The Abruzzi will be unveiled at the 24 Hours of Le Mans

[WMUCarGuy]

In the 12 Hours of Sebring broadcast, Don Panoz announced that the Abruzzi will be unveiled this June at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. He says he's hoping the GT2 racing variation will make its debut at this years' Petit Le Mans!

Can't wait to see what they've come up with, and pleaseee don't just let it be an updated Esperante!

[LeManns67]

This is exciting news. Just tuned in to watch the last couple of hors of the race. Missed the anouncement but happy about the news.

Will be interesting to see what it is.

[Ackmann]

Missed the announcement. Anyone record the show and able to post a small clip on youtube so we can link here?

Probably not, but it would be cool.

[WMUCarGuy]

He didn't really say anything other than what I've posted regarding it. There was no mention of any details, just that it would be shown for the first time at Le Mans.

I really hope the new car isn't just an updated and rebodied Esperante, which I've heard is possible.

[PanozBob]

He didn't really say anything other than what I've posted regarding it. There was no mention of any details, just that it would be shown for the first time at Le Mans.

I really hope the new car isn't just an updated and rebodied Esperante, which I've heard is possible.

Man I hope not. I want to see something new from the company.

[Rarity]

The Abruzzi will not be another Esperante, Start saving your Money $$$$

[Ackmann]

I found these pictures on the net that some guy did trying to draw a rendering of what he thought the Abruzzi would look like. I think they are cool pictures and a great looking car, but if anything it would be a better chance that it would make for a new generation Esperante.

He has some cool lines and I have heard that Panoz is planning on offering a updated Esperante after the Abruzzi is introduced and put into production.

Interesting thing is I looked the guy up on the net and he does list in his professional experience on his resume that he worked for Panoz Auto Dev to design and build the GTLM Bumpers and designed on other projects so these pictures may be more real than I first thought.

He shows these photos in his Portfolio/Resume as the Panoz Abruzzi so who knows what the company decide to use but still is interesting. Cars are different and the first front profile looks like more of a complete redesign.

[Ackmann]

So I'm sitting here at home watching DVR High Stakes Poker and all I can think of is how much I hope the New Abruzzi is very close to the rendering 1; I think this a great looing car. LIKE IT A LOT!

[PanozBob]

Agreed. I like the first picture better than the other two. The other two look more like a Esperante. (Not that there is anything wrong with that) Just dont call it something different if it looks simular.

[PanozBob]

Cant wait to see more about the Powertrain. A few rumors but I guess we'll know in a few months. I wonder if the race model at Le Mans will run something different than the street car?

[Ackmann]

Well this post has lots of hits in just a few days. looks like Autoblog and a couple of other industry blogs picked up on the anouncement by Don Panoz and has sparked curiousity.

[WMUCarGuy]

Cant wait to see more about the Powertrain. A few rumors but I guess we'll know in a few months. I wonder if the race model at Le Mans will run something different than the street car?

It can't... The whole idea of GT racing is that your race car uses components based from your road car. The engine is one of those components. Yes, they're all heavily modified, but at the end of the day, the engine in all GT2 cars share a heck of a lot with their road going counter parts.

[PanozBob]

Fast Lane Daily on the Panoz Abruzzi

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HaQiPGa2Vic

[PanozGTLM]

Abruzzi 'spirit of le mans'

http://ht.ly/1GkMk

[Ackmann]

The Abruzzi Teaser

The recurring rumor is now put to rest. Don Panoz, the founder of Panoz Auto Development and the American Le Mans Series presented by Tequila Patrón, made it official today with the announcement of an exciting new and exclusive Panoz super sports car – the Abruzzi “Spirit of Le Mans.”

The formal unveiling will take place next month in France at the world famous 24 Hours of Le Mans auto race, an event the Panoz brand won in the GT2 class during 2006.

“We wanted to wait until Le Mans to release official photos of the car, but today we are providing a ‘teaser’ image of the Abruzzi ‘Spirit of Le Mans’ that hints at what the final car will be like,” Panoz said in making the announcement. “After seeing numerous illustrations posted on the Internet claiming to be the ‘Panoz Abruzzi’ – none of which have been accurate – I thought it was important to provide some factual information in advance of the actual unveiling.”

Panoz, who with his Panoz Motor Sports Group owns one of the most diversified motorsports companies in the world, also controls one of the few remaining small-volume sports car manufacturing companies – Panoz Auto Development. “We are truly excited about the Panoz Abruzzi – not only about the design and performance of the car – but by the whole concept it represents,” Panoz added. “The styling is inspired from a classic era when racers would literally drive their own cars to Le Mans to compete and then drive back home. However, the technology of the Panoz Abruzzi ‘Spirit of Le Mans’ is absolutely leading-edge. We will provide many more details about the concept and some very special elements surrounding this exciting new car next month at Le Mans.”

In making this announcement, Panoz referred to several groundbreaking technologies employed in the design and construction of the new vehicle. The unique body is constructed using “REAMS”® material technology – “REAMS®” standing for Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System. This advanced body construction material and process has never before been utilized in a road car and offers unprecedented environmental, performance and structural advantages.

The Abruzzi also introduces a three-stage “TRIFECTA COOLING”® technology.
“TRIFECTA COOLING”® is an innovative development that improves both engine performance and efficiency. In addition to a typical high-efficiency radiator, there are stage two and stage three cooling systems that lower coolant temperature on both the inflow to and the outflow from the radiator. The Abruzzi also extensively employs LED lighting technologies, both functionally and stylistically.

The Abruzzi “Spirit of Le Mans” is currently undergoing early homologation and production testing, and the car will be unveiled at its “spiritual” home at the historic Circuit de la Sarthe in Le Mans, France during race week in June. By special arrangement with the Automobile Club de l’Ouest (ACO), the car will occupy center stage in the “village” at the track from June 7-13. Prior to the public unveiling, international media representatives will be invited to a preview approximately two days in advance of its introduction.

The Abruzzi “Spirit of Le Mans” is being produced by Panoz Auto Development, located in Hoschton, Ga. “We are no strangers to pioneering new and unique concepts and materials in building great sports cars,” added Dan Panoz, President of Panoz Auto Development. “We are well known for 20 years of manufacturing and selling exclusive, limited-volume, high-performance automobiles.”



Panoz Auto Development produces leading-edge, fully certified automobiles and is best known for the first US-manufactured AIV (Aluminum Intensive Vehicle) - the Panoz AIV Roadster. The Panoz Esperante body and chassis also extensively employs aluminum for performance, safety and efficiency. The Panoz Esperante GTLM earned world-famous stature as a race car by winning the GT2 category at both the Mobil 1 Twelve Hours of Sebring and the 24 Hours of Le Mans in a single year – 2006.