Car comparison

BMW M3 Convertible (E46) 3.2i 24VvsPanoz Esperante 4.6 i V8 32V

Compare specs, acceleration, fuel consumption, dimensions, practicality, and estimated running costs side by side.

New comparison

BMW M3 Convertible (E46)

3.2i 24V

343 hp3246 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCabriolet / convertible2001-2006

Panoz Esperante

4.6 i V8 32V

324 hp4601 ccGasolineRWDManualNaturally aspiratedCabriolet / convertible1999-2009

Comparison overview

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Panoz Esperante 4.6 i V8 32V

Quickest 0-100 km/h
5.1 s
Highest torque
427 Nm
315 lb-ft
Lightest
1,450 kg
3,197 lb
Best power-to-weight
223 hp/t
167 kW/t
4.5 kg/hp
Lowest city consumption
13.8 L/100 km
17.0 mpg US
20.5 mpg UK
Best performance score
68/100

BMW M3 Convertible (E46) 3.2i 24V

Fastest top speed
260 km/h
162 mph Unrestricted
250 km/h
155 mph Restricted
Most powerful
343 hp
256 kW
Lowest highway consumption
8.8 L/100 km
26.7 mpg US
32.1 mpg UK
Best overall score
59/100
Best economy score
74/100
Best practicality score
44/100

Specification comparison

Specification comparison
Model	BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V
Power	343hp256kW	324hp242kW
Torque	365Nm269lb-ft	427Nm315lb-ft
Curb weight	1,655kg3,649lb	1,450kg3,197lb
Gross weight	2,100kg4,630lb	-
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Calculated	249 km/h 155 mph
To 99% top speed	76.5s99% target: 257 km/h / 160 mph Calculated	61.9s99% target: 247 km/h / 153 mph Calculated
0-100 km/h	5.5s	5.1s
0-200 km/h	20.1s Calculated	18.9s Calculated
0-60 mph	5.2s Calculated	4.8s Calculated
Fuel consumption	12.1L/100 km19.4mpg US23.3mpg UK	-
Fuel consumption city	17.9L/100 km13.1mpg US15.8mpg UK	13.8L/100 km17mpg US20.5mpg UK
Fuel consumption highway	8.8L/100 km26.7mpg US32.1mpg UK	10.2L/100 km23.1mpg US27.7mpg UK
Quarter mile	13.6s Calculated	13.3s Calculated
Power-to-weight	207hp/t155kW/t94hp/1000 lb Calculated	223hp/t167kW/t101hp/1000 lb Calculated
Torque-to-weight	221Nm/t148lb-ft/ton Calculated	294Nm/t197lb-ft/ton Calculated
Estimated range	521km324mi Calculated	-
Displacement	3,246cc198cu in	4,601cc281cu in
Length	4,492mm177in	4,475mm176in
Width	1,780mm70in	1,860mm73in
Height	1,363mm54in	1,355mm53in
Wheelbase	2,731mm108in	2,715mm107in
Front track	1,508mm59in	1,545mm61in
Rear track	1,525mm60in	1,580mm62in
Trunk volume	300L	-
Doors	2	2
Seats	4	2
Fuel tank	63L	58L

Performance charts

Use the estimates as comparison hints and verify exact figures before making decisions.

Dyno simulation

Estimated stock-style power and torque curves by engine speed.

BMW M3 Convertible (E46) 3.2i 24VPanoz Esperante 4.6 i V8 32VPowerTorque

Dyno simulation data table
Vehicle	Peak power RPM	Peak torque RPM	Max engine speed
BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	7,900 rpm	4,900 rpm	8,150 rpm
PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V	6,000 rpm	4,750 rpm	6,250 rpm

Acceleration curve

Estimated speed over time for selected vehicles.

Acceleration and drag-race table
Metric	BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V
	Acceleration checkpoints
0-60 mph 0-97 km/h	5.2 s	4.8 s
0-100 km/h 0-62 mph	5.5 s	5.1 s
0-200 km/h 0-124 mph	20.1 s	18.9 s
Top speed	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph Likely limited	249 km/h 155 mph
	Drag race simulation
60 ft 18 m	2.2 s	2.2 s
330 ft 101 m	5.9 s	5.8 s
1/8 mile 201 m	8.9 s	8.7 s
1000 ft 305 m	11.5 s	11.2 s
1/4 mile 402 m	13.6 s	13.3 s
Trap speed 1/4 mile 402 m	169 km/h 105 mph	173 km/h 108 mph

Power comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power. Higher is better · hp / kW

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	343 hp 256 kW
PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V	324 hp 242 kW

BMW M3 Convertible (E46) 3.2i 24V has 19 hp more than Panoz Esperante 4.6 i V8 32V.

The biggest power difference is between Panoz Esperante 4.6 i V8 32V and BMW M3 Convertible (E46) 3.2i 24V: 19 hp (14 kW).

Torque comparison

Bar comparison chart for Torque. Higher is better · Nm / lb-ft

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	365 Nm 269 lb-ft
PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V	427 Nm 315 lb-ft

Curb weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Curb weight. Lower is better · kg / lb

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	1,655 kg 3,649 lb
PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V	1,450 kg 3,197 lb

Top speed without limiter comparison

Bar comparison chart for Top speed without limiter. Higher is better · km/h / mph

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V	249 km/h 155 mph

0-100 km/h comparison

Bar comparison chart for 0-100 km/h. Lower is better · seconds

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	5.5 s
PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V	5.1 s

Although BMW M3 Convertible (E46) 3.2i 24V has more power, Panoz Esperante 4.6 i V8 32V is quicker from 0-100 km/h.

The biggest 0-100 km/h difference is between Panoz Esperante 4.6 i V8 32V and BMW M3 Convertible (E46) 3.2i 24V: 0.4 s.

Power-to-weight comparison

Bar comparison chart for Power-to-weight. Higher is better · hp/t / kW/t

Chart data table
Vehicle	Value
BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	207 hp/t 155 kW/t 4.8 kg/hp
PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V	223 hp/t 167 kW/t 4.5 kg/hp

Performance spider chart

Radar chart comparing normalized performance and fuel-consumption scores.

Chart data table
Vehicle	Power	Acceleration	Top speed
BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V	343 hp 256 kW	5.5 s	Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph
PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V	324 hp 242 kW	5.1 s	249 km/h 155 mph

Most attractive quadrant

Scatter chart with performance score on the X axis and practicality score on the Y axis.

Vehicle

Performance score

Practicality score

BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V

Power	343 hp 256 kW
0-100 km/h	5.5 s
Top speed Unrestricted 260 km/h162 mph Restricted 250 km/h155 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	300 L 10.6 cu ft
Length	4,492 mm 176.9 in
Height	1,363 mm 53.7 in

PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V

Power	324 hp 242 kW
0-100 km/h	5.1 s
Top speed 249 km/h 155 mph

Doors/seats	2 doors 2 seats
Trunk	-
Length	4,475 mm 176.2 in
Height	1,355 mm 53.3 in

Detailed score breakdown

Vehicle

BMWM3 Convertible (E46)3.2i 24V

PanozEsperante4.6 i V8 32V

Power

343 hp

256 kW

324 hp

242 kW

Torque

365 Nm

269 lb-ft

427 Nm

315 lb-ft

Acceleration

5.5 s

5.1 s

Top speed

Unrestricted

260 km/h162 mph

Restricted

250 km/h155 mph

249 km/h

155 mph

Lightness

1,655 kg

3,649 lb

1,450 kg

3,197 lb

Fuel consumption

12.1 L/100 km

19.4 mpg US

23.3 mpg UK

Practicality

Doors/seats	2 doors 4 seats
Trunk	300 L 10.6 cu ft
Length	4,492 mm 176.9 in
Height	1,363 mm 53.7 in

Doors/seats	2 doors 2 seats
Trunk	-
Length	4,475 mm 176.2 in
Height	1,355 mm 53.3 in

Range score

521 km

324 mi

Trunk score

300 L

10.6 cu ft

Power-to-weight score

207 hp/t

155 kW/t

4.8 kg/hp

223 hp/t

167 kW/t

4.5 kg/hp

Overall

Fixed score

Fuel cost and annual usage

Estimate running costs from combined consumption, your annual distance, and the fuel price in your local currency.

Average annual distanceDistance unitFuel price in your local currencyPrice unit

Enter the fuel price in your local currency, for example €/L, $/gal, £/L or any other local currency.

LC = Local Currency

Fuel cost and annual usage
Vehicle	BMW M3 Convertible (E46) 3.2i 24V
Consumption	12.1 L/100 km19.4 mpg US23.3 mpg UK
Cost / 100 km	21.18 LC100 km
Cost / 100 mi	34.08 LC100 mi
Annual fuel used	1,815 L479 US gal399 UK gal
Annual fuel cost	3,176 LC/year