Seeing the Carrera GT out in the open and moving is sheer delight. The car looks simply stunning. Red is good, black is sexy, but the silver of the original show car better suits its high-tech image and shows off the black air scoops, ducts and carbon-fibre components to best effect.
In hard sunlight, the Carrera GT looks like something straight from Buck Rogers. It is long, low and wide, like a sports prototype racecar. But beyond that basic mid-engined layout, the Carrera GT owes nothing to any racecar in its unique looks. You could say there are bits of Can-Am Porsche 917 here and there, but it has a strongly defined 21st Century visage that at once distances it from any 20th Century supercar like the Lamborghini Diablo or Ferrari F40. The Carrera GT and Pagani Zonda are unique in this respect.
As the dying embers of the day’s last light played on the compound curves of its surfaces, it took on a new life like a liquid metal sculpture. The soft glowing light showed up just how perfect the Carrera GTs painted carbon-fibre panels are. The effect is gorgeous and simply breathtaking. The angels are truly in the details.
We think the Carrera GT looks far better with its roof off, but if the weather plays foul, the two solid roof panels quickly refit to create a snug environment. Conversely, taking them off is easy and they fit neatly into the padded and well-finished front compartment. Porsche offer a set of tailored luggage that fits behind the seats and in the space beside the passenger seat. There is even a small compartment in the rear of the doors for a small telescoping umbrella.
The cabin is no less impressive. Using lightweight magnesium for components like the dashboard structure and centre console pressings, it is designed to look and feel ultra modern in a minimalist sort of way, and there is even a satellite-navigation system built into the dashboard at the top of the centre console. The race-style seats hold you securely and of course Porsche will tailor the padding to suit an individual client.
When you pay nearly 500,000 Euros for a car, you expect bespoke components right down to the last switch and button, and that is the case here. We searched hard to find bits from other cars in the Carrera GT and came up with just five. The steering wheel and its crash-absorbing column are from the 911 Turbo, the glovebox lock and front bonnet latch are 911 and the plastic fuel filler cap is a generic mass produced item. Too bad Porsche did not make a bespoke alloy cap like Aston Martin and Ferrari do.
Some supercars are cramped, but Porsche has the very tall Walter Rohrl as its chief test driver, so anyone up to six foot six should be okay. Between the telescoping steering column and a huge range of fore and aft seat movement, we easily found our perfect driving position.
The gearlever is mounted higher than most people are used to, but any race driver will tell you that having the lever closer to the steering wheel is good news when you are driving fast. The wooden topped gearknob raised a few eyebrows. It is a historical reference to the Porsche 917 Le mans racecar, which had a wooden knob to save weight. Any customer who does not like it can have a knob made from another material.
In Porsche tradition, the ignition key is to the outside of the steering column, and the key itself is unique, and the ‘GT’ script on its surface even lights up when you press the door open or lock button!