États-Unis
Panoz
Panoz is an American automaker founded in 1989 as Panoz Auto Development by Dan Panoz, in the state of Georgia, in the southeastern United States. The venture was born of a chance turn of events: in 1988, Dan Panoz, son of pharmaceutical entrepreneur and racing man Don Panoz (1935-2018), acquired the rights to a chassis from the Irish firm Thompson Motor Company, then in liquidation, designed by the renowned engineer Frank Costin. This starting point gave rise, in 1992, to the brand's first model: the Panoz Roadster, a lightweight sports convertible assembled in a small workshop north of Atlanta. The Roadster was followed by the AIV Roadster, which used an aluminum chassis and a Ford-sourced V8. Panoz then built a reputation in competition: starting in 1997, its cars entered the major endurance series, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the Esperante GTR-1 and then the LMP prototypes. The crowning achievement came in 2006, with a class win (GT2) for an Esperante GTLM at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring. On the road-car side, the Esperante, launched at the turn of the 2000s, became the brand's flagship model: a hand-built grand-touring sports car produced in very low volume. On the ownership side, the Panoz galaxy went through several reorganizations. In 2012, the racing arm (the American Le Mans series, the Road Atlanta and Sebring circuits) was sold to NASCAR. In 2016, Don Panoz founded Green4U Technologies, focused on electric mobility, which later brought together Panoz LLC, the Team Panoz Racing outfit, and DeltaWing. The brand remains artisanal in scale, based in Georgia (Hoschton / Braselton), and has never had an industrial presence anywhere else in North America. Entirely North American, Panoz embodies a rare vision: that of a small independent maker of hand-built, high-end sports cars.
ActivePerformanceÉlectrique / hybrideCamion / utilitaireAméricaines
History
History of Panoz
Panoz is an American automaker founded in 1989 as Panoz Auto Development by Dan Panoz, in the state of Georgia, in the southeastern United States. The venture was born of a chance turn of events: in 1988, Dan Panoz, son of pharmaceutical entrepreneur and racing man Don Panoz (1935-2018), acquired the rights to a chassis from the Irish firm Thompson Motor Company, then in liquidation, designed by the renowned engineer Frank Costin. This starting point gave rise, in 1992, to the brand's first model: the Panoz Roadster, a lightweight sports convertible assembled in a small workshop north of Atlanta. The Roadster was followed by the AIV Roadster, which used an aluminum chassis and a Ford-sourced V8. Panoz then built a reputation in competition: starting in 1997, its cars entered the major endurance series, including the 24 Hours of Le Mans, with the Esperante GTR-1 and then the LMP prototypes. The crowning achievement came in 2006, with a class win (GT2) for an Esperante GTLM at the 24 Hours of Le Mans and the 12 Hours of Sebring. On the road-car side, the Esperante, launched at the turn of the 2000s, became the brand's flagship model: a hand-built grand-touring sports car produced in very low volume. On the ownership side, the Panoz galaxy went through several reorganizations. In 2012, the racing arm (the American Le Mans series, the Road Atlanta and Sebring circuits) was sold to NASCAR. In 2016, Don Panoz founded Green4U Technologies, focused on electric mobility, which later brought together Panoz LLC, the Team Panoz Racing outfit, and DeltaWing. The brand remains artisanal in scale, based in Georgia (Hoschton / Braselton), and has never had an industrial presence anywhere else in North America. Entirely North American, Panoz embodies a rare vision: that of a small independent maker of hand-built, high-end sports cars.
Public founding or origin of Panoz.
Technologies
Technologies, innovations and platforms
Panoz's technical signature rests on a lightweight aluminum architecture: the Esperante uses a modular chassis of extruded aluminum, bonded and bolted to steel subframes, without welding, ensuring rigidity and light weight. The powertrain relies on front-mounted Ford-sourced V8s: a naturally aspirated 4.6 L V8 of around 305 horsepower on the base and GT versions, and a supercharged variant delivering around 420 horsepower on the GTLM, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox. The brand also cultivates a strong racing culture (endurance, LMP prototypes, single-seaters) and explored electrification through Green4U and the all-electric Panoz Racing GT-EV racing concept, with all-wheel drive and a swappable battery. Safety and performance remain those of an artisanal sports car.
Brand image
Identity, reputation, strengths and weaknesses
Positioning
An artisanal American maker of rare grand-touring sports cars, with V8 engines and aluminum chassis, heir to a rich endurance-racing heritage.
Reputation
Panoz enjoys a reputation as a niche, rare, and authentically American brand, prized by enthusiasts for its artisanal character and its endurance-racing record. Road tests highlight the engaging drive, the light weight, and the sound of the V8, but also a fit-and-finish and comfort level that fall short of European benchmarks at comparable prices. The very low production and limited distribution make resale value hard to generalize: well-maintained examples retain the status of a collector's curiosity. The perception is that of an object of passion rather than a rational purchase, with a necessarily limited service network. Reliability depends largely on maintenance and use.
Strengths
Panoz's strengths: a unique character as an artisanal American sports car, lightweight aluminum construction, enjoyable V8s, and a genuine endurance-racing record, including a class win at Le Mans. Its rarity confers an exclusivity that few brands offer. The hand assembly and North American roots appeal to enthusiasts seeking an authentic and out-of-the-ordinary object.
Points to watch
Limitations to be aware of: confidential production, a very limited range long frozen around the Esperante, which means a virtually nonexistent service network and parts that can be hard to find. Fit-and-finish and comfort remain below European sports cars at comparable prices. Resale value is volatile and uncertain, and maintaining a rare vehicle calls for a specialist. A car of passion, not a practical choice.
Models
Panoz models
Current or active models by market
Production and compatibility
Plants, tires and wheels
Production
Panoz is an artisanal brand whose production has always been concentrated in Georgia, in the southeastern United States. Assembly of the first cars took place in a workshop north of Atlanta, after which operations were organized around Hoschton and Braselton, where the headquarters and the design and engineering hubs are located (including DeltaWing and Green4U). The cars are hand-assembled in very small batches, which is closer to a workshop than a high-volume factory. As an entirely North American manufacturer, Panoz has never moved its production offshore: there is no production site outside the United States. This local footprint lies at the heart of the brand's identity.
Tires and wheels
Road-going Panoz cars are rear-wheel-drive sports cars that run on large alloy wheels (often BBS), typically 17, 18, or 19 inches depending on the version, with high-performance summer sport tires (for example, a wide setup at the rear). The brand's ultra-confidential nature makes original fitments hard to standardize: you should always verify the exact size, bolt pattern, and tolerances specific to the vehicle before making any choice. In Quebec, these cars are a seasonal summer pleasure: poorly suited to winter, they are generally stored away for the winter rather than refitted with nordic tires. Always confirm the actual specifications before ordering.