Porsche Carrera GT

September 2000, a strange concept car slowly descends the Champs-Elysées. The car heads towards the Caroussel du Louvre where it is awaited by a hundred journalists invited by the manufacturer. Porsche had promised a surprise, but no one expected such a revelation and the Carrera GT taped more than one. It will take more than two years to see the Carrera GT go from living room carpet to asphalt.

Starting point for the Carrera GT project, a dry sump lubricated competition V10. At the end of the 1990s, Porsche was looking for a successor to the 996 GT1 racing car (which was also produced in a civilian version in 25 units). But a change in the regulations brought the project to a halt. The idea of using this block designed for competition in a top-level road car gradually made its way. All that remains is to develop all the technology that goes with it. Porsche therefore designed an open monocoque chassis made of carbon fibre and composite plastic (CFP). The engine is connected to this structure thanks to a «false» carbon chassis. A cradle that is ultimately ultra rigid and extremely light.

The appearance of the second cradle allows Porsche to abandon the carrier engine that was in the concept. The inconveniences of such an assembly being too important for a car intended for customers. The first concept therefore featured the famous 5.5-litre V10 engine with a 68° opening. Its power was then 558 hp. On the final version it was increased to 612hp. It is coupled to a manual transmission with a ceramic clutch. This technique reduces weight and lowers the car’s centre of gravity.

Both the Carrera GT and the Ferrari Enzo were at the origin of the revival of supercars. These cars have ushered in a new sporting era by offering spectacular performance. The Carrera GT achieves 0-100km/h in 3″9, reaches 200km/h in less than 10 seconds and passes the 330km/h mark. To achieve such results Porsche has worked hard to achieve a light car (1380Kg) and the lowest possible centre of gravity.

The Carrera GT will be produced in 1,270 units, half of them in American specs.