The
Porsche Carrera GT was first presented to the public at the Geneva International
Motor Show in spring 2003. However, serious clients such as Ralph Lauren,
have seen and ordered the Carrera GT long time ago. The ten-cylinder power
unit right behind the cockpit of the Carrera GT is based on a 5.5-litre
normal-aspiration engine which might well have appeared in the 24 Hours
of Le Mans as an all-out racing unit. Capacity has been increased slightly
to 5.7 litres for a maximum output of 450 kW (612 PS) at 8000 rpm and maximum
torque of 590 Newton-metres or 435 lb-ft at 5750 rpm. Top speed is 330
km/h or 205 mph and acceleration 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The specially
developed 6-speed manual gearbox enables acceleration of 0 to 200 km/h
in 9.9 seconds. The Carrera GT's monocoque and entire sub-frame are made
of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic. The car features the Porsche Ceramic
Composite Brake (PCCB) system.
Originally,
the Porsche Carrera GT was presented to the press at the Paris Motor Show
last year, driven by test driver and rally legend Walter Roehrl on a rainy
early morning. The reason for this car to come to the market was that Porsche
abandoned the idea to join Le Mans 24 hours races again. Shortly before
finishing off the development of the Porsche Carrera GT as a racing car,
the development team was called to help with the development of the new
Porsche Cayenne SUV, which hit the markets early 2003. The abandoned Le
Mans racing car project left Porsche with a beautiful engine, which was
capable of 580 hp. However, when the development team did a test drive
against Mercedes' new SLR development team, the Carrera GT lost the race.
Hence the Carrera GT has been upgraded to 612 hp as a result of this defeat,
and Mercedes has responded by raising its horsepower (hp) to more than
620 hp. This is one of the major reasons why the Mercedes SLR has been
considerably delayed.
Despite
this kind of power, performance and racing character, the ten-cylinder
is perfectly suited for everyday motoring thanks to its refined, superior
driving qualities also at low engine speeds. A rear wing provides the down
force at the rear essential for superior driving dynamics on the road.
The rear wing moves up 160 millimetres or 6.30" in less than five seconds
as soon as the car reaches a speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph. This increases
the down forces by approximately 30 per cent. The Carrera GT comes as standard
with an elegant five-piece set of leather luggage matched to the car's
interior colours. And it was not clear for a long while if the Porsche
Carrera GT would be built at all. Porsche Chairman, Wendelin Wiedeking,
said that there will be no subsidies for the car which has a price tag
of USD 400,000. However, order have come in at such a high rate that the
car has now been limited to 1,500 units. This is far more than initially
planned and it currently looks like Porsche will have no problem to sell
all units they plan to produce.
Engine: 5.7L V10
Horsepower: 612 bhp / PS
Top Speed: 205 mph / 330
km/h
Peak torque: 590 Nm (435
lb ft)
Acceleration: 0-60 mph in
3.8 sec (0-100km/h in 3.9)
The
Porsche Carrera GT was first presented to the public at the Geneva International
Motor Show in spring 2003. However, serious clients such as Ralph Lauren,
have seen and ordered the Carrera GT long time ago. The ten-cylinder power
unit right behind the cockpit of the Carrera GT is based on a 5.5-litre
normal-aspiration engine which might well have appeared in the 24 Hours
of Le Mans as an all-out racing unit. Capacity has been increased slightly
to 5.7 litres for a maximum output of 450 kW (612 PS) at 8000 rpm and maximum
torque of 590 Newton-metres or 435 lb-ft at 5750 rpm. Top speed is 330
km/h or 205 mph and acceleration 100 km/h in 3.9 seconds. The specially
developed 6-speed manual gearbox enables acceleration of 0 to 200 km/h
in 9.9 seconds. The Carrera GT's monocoque and entire sub-frame are made
of carbon-fibre-reinforced plastic. The car features the Porsche Ceramic
Composite Brake (PCCB) system.
Originally,
the Porsche Carrera GT was presented to the press at the Paris Motor Show
last year, driven by test driver and rally legend Walter Roehrl on a rainy
early morning. The reason for this car to come to the market was that Porsche
abandoned the idea to join Le Mans 24 hours races again. Shortly before
finishing off the development of the Porsche Carrera GT as a racing car,
the development team was called to help with the development of the new
Porsche Cayenne SUV, which hit the markets early 2003. The abandoned Le
Mans racing car project left Porsche with a beautiful engine, which was
capable of 580 hp. However, when the development team did a test drive
against Mercedes' new SLR development team, the Carrera GT lost the race.
Hence the Carrera GT has been upgraded to 612 hp as a result of this defeat,
and Mercedes has responded by raising its horsepower (hp) to more than
620 hp. This is one of the major reasons why the Mercedes SLR has been
considerably delayed.
Despite
this kind of power, performance and racing character, the ten-cylinder
is perfectly suited for everyday motoring thanks to its refined, superior
driving qualities also at low engine speeds. A rear wing provides the down
force at the rear essential for superior driving dynamics on the road.
The rear wing moves up 160 millimetres or 6.30" in less than five seconds
as soon as the car reaches a speed of 120 km/h or 75 mph. This increases
the down forces by approximately 30 per cent. The Carrera GT comes as standard
with an elegant five-piece set of leather luggage matched to the car's
interior colours. And it was not clear for a long while if the Porsche
Carrera GT would be built at all. Porsche Chairman, Wendelin Wiedeking,
said that there will be no subsidies for the car which has a price tag
of USD 400,000. However, order have come in at such a high rate that the
car has now been limited to 1,500 units. This is far more than initially
planned and it currently looks like Porsche will have no problem to sell
all units they plan to produce.