Panoz Abruzzi Straddles the Line Between Ugly and Beautiful

Posted on Oct 1, 2017 in Racing | 2 comments

Panoz Abruzzi from above

Little-known carmaker Panoz has taken the wraps off its all-new supercar, the company’s first since 2008.


Coinciding with Le Mans week in France, American Le Mans Series founder Don Panoz has revealed the new limited-production Abruzzi Spirit of Le Mans road car.


We don’t know too much about what’ll power the Abruzzi, other than the car will make 600-plus horsepower and 590 lb-ft of torque. We do know it’s a front-engine, rear-drive setup with, get this, rear-mounted radiators. The radiators’ mounting position contributes to what Panoz calls Trifecta Cooling. In addition to the radiator, the car incorporates two other cooling strategies: The rear glass directs air down onto the radiators, and the coolant lines that run from the engine also serve to cool the fluid.


Now about that design…


Panoz Abruzzi

The body is built from a multi-layer composite material through a process called REAMS (Recyclable Energy


Panoz Abruzzi rear

Absorbing Matrix System). According to the ALMS website,


The body system offers environmental, performance and structural advantages like no other automobile body system on the planet. Never used before on any road-going automobile, the multi-layer composite system is lighter than carbon fiber yet equally strong. Unlike carbon fiber however, it is dent-resistant, shatter-proof and recyclable.


With such promising performance and technology behind it, it’s a shame the Abruzzi looks like a handheld vacuum cleaner. What it lacks in looks, though, it makes up for with experience.


The car pays tribute to the annual 24 Hours of Le Mans race, and each of the 81 that will be built will be marked with the date and initials of the winning driver from one of the races since 1923. Buyers can take delivery only at the Bugatti Circuit near Le Mans and will receive two days of driving instruction on the track. Buyers will also be invited as Panoz’s special guests to the next 24 Hours race.


Pricing hasn’t been disclosed, and as of right now the car adheres only to European road regulations.

2 comments

  1. randy

    My first impression is that Batman and Robin will jump out. It is interesting, and heck, rich people with bad taste need exotic cars, too. I’m sure a few will end up tooling around Brunei, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait.

  2. Will

    it looks like a an fd rx-7 crossed with a chrysler crossfire and then with a bad Dodge concept car front end. the stance is cool but the car is funny looking for sure. anyone else see the dodge front end besides me?