Porsche Carrera GT

Infobox Automobile


name =Porsche Carrera GT
manufacturer =Porsche
production =2004-2006 (1,270 produced)
assembly =
predecessor =Porsche 911 GT1
successor =Porsche GT1
class =Sports car
body_style =2-door roadster
layout =Mid-engine, rear wheel drivecite web |url=http://www.rsportscars.com/eng/cars/carrera_gt.asp |title=RSportsCars: Porsche Carrera GT |accessdate=2007-05-04 |publisher=RSportsCars ]
platform =
engine =5.7 L DOHC V10; 450 kW (612 bhp) @ 8000 rpmcite web |url=http://www.seriouswheels.com/cars/top-2004-Porsche-Carrera-GT.htm |title=Serious Wheels: Porsche Carrera GT |accessdate=2007-05-04 |publisher=Serious Wheels ]
transmission =6-speed manual
wheelbase =
length =auto mm|4623
width =auto mm|1930
height =auto mm|1168
ground_clearance =
front_track =auto mm|1612cite web |url=http://www.supercars.net/cars/2387.html |title=Supercars.net: Porsche Carrera GT |accessdate=2007-05-04 |publisher=Supercars.net ]
rear_track =auto mm|1587
weight =auto kg|1380
top_speed =auto km/h|330
fuel_capacity = Convert|92|L|usgal impgal|1
designer =The Porsche Carrera GT is a mid-engined sports car that was manufactured by Porsche in Leipzig, Germany.

History

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. [ [http://www.sybarites.org/2006/05/11/porsche-announce-the-end-of-carrera-gt-production Porsche Announces The End Of Carrera GT Production] ]

Design

The Carrera GT is powered by a 5.7 litre V10 engine producing 612 DIN (605 SAE) horsepower (450 kW)cite web|title=Porsche Carrera GT - Road Test|publisher="Car and Driver"|url=http://caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/porsche_file/porsche_carrera_gt_road_test|accessdate=2008-02-21] 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)cite web|title=Porsche Carrera GT - Auto Shows|publisher="Car and Driver"|url=http://caranddriver.com/reviews/hot_lists/high_performance/sports_car_central/porsche_carrera_gt_auto_shows|accessdate=2008-02-25] , although road tests indicated that in reality the car could accelerate from 0-60 mph in 3.5 seconds and 0-100 mph in 6.8 seconds, while 0-125 mph in 9.9Fact|date=January 2008.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 , the GT includes an automated rear wing spoiler which deploys above convert|70|mph|km/h|abbr=on.

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

s have been filed during the development of the Carrera GT.

Gallery

References

External links

* [http://www.porsche.com/ Porsche Official Web Site]
* [http://www.sybarites.org/2006/05/11/porsche-announce-the-end-of-carrera-gt-production/ Final Carrera GT Produced]
* [http://www.imcdb.org/vehicles.php?make=Porsche&model=Carrera+GT Porsche Carrera GT in imcdb]
* [http://www.deutschnine.com/porsche-supercars/history-of-the-porsche-carrera-gt.php Carrera GT History by Deutsch Nine]