Panoz Esperante GTLM

Panoz Auto Development announces the latest variation of the world renowned Panoz Esperante. This new model, the Esperante GT-LM, takes the remarkably composed and refined touring version of the Esperante platform and gives it a decidedly more sporting tone.

A new rear sub-frame, developed with technical partner Multimatic Inc. reduces mass while increasing stiffness and features a motor-sport oriented suspension geometry.

The new rear control arms are fabricated, lightweight, tubular steel components bolted to aluminum uprights.

The reduced un-sprung mass works in concert with the double isolated coil-over spring/shock assembly to increase performance while simultaneously improving NVH characteristics.

All of this careful attention to detail has yielded a finished weight of just 3,384 lbs, that makes much more of its 420 horsepower, 4-cam, 32 valve supercharged V-8. The result is a world class 8.06 power to weight ratio.

The Esperante GT-LM’s aerodynamics have been improved with new long nose, long tail bumper fascias as well as more aggressive rocker panels.

These components are complimented by the fixed carbon fiber hardtop and the subtle “duck tail” rear spoiler, all of which combines to significantly increase the GT-LM’s aerodynamic downforce.

Detail refinements include revised front and rear lighting along with custom front and rear grill work.

The interior features new sport seats with more aggressive bolstering and a host of billet aluminum trim enhancements.

The end result is a lighter, faster, stronger Esperante. Look for Panoz to build on its impressive motorsports heritage (the Esperante won the 2002 BF Goodrich Trans-Am Manufacturers Championship) as it takes on the GT class contenders in the American LeMans series and the 24 hours of LeMans with a race prepared variant of this car.

Panoz Esperante GTLM wins class victory in the Mobil1 twelve hours of Sebring.

The small volume American Auto manufacturer Panoz Auto Development Company shows its climb to world class recognition may be close to the mountain top by taking it to the track in a head to head fight with Porsche, Ferrari, BMW and Spyker and proving that worldclass performance.

The Multimatic Motorsports Team Panoz GTLM driven by David Brabham, Scott Maxwell and Sebastian Bourdais took the GT class win and showed that in a straight fight it is a worldclass competitor.

The fact that the Ferrari, BMW and Porsche efforts were so strong shows the commitment to the series as the true proving ground for sports car supremacy in the USA.

The factory Spyker team had some bad luck in practice and qualifying but was able to stay the course during the twelve hours.

The Panoz stunned many sports car fans last year by posting a win at Road Atlanta in its first full season.

Dan Panoz, the company’s Founder and President said “I could not be happier with the car’s performance, it was especially rewarding to see these brands, Porsche, Ferrari, BMW, Spyker and the Panoz battle head to head.”

“For the lead to change back and fourth between the Ferrari, Porsche and Panoz cars hour after hour and to see these three teams finishing on the same lap after twelve hours.”

“I took great pleasure in seeing the British LNT team run their Panoz Esperante for the entire race with no major glitch and I am convinced that if they had not had the punctures they did they would have been in a fight for a podium finish.”

“I would even anticipate that based on the lap times and the strength of the LNT driver line up they would have made the podium.”

“This was no easy win it was a hard fought strong performance with a superior product piloted by a first class team that made it possible to earn the win.”

Invicta S1-600

The Invicta Car Company revealed a sensational ultra high-performance supercharged version of its British-built S1 luxury two-seater sportscar.The new model has been unvelied at the Autosport International show on Thursday 13 January, 2005.

Called the Invicta S1-600 and closely based on the current production model, the new car is powered by a supercharged 5.0-litre Ford V8 engine which produces more than 600 bhp at 4,500 rpm.

As well as the new engine, which produces almost double the power of the standard S1-320 model, the showcar features a six-speed manual gearbox, refined aerodynamics and specially-made Toyo T1-R tires.

The showcar was manufactured in mid-2004 for the dual role of 200 mph record breaker – for Britain’s fastest blind driver, 42-year old Barclays bank manager Mike Newman and the ‘Vision 2020 the Right to Sight’ global charity – and to act as the development prototype for a range-topping 2005 Invicta production model for customers in search of ultra-high performance luxury.

The Autosport International showcar is the same titanium silver Invicta S1-600 model that Mike Newman drove in the California desert last autumn.

Engine & PerformanceFundamental to Invicta’s desire to deliver no-compromise performance in terms of handling balance and sheer speed, was the decision to mount the S1’s engine and gearbox well back in the chassis and the 100-litre fuel tank transversely between the rear wheels, to achieve close to the ideal 50/50 front/rear weight distribution.

Fitted with Invicta’s own air-intake and exhaust systems, the 5.0-liter engine powering the S1-600 range is supplied by Ford’s Special Vehicle Team (SVT) in America. Light, smooth-revving and ultra-reliable, this engine delivers stunning acceleration in the 3042 lbs Invicta S1-600.

Each engine is hand-built at Ford’s SVT facility and carries a plaque signed by the two technicians responsible for its assembly.

The completely flat floor of the S1 and the rising rear undertray give low-drag and generate downforce. Tests in the full size wind tunnel at MIRA confirm that the Invicta S1 will remain stable if driven at speeds in excess of 200 mph where road conditions permit.

The combination of high power, massive torque and low weight is a recipe for good fuel economy and wonderful performance.

A six-speed manual transmission is standard in the Invicta S1-420 and in the S1-600. Drive from the front-mounted engine travels via the gearbox to the rear wheels through an Australian BTR hydratak viscous-coupling racing limited-slip differential.

