Porsche Carrera GT

Tuesday 26 May 2009

History:

One of the most extreme road cars ever made, the Carrera GT is based around a V10 engine originally developed to race at Le Mans. Performance is towering and the driving dynamics are similarly brilliant – although some feel that the slightly soft styling lacks the sort of aggression you would expect in a $440,000 hypercar. The car was originally shown as a concept at the 2000 Paris show and the road-going version broke cover early in 2003. Build will finish by late 2006, with just over half total production set to go to the USA.

Engineering:

The Carrera’s magnificent 5.7 litre 40-valve V10 was originally intended to power a Le Mans racer, but Porsche pulled the project in late ‘99 to concentrate engineering resources on the Cayenne off-roader. In it’s stead the company came up with the idea of a limited production supercar based around the engine and a similar carbonfibre ‘tub’ chassis, to take on the McLaren SLR and Ferrari Enzo. The engine features extremely advanced materials and, other than the fitting of belt-driven rather than gear driven cams and a slight downtuning (618 bhp at 8000 rpm rather than 680 bhp at 10,000 rpm) it’s the original racing unit. Power is directed to the rear wheels only by a six-speed manual gearbox (an ‘F1’ style system was considered and rejected as too complicated). Braking performance is assured by massively expensive carbonfibre composite brake discs on all four corners.

Design:

The Carrera’s design is instantly recognisable as a Porsche, although some claim that the organic, flowing lines lack the visual aggression of something like the Ferrari Enzo. Under its sleekly sculpted surface there is no doubting the Carrera’s cleverness, though. Carbonfibre construction has been used for both the bodywork and the chassis ‘tub’ (to which the engine is bolted directly via another carbonfibre ‘yolk’.) This gives massive strength for the minimum of weight, although Porsche has had to go to the trouble of engineering new paints capable of bonding to the material. Aerodynamic performance is assured, thanks to a pop-up rear wing that deploys at speeds of above 100 km/h and a sculpted undertray incorporating a diffuser element.

Handling:

With what is effectively race-car suspension, the Carrera GT’s on-track handling behaviour is composed, grippy and rewarding. The better news for its lucky owners is that on-road refinement has not been sacrificed too badly. The long wheelbase and wide track help to give a comfortable ride, and the pushrod-operated springs and dampers are capable of defusing most bumps and bangs at the point of impact. At higher speeds handling response is outstanding thanks to perfectly geared steering and the vast grip generated by the tyres and suspension. Advanced traction control comes as standard and helps the car to extract maximum grip on every corner. Turning it off is reserved for either the very brave or the very stupid. Even the project’s chief test driver, rallying mega-star Walter Rohrl, reckons that he is faster with it turned on.

Performance:

The Carrera GT’s figures are simply breathtaking. Indeed only one supercar has certainly gone quicker – the McLaren F1. Yet the Carrera’s figures are close to its 1994 rival (which was not built to comply with modern crash impact tests, as the Porsche has been) across the board. The dash to 62.5 mph from rest takes just 3.7 seconds, 100 mph come up in 7.2 seconds and 124.5 mph arrives in an astonishing 9.9 seconds. Meaning that in the time it takes a modern ‘warm’ hatch to reach 60 mph, the Carrera can have got to twice that speed. Stopping distances are similarly impressive thanks to the effectiveness of the carbon composite brake discs, meaning the Carrera can travel from 0-100mph and then back to rest in just 300 metres.

Practicality:

On one level the Carrera is among the more practical of its ultimate supercar rivals. The cabin offers decent seating space, reasonable headroom and an adjustable, comfortable seating position. The dashboard layout is clear and – by the standards of the class – visibility from the cockpit is excellent. Yet there is no meaningful provision for luggage, especially as the two lift-off roof sections occupy what little there is in the front. Meaning that, however rich you are, any attempt to use the Carrera for touring will require you to send bags on separately. They may well be some distance behind. Both stereo and air conditioning are a no-cost option, and some buyers will leave them off to make a slight weight saving.

Ultimate supercar rating:

It’s impossible not to be seriously impressed by the Carrera GT, one of the fastest land-based objects on the planet. It’s a car that demands serious respect, not least because (even on road-tyres) if you took it to a GT race meeting it would be instantly competitive. What it maybe lacks, though, is the sort of emotional appeal of a car like the Ferrari Enzo. And with 1500 set to be produced, the Carrera is not going to be particularly exclusive by supercar standards, either. A great car, only not quite the best.