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Old, Meet New - the Panoz Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans
New has officially met old. From the fledging Panoz Auto Development Company, established in 1989, comes a ground-breaking new racecar, the Panoz Abruzzi. Sporting state-of-the-art technology, novel new features and an unabashedly radical design, the Abruzzi exemplifies cutting-edge modernity. And where does it debut? At the most time-honored, historic race in the world, the 24 Hours Spirit of Le Mans at the Circuit de La Sarthe.
The 2011 Panoz Abruzzi “Spirit of Le Mans” is the protégé of Panoz Auto Development Company and Panoz Motor Sports Group founder, Don Panoz, renowned entrepreneur and automotive designer. The Abruzzi commemorates the 81st anniversary of the Spirit of Le Mans contest. The 81st race is due in 2013. Only 81 Abruzzis will be manufactured, corresponding to the Le Mans competitions between 1923 and 2013. All of these cars will debut and be delivered at the 24 Hours Spirit of Le Mans.
Delivered to whom? Most likely, to wealthy, influential buyers who will be given a driving course instructional on the Le Mans’ Bugatti circuit and invited to the next Le Mans as a Panoz/Automobile Club de l'Ouest VIP. They will have the opportunity to driver their new toy on the full Le Mans circuit, although not in the real race, of course. The Abruzzi is more a flashy aluminum symbol than a real flesh-and-blood street supercar – owners would probably not risk their limited edition vehicles in the perilous Le Mans competition.
Hand-built by Panoz, the Abruzzi is a startling and shocking vehicle, looking more like an extreme HotWheel™ concept than an actual drivable vehicle. Its aerodynamic aluminum body is pitted with a deep cuts in the front fascia for cooling vents; the body rises over high front fenders and a louvered hood and shoots backwards past a tiny 2-seater cabin to a steeply sloped rear fascia with batman-like vertical wings. As current designs stand, the Abruzzi is road-legal in Europe, the U.S., and parts of South America, the Middle East and Asia.
The originality outside is matched by the power inside. The Abruzzi uses a front-mounted engine that boasts minimum 600-hp and 590 lb-feet of torque. Panoz engineering gives the supercar powerful rear-wheel drive, a full plate of downforce and an unbelievable traction, putting its gargantuan torque to good use.
The Abruzzi’s revolutionary technology shines forth in its construction. Using R.E.A.M.S.® “Recyclable Energy Absorbing Matrix System,” the Abruzzi offers structural safety and advantages like no other auto system. The composite system is lighter than carbon fiber but just as strong, and is also dent-resistant, shatter-proof and recyclable.
New has met old. Some like it, some hate it, but all agree: the Abruzzi is a car unto itself.
The future looks good.