Monday 24th May 2004

Porsche Carrera GT

Part 5 of 5

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“We signed off the chassis setting in October 2002 ,” Walter told us. “The concept of the Carrera GT is close to that of a racecar, so it is not easy to handle on the limit. A racing tyre is sharp on the limit and the point it recovers from a slide is also sharp. We had to make the car handle a little bit more softly on the limit for customers but without sacrificing too much of the handling .”

“The power sliding is really only in second and third gear bends ,” Walter explained. “At higher speeds in higher gears, you have so much downforce, it is not an issue in the dry. At 300km/h you have 400kg of downforce on the car, 70 percent of that is on the rear axle. The rear wing deploys at 120km/h (75mph). ”

“The parameters we set for the tyres were very critical, so we decided just to work with just one supplier, in this case Michelin ,” Walter continued. “They supplied over 10 prototype tyres before we were happy, but they are absolutely brilliant now ,” he said. “These are quite unique tyres as they have a harder compound on the outer third of the read and wear evenly across the tread, which shows the suspension set up is perfect and even have a good wear rate so you will probably get 10,000km out of a set in normal driving. They even lasted 2,000km in testing at the Nurburgring! ”

When the first customers take delivery next year, they will be getting a car that has been designed and crafted like no other we have ever seen. The amount of development work that has gone into the Carrera GT and the new technologies, some of them pioneering, is an industry first.

Cars are meant to be driven, and while we can respect owners who enter concours and others who put their cars into museums and private collections, it would be a shame if all the work the development team put into making this car drive so well is not experienced on a regular basis.

This is more so the case with the Carrera GT because while we admired the race quality of its component design and the show quality of its execution, it is one of the few cars in recent years that has really excited us. We make no bones about the fact that we came away from the technical day at Weissach back in the spring with a burning desire to drive this car.

Now, after many miles behind the wheel on road and test track, we can attest to the fact that Porsche’s Carrera GT is a rolling showcase of the very best in design, materials and dynamic excellence. In our experience, it is also the best car of this type ever in terms of driving qualities. Far more than just another supercar, the Carrera GT deserves to be used and appreciated for the towering achievement that it is.

Copyright © Ian Kuah 2004

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[madasahatter]

A great looking (and driving car) by the look of it.

A real treat to see Porsche actually do something DIFFERENT, after the disappointment (for me) of the new 911 which looked just like the old one.

BTW - Rule #1 of taking photo's of a car: Don't put a person in it.

[PetrolTed]

I'd agree about the people thing and photos but on the other hand it is also interesting to see faces that belong to the names.

[britten_mark]

Funny, overall it's not an very interesting shape, but the detailing is exquisite...those LED indicators, the braking components etc.
Definitely a sum of parts.

[dinkel]

Does it eat an Enzo?

[bosshog]

I have a very good look around this car the other day. Very very very nice. Smaller than you think aswell, SOoooooooooo much nicer than the b*****d child of merc and McClaren IMO (it was there aswell).

[bikemonster]

"The Carrera GT and Pagani Zonda are unique in this respect."

They're both unique????

[PetrolTed]

Yes. They are.

[danger mouse]

I was wasn't really moved by the looks of this car when I first saw the prototype a couple of years ago at the motorshow.

I looked like an amazing supercar, but without the badge on the boot-lid I wouldn't have immeadietley pegged it as a Porsche, which considering it's symbolism for the company as their "next step", is a shame.

Under the skin the engineering just looks stunning, and I guess it is this element the defines the car and what it does.

If I had one I'd run it with out the panels on so I could see where all my money went.



>> Edited by danger mouse on Monday 24th May 13:36

[domster]

bikemonster said:

"The Carrera GT and Pagani Zonda are unique in this respect." They're both unique????

No, the respect is