Brakes, Wheels & TiresWith four large-diameter, cross-drilled and ventilated discs, the braking system of the S1 is very close to a racing configuration, with AP 6-pot (front) and 4-pot (rear) brake calipers.

The standard set-up uses anti-squeal brake pads and calipers for quiet operation in normal road use. A change of pad material will ensure that the Invicta S1 can be used all day on a race track without running out of brakes.

British designed – Italian made, five-spoke cast alloy wheels provide an aggressive compliment to the smooth flanks of the Invicta S1.

Nineteen inches in diameter, the 8.5 inch wide (front) and 9.5 inch (rear) wheels offer a clear view of the massive discs and their Invicta-branded brake calipers.

The Interior

From the concept stage, Invicta was determined that the S1 would have a spacious cabin, with particularly generous head and leg room.

The supportive seats are trimmed to match the interior, and offer a wide range of movements, together with adjustable lumbar support.

The steering wheel is adjustable for reach and rake, and its 14-inch diameter rim frames an array of bespoke traditional instruments.

The wide centre console is trimmed in brushed aluminum and topped by triple air-vents. It houses satellite navigation as standard, together with controls for the climate-control, air conditioning and the car audio equipment.

Both front and rear windscreens are electrically heated and the S1 features a filler on each rear wing so that the fuel tank can be replenished from either side.

Ferrari 612 Scaglietti

Named after famous Ferrari coachbuilder Sergio Scaglietti, the 4.9-metre long, all-aluminum 612 Scaglietti will blend the perfect combination of performance and comfort in the best traditions of a true Ferrari berlinetta designed to accommodate four people in high-speed luxury and safety.

Although Ferrari has worked hard last year to meet the demands of its sportier clients, that has not stopped it from producing the Model Year 2007 version of the 612 Scaglietti for owners who like ultra-refined elegance as well as performance.

Unveiled at Detroit in 2004, the flagship of the Ferrari range now has an even more impressive standard spec than ever with leather trim in the same color as the seats now extending to the headlining and the side panels running lengthways between the A- and the C-post.

The result is a brighter and even more elegant cockpit finish that can be personalized still further courtesy of the Carrozzeria Scaglietti program.

The sumptuous MY07 also boasts a new radio-CD system with satellite navigation system, voice recognition system, MP3 player, Bluetooth and a Compact Flash memory card reader that will allow the owner to store and play 4 GB of music.

The system is integrated with a newly refined display on the instrument panel too. To improve handling in tight spaces, rear parking sensors are also now offered as standard.

The Layout

For the first time, Ferrari is offering a 12-cylinder model with both the space-frame chassis and body panels in aluminum, built entirely in-house at Modena, Northern Italy, in the dedicated Scaglietti light-alloy technologies facility.

The benefits of this construction method include a 60% increase in structural rigidity and significant weight savings of 60 kg compared to the current 456M GTA – despite the new car’s larger dimensions.

The overall layout – engine mounted behind the front axle, gearbox in unit with the differential at the rear – ensures an ideally balanced weight distribution (46% front, 54% rear), as well as permitting a lower centre of gravity, which benefits the dynamic behavior of the car.

The performance-orientated handling is enhanced by active damping and a new stability and traction control system, making its first-ever appearance on a Ferrari.

The 612 will run on 18 inch diameter front wheels with 245/45 tires and 19 inch rear wheels with 285/40 tires.

The Engine

The 612’s 5748 cc, 12-cylinder, 48-valve, 65°V engine is a product of the most advanced Ferrari technology.

The all-aluminum power unit has a compression ratio of 11.2:1 and generates a maximum output of 540 bhp at 7,250 rpm, with 434 lb-ft (588 Nm) of torque at 5,250 rpm.

The new car is expected to accelerate from standstill to 62 mph (100 km/h) in 4.2 seconds, and to achieve a top speed of 196 mph (315 km/h).

All 612 models are fitted with a six-speed mechanical gearbox, with a choice of manual, and F1-style paddle shifts. Newly developed for the 612, the electro-hydraulic system is known as the F1A. It is designed to deliver both fast and ultra-smooth gear changes.

Designed by Pininfarina to epitomize dynamism and elegance, the 612 brings the name of Sergio Scaglietti back into public awareness.

Scaglietti is the coachbuilder who brought to life some of the most beautiful Ferrari models in the 1950s and 60s.

The new 612 features scalloped sides that recall the famous 375 MM he created for Italian film director Roberto Rossellini as a gift to his then-wife movie-star, Ingrid Bergman.

With a significantly longer wheelbase than the 456M, the 612 has been designed to offer ease of entry for rear-seat passengers to an outstandingly luxurious cabin which will accommodate four adults in comfort.

On-board comfort is boosted for the driver – by the adoption of ‘new generation’ ergonomics for the instrument binnacle, steering-wheel mounted and fascia-mounted controls – and for passengers by the fitting of dual-zone climate control and a Hi-End Bose sound system, specifically tailored to suit the unique acoustics of the leather and aluminum trimmed interior.

The capacity of the luggage compartment has been enlarged to 240-litres – 25% bigger than the 456M – and will hold a five-piece Ferrari luggage set or two full sets of golf clubs.

The new 612 model is 139 mm longer, 37 mm wider, and 44 mm taller than the 456M, with the wheelbase increased by 350 mm to ensure the latest Ferrari is a genuine 2+2 four seater.