KW launches V5 coilovers for Carrera GT
First new tyres improved Porsche's icon; now KW reckons its dampers can make it better still - for a price
Ask the average enthusiast what they’d improve about the Carrera GT and it wouldn’t be much. It’s one of Porsche’s best designs, powered by a V10 with roots in F1, only ever offered with a manual gearbox. Maybe a few more colours would be nice, but as evidence of what could be achieved in perhaps peak supercar era, the CGT stands proud.
Only that era, the start of the 2000s when Pagani and Koenigsegg were establishing themselves alongside the household names, is now 20 years ago. A lot has changed since then; some of it very good, some less so. KW has used two decades of suspension experience to offer new dampers for the Carrera GT, called the V5.
It has previously offered upgrades, the old Clubsport coilover kit using 911 GT3 engineering. Now the V5 borrows innovations from the 992 GT3 R, and that sounds better. Specifically, it means using solid piston technology as opposed to a monotube or twin-tube dampers. The tech is a little beyond our Luddite grasp, but KW says that it results in a more compact and effective damper, one that requires less spring rate as well - which all sound like good things.
For those with a more intimate understanding of dampers, we’ll refer you to KW’s press release: ‘In contrast to other shock absorber designs, there are no overflowed pistons in the KW solid piston technology. The piston is closed and the entire hydraulic or volume column above and below the piston is displaced. This compact design enlarges the hydraulic working and effective range of the vibration damper.’ Make sense?
Perhaps the most valuable trick of this new suspension, though, is the hydraulic lift option that can lift both axles by 45mm at the push of a button. Basically a CGT Dakar with that kind of ride height, and especially handy for those mad/brave enough to use a carbon-clutched supercar around town.
There’s far more to the V5 upgrade than a lift, however - these coilovers ought to make the sublime V10 Porsche even better to drive. KW suggests the advances made in damper tech since the early 2000s are comparable with the gains made in mobile phone tech; a Galaxy S23 Ultra is technically still a phone like a Sony Ericsson K500 was, only capable of far more. “The entire KW V5 coilover design is made for more sensitive damping and fast feedback due to short spring travels”, said KW’s Brand Manager Florian Johann.
Apparently the new suspension delivers a more harmonious drive straight out of the box than standard, with no setup tweaks. It’s adjustable in high- and low-speed compression as well as rebound, though, with recommended settings in the 14 positions for road and track. KW also believes it’s the best of both worlds (as well it might), offering a more relaxed experience when required as well as a more dynamic drive when the time is right. ‘The entire steering becomes more precise, the handling is more direct and the behaviour feels safer’, apparently. It sounds like a pretty spectacular Carrera GT, by all accounts, given the esteem in which it was already held.
The KW V5 kit is available to Carrera GT customers now; on KW’s UK site, it lists at £18,256 including the hydraulic lift element and the VAT, but not fitting. Still, hardly like anything for a CGT is going to come cheap now, right - it’s bonafide million-dollar exotica. Sounds like those who really want to make the most of Porsche’s best know what they need to do. Don’t believe us? Over to Nick Heidfeld…
One was a passenger in a car on a track, that was actually caused by a Ferrari losing control.
Second and third was was Paul Walker (passenger) and driver Roger Rodas, travelling twice the speed limit on city streets with tyres around 9 years old at the time.
Utter death trap, you'd be out of your mind to even consider getting in to one.
One was a passenger in a car on a track, that was actually caused by a Ferrari losing control.
Second and third was was Paul Walker (passenger) and driver Roger Rodas, travelling twice the speed limit on city streets with tyres around 9 years old at the time.
Utter death trap, you'd be out of your mind to even consider getting in to one.
Not sure the F1 is known as being an "utter death trap"
Anyway, these dampers are very interesting.
I've enquired and the kit is around £23,000 installed which is, err.... not a small sum. Suspension lift would be VERY welcome and a softer spring rate would be interesting too as the rears can start to spin even at high speed over undulations and bumps (which can apparently be solved by softening the rear ARB). Above all the OEM dampers leak and cost £3k per corner so when it's time to replace them that then brings this into play...
Although, I do wonder if I'm even handy enough to really feel the handling benefits on a hoon on the road! The OEM setup yields an unbelievably responsive car already.
Anyway, these dampers are very interesting.
I've enquired and the kit is around £23,000 installed which is, err.... not a small sum. Suspension lift would be VERY welcome and a softer spring rate would be interesting too as the rears can start to spin even at high speed over undulations and bumps (which can apparently be solved by softening the rear ARB). Above all the OEM dampers leak and cost £3k per corner so when it's time to replace them that then brings this into play...
Although, I do wonder if I'm even handy enough to really feel the handling benefits on a hoon on the road! The OEM setup yields an unbelievably responsive car already.
If you think how many owners actually bother to drive their car that often and then how many of those will hear about this, and then how many of those would want to move on from original spec or care and I can't imagine you end up with a big number.
So they are not going to sell many, so can't afford to spend of money developing it...
One was a passenger in a car on a track, that was actually caused by a Ferrari losing control.
Second and third was was Paul Walker (passenger) and driver Roger Rodas, travelling twice the speed limit on city streets with tyres around 9 years old at the time.
Utter death trap, you'd be out of your mind to even consider getting in to one.
One was a passenger in a car on a track, that was actually caused by a Ferrari losing control.
Second and third was was Paul Walker (passenger) and driver Roger Rodas, travelling twice the speed limit on city streets with tyres around 9 years old at the time.
Utter death trap, you'd be out of your mind to even consider getting in to one.
Exactly the above, tongue in cheek sentiment.
Celebrity involvement, one unfortunate incident affecting two people, ignore the well known mitigating circumstances of temperature and tyre age, and somehow the car is some kind of widdowmaker.
As much as we push and cry of analogue driving machines, its little wonder that manufacturers are disinterested in providing them, is it.
When you consider how easily fools with money are separated when the likes of some aftermarket 'tuning' companies are involved, a product which has been properly developed and will actually improve the car seems like good value at £23k!
Not sure the F1 is known as being an "utter death trap"
te written on the internet" and "sarcasm" when there are no clues either way. Default case is "read what was written"If you think how many owners actually bother to drive their car that often and then how many of those will hear about this, and then how many of those would want to move on from original spec or care and I can't imagine you end up with a big number.
So they are not going to sell many, so can't afford to spend of money developing it...
I'm sure they're a perfectly adequate replacement for what's already fitted, but as someone else mentioned even at £23K a pop for the size of the market they're hardly likely to have put silly amounts of effort in to a specific application. Most likely they took their latest shiny design, made a version that fits the car, then baselined it against the OEM version and tweaked slightly from there.
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