Panoz AIV Roadster vs. Prowler

Panoz Roadster Registry

Panoz Roadster vs. Panoz AIV Roadster vs. Prowler

Overview

The Panoz AIV Roadster has often been compared to or confused with the Plymouth (Chrysler) Prowler. Although there are some important similarities, there are many more differences.

In 1993, a year after the Panoz Roadster was marketed, Chrysler showed the Prowler concept car in Detroit. It was not until 1997 that a production version was offered to the public. The car was "upgraded" in 1999 with a more powerful engine and other changes. This model was sold through 2002. Unlike the limited production Panoz AIV Roadster (176), over eleven thousand Prowlers (11,578) were manufactured and sold.

Both cars have two-seat hot rod roadster design, aluminum construction, cycle fenders, and wide tires. However, in most other ways the cars are different. The Prowler is, according to road tests conducted at the time, considerably underpowered. It has a 3.5 liter six cylinder motor with automatic transmission. There are more luxuries in the Prowler such as power roll-up windows and attached (rather than erected) soft top with glass rear window. There is no trunk in the Prowler, but a towable luggage trailer was available.

In contrast, the early Panoz Roadster and the Panoz AIV Roadster were V-8 powered with 5 speed manual transmissions. They are a true sports car hot rod rather than a boulevard tourer. The following table provides a review of the stats for the three cars.

	92-95 Panoz Roadster	97-99 Panoz AIV Roadster	99-02 Plymouth / Chrysler Prowler
# produced for sale	44	176	11578
Construction
Frame	triangulated stainless steel tube frame	extruded aluminum space frame	extruded aluminum space frame
Body	SPF formed aluminum body panels	SPF formed aluminum body panels	aluminum and composite plastic body panels
Front suspension	unequal length A-arms, coil-over shocks	unequal length A-arms, coil-over shocks	upper and lower A-arms with pushrods, coli-over shocks
Rear suspension	4 link trailing arms, quad shock traction, coil-over shocks	independent: unequal lenght A-arms, coil-over shocks	independent: multilink, modified double wishbone, coil-over shocks
Steering	rack & pinion, power assist, 2.4 turns lock to lock	rack & pinion, power assist, 2.4 turns lock to lock	rack & pinion, power assist, 3.13 turns lock to lock
Brakes F/R	11" vented disc / 11" disc	13" vented disc / 10" vented disc	composite 11" vented disc / 13" vented disc
Wheels F/R	16"x7" / 16"x8"	18"x8" / 18"x9" (1999: 18"x8.5" / 18"x10")	17"x7.5" / 20"x10"
Tires F/R	205/55ZR-16 / 255/50ZR-16	245/40ZR-18 / 295/35ZR-18	P225/45HR17 / P295/40HR20 runflats
Engine	Ford 5.0 liter V-8, iron block & heads (OHV 2 cam, 2 valve)	Ford 4.6 liter V-8, aluminum block & heads (DOHC 4 valve)	Chrysler 3.5 liter V-6, aluminum block & heads, (SOHC 4 valve)
Fuel system	electronic port fuel injection	electronic port fuel injection	electronic port fuel injection
Horsepower - bhp	225 @ 4200 (later: 215 @ 4200)	305 @ 5800	253 @ 6400
Torque - ft. lbs.	300 @3200 (later: 285 @ 3400)	300 @ 4800	255 @ 3950
Compression	9.0:1	9.9:1	10:1
Transmission	Borg-Warner T-5	Borg-Warner T-45	Automatic transaxle with Autostick
Differential	Ford 8.8 solid, 3.27 Traction-Lok (later: 2.73)	Ford 8.8 independent, 3.27 Traction-Lok	Chrysler transaxle, 3.89

Dimensions
Wheelbase	98.5"	104.5"	113"
Length	156"	159"	165"
Width	73"	76.8"	76"
Height	47"	48"	51"
Track F/R	66" / 64"	66.9" / 63.7"	62" / 63"
Curb weight	2315 lbs.	2595	2838
Weight distr. F/R	49 / 51	50 / 50	45 / 55

Performance
0-60	5.3 seconds	4.5 seconds	6.5 seconds
Quarter mile	14.2 @ 97 mph	13.3 @ 102	14.9 @ 93
Top speed	130 mph	135 mph	120 mph
Lateral accel.	.92g	.97g	.83g
Braking	194 ft. from 70 mph	110 ft. from 60 mph	154 ft. from 60