2008 Porsche Ruf CTR-
16" x 12
Carrera GT
The development of the Carrera GT can be traced back to its predecessors, the 911 GT1 and LMP1-98 racing cars. Due in part to the FIA and ACO rule changes in 1998, both designs had ended. Porsche at the time had planned on a new Le Mans prototype for 1999. The car was initially intended to use a turbocharged flat-6, but was later redesigned to use a new V10 engine, pushing the project back to planned competition in 2000. The V10 was a unit secretly built by Porsche for the Footwork Formula One team in 1992, but later shelved. The engine was resurrected for the Le Mans prototype and increased in size to 5.5 litres. Unfortunately the project was cancelled after two days of testing for the first car, in mid-1999, mostly due to Porsche's wish to build the Cayenne SUV with involvement from Volkswagen and Audi, thus requiring engineering expertise to be pulled from the motorsports division. It was also speculated that VW-Audi chairman Ferdinand Piëch wanted Audi's new Le Mans Prototype, the Audi R8 not to face competition from Porsche in 2000.
Porsche did keep part of the project alive by using the 5.5L V10 from the prototype in a concept car shown at the 2000 Geneva Motor Show, mainly in an attempt to draw attention to their display. Surprising interest in the vehicle and an influx of revenue provided from the Cayenne helped Porsche decide to produce the car, and development started on a road-legal version that would be produced in small numbers at Porsche's new manufacturing facility in Leipzig. Porsche started a production run of Carrera GTs in 2004, shipping the units with an MSRP of $440,000 USD and a dealer invoice price of approximately $414,800 USD. In addition, the delivery charge could be as much as $5,000 USD. The first Carrera GT went on sale in the US on Jan 31, 2004.
Originally a production run of 1,500 cars was planned. But Porsche announced in August, 2005 that it would not continue production of the Carrera GT through 2006, citing discontinuation was due to changing airbag regulations in the US. As of May 6, 2006, 1,270 GT's had been manufactured, with 604 being sold in the United States.
Design
5.7 litre V10 engine
The Carrera GT is powered by a 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 DIN (605 SAE) horsepower (450 kW)[5] whereas the original concept car featured a 5.5 litre version rated at 558 hp (416 kW). Porsche claims it will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62.1 mph) in 3.9 seconds and has a maximum speed of 330 km/h (205 mph)[3], although road tests indicated that in reality the car could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds[5] and 0-100 mph in 6.8[5] seconds, while 0-125 mph in 9.9[citation needed]. The Carrera GT has a basic five color paint scheme which includes Guards Red, Fayence Yellow, Basalt Black, GT Silver and Seal Grey. Custom colors were also available from the factory. A traditional six-speed manual transmission is the only available transmission, in contrast to its rival the Enzo Ferrari which is only offered with a computer actuated paddle shifted manual gearbox. Attached to this gearbox is a beechwood gearknob which pays homage to the wooden gearknob used in the Porsche 917 Le Mans racers. In its second year of production, a limited edition carbonfibre knob was also made available. With the Enzo Ferrari priced initially around $660,000, the Carrera GT base price of US$444,400 makes the dream of owning a piece of Le Mans inspired technology somewhat more attainable.
The Carrera GT has large side inlets and air dams that help cool the large V10 framed by the carbon fiber rear hood. Fitted with Porsche's latest brake system, the 15 inch ceramic pad brakes make an impressive appearance underneath the 19 inch front and 20 inch rear wheels. Similar to other Porsche models, such as the 911, the GT includes an automated rear wing spoiler which deploys above 70 mph (110 km/h).
The interior is fitted with soft leather. Bose audio system and navigation systems are available as options. In typical Porsche fashion, the ignition is to the left of the steering wheel. This placement dates back to the early days of Le Mans racing when drivers were required to make a running start, hop into their cars, start them and begin the race. The placement of the ignition enabled the driver to start the car with his left hand and put it in gear with his right.
Technology
The Porsche Carrera GT's carbon-ceramic (silicon carbide) disc brake
Notable technology includes a pure carbon fiber monocoque and subframe, dry sump lubrication and inboard suspension. The carbon fiber monocoque and subframe were produced and assembled by ATR Composites Group of Italy. The Carrera GT radiator is about five times the size of a 911 Turbo's. Unlike some of its rivals, the Carrera GT does not feature dynamic stability control, but it does have traction control. Porsche claims that over 75 technology patents have been filed during the development of the Carrera GT.
Gallery
Porsche Carrera GT Interior - Note placement of the gear selector immediately adjacent to the steering wheel
Porsche Carrera-GT
feature models by 2010
• 911 Turbo Cabriolet: Seen here with very little disguise--just some tape on the front air dam and silver around the headlamps--this is the convertible version of the just-launched Turbo. The current 3.6-liter flat-six turbo coupe is rated 473 horses and 457 pound-feet and is good for a mid-three-second 0-to-60-mph time. The slightly heavier ragtop should take a few tenths longer to get to 60, but should exceed the 996 Turbo Cabrio's 191-mph top speed, a number now rivaled by the bigger Bentley Continental GTC.
• 911 Targa: Porsche long ago gave up on cutting the 911's roof from A- to B-pillar to create the Targa. Like the 996 version, the 997 will have a large glass panel that retains the car's roof rails between the pillars for better structural rigidity .
• 911 GT3 RS: This is the limited-edition homologation of the 2007 GT3 RSR race car, built to meet FIA GT rules. Rumors are the race car and the RS will get the 3.8-liter flat-six, instead of the 3.6-liter engine. The RS is a lightweight car with the Carrera 4's wide rear fenders, a wider rear track, more aggressive wing, and modified front spoiler lip. Weight savings include a carbon-fiber wingtop, lots of composite bodywork, and lightweight glass.
• 911 GT2: The mother of all 911s arrives just in time to put ol' 997 over the top. The 996 version of the GT2 got an 11-percent-horsepower boost over quotidian 911 Turbos via modified turbos and intercooler for more boost. Add 11 percent to the 997 Turbo's 473 horsepower, and you get a Z06-topping 525 horses. Note the rear-fender intercooler inlets. With no sunroof and other weight savings, the new Turbo's 0-to-60-mph time will seem like a walk in the park when this limited-edition car arrives.
• Panamera: It looks like a Cayenne, but it's a mule for the four-seat, four-door Panamera, as both cars share the front-mounted 4.5-liter V-8, rated 340 horsepower naturally aspirated and 520 horses in the Cayenne's new twin-turbo S form. The Panamera also is tipped to share a version of the Cayenne's all-wheel-drive system and its proposed hybrid powertrain. The Panamera will be assembled in Leipzig where the Cayenne is built, and production of the Carrera GT is just ending. The Panamera is expected in 2009 as a 2010 model.
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