented, it was clearly stated: we looked at downforce first, then the looks. People seem to quite like the end result in that case.

On the other hand till you see them in front of you it is difficult to judge, I do not think the TVR Tuscan speed 6 in GT5p is called by many beautiful, however when I saw one on the street once, I really liked it.

Finally I must encourage originality, car manufacturers are sometime to prudent. So a Yes from me for this car.

 

[ExigeEvan]

Wonder if the ugliness many seem to agree on, has a function.

The Gumpert Apollo when first presented, it was clearly stated: we looked at downforce first, then the looks. People seem to quite like the end result in that case.

On the other hand till you see them in front of you it is difficult to judge, I do not think the TVR Tuscan speed 6 in GT5p is called by many beautiful, however when I saw one on the street once, I really liked it.

Finally I must encourage originality, car manufacturers are sometime to prudent. So a Yes from me for this car.

My initial judegement would be they've created alot of downforce at the front with the downside of producing alot of drag.

 

[Greycap]

Wouldn't be a true Panoz if it hadn't been hit with the ugly stick a few times

Good god is that thing fugly...

That's pretty much it. No matter how much power this creature has it can't run away from its own looks and 600 bhp is nowhere near enough seeing that it would have to be fast enough for nobody to get a proper glance.

 

[Northstar]

Well, there is no mistaking it for anything other than a Panoz.


I actually like it

 

[Keef]

What's with the vent at the rear? Is that how they make up for it being shaped precisely like an airplane wing?

 

[Omnis]

I see lots of Maybach Exelero in there, which could have also been Batman's new car!

Quite similar at the rear...

Robin.

Maybach should be Roger's car:

 

[Paulie]

Wonder if the ugliness many seem to agree on, has a function.

The Gumpert Apollo when first presented, it was clearly stated: we looked at downforce first, then the looks. People seem to quite like the end result in that case.

On the other hand till you see them in front of you it is difficult to judge, I do not think the TVR Tuscan speed 6 in GT5p is called by many beautiful, however when I saw one on the street once, I really liked it.

Finally I must encourage originality, car manufacturers are sometime to prudent. So a Yes from me for this car.

Well I like the Speed Six, I think it's a great car in looks and performance , but the Cebrera looked heaps cooler.

The front end is not too dis-similar to the Skelta Spyder, although I think the Spyder looks great and pulls it off: