The Esperante is a sports car made by Panoz, an American car manufacturer.
There have been several Esperante models: the base model GT, the GTLM, the GTS, the JRD (an aftermarket upgrade brand similar to Roush Mustangs), the Brabham, and the 2015 430-hp Spyder and 560-hp Spyder GT. Each model has different specifications. The GTLM, for example, uses a supercharger to boost power from 305 hp (227 kW) to 420 hp (310 kW), raising performance from 0-62 mph in 5 seconds to 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 (270 kg) lighter than the base Esperante, has a steel 5.8 liter V8 racing engine that produces 385 bhp (287 kW; 390 PS), and is made of easily replaceable panels to facilitate small impact race repair. It can do 0-60 mph in 4.2 seconds, go up to a top speed of 182 mph (293 km/h), and achieve 0.98 g of lateral grip.
Panoz’s engines are sourced from General Motors and Ford Motor Company‘s Modular V8 family. Production continues today. The company currently builds the Spyder and Spyder GT, an Esperante convertible with a removable hardtop, and will soon introduce a new Esperante version later in 2016.
