2003 Panoz Esperante
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The Esperante was launched in mid-2001, and, technologically, its calling cards are aluminum and carbon fiber. Several elements of its chassis are composed of super-strong extruded alloy, and they're bolted and bonded to several substructures. One beauty of this methodology is that most frame pieces--including the side-impact crush- zone members--are replaceable in the event of damage. If there's any car that gives its all for the Esperante, it's the Mustang Cobra. Much of the 'black metal' that makes up the Esperante's front floorpans, firewall, and windshield header--brutally expensive structures to develop and certify--comes from the '02 Cobra, as does its 320-horse DOHC 4. 6 lit V-8, Tremec T45 five-speed manual transmission, certain front and rear suspension pieces, emissions gear, and electrical componentry. Sporty, luxurious, and comfy describe the cabin; stitched leather, body-colored carbon fiber, and Machined aluminum trim dominate the look. The padded power top goes up and down easily, but when you hear the Esperante's Magnaflow-muffled stainless-steel dual exhaust system, you won't much care about putting the top up unless you encounter a blizzard. This isn't a small car, and there's plenty of room for drivers of most any size. The owner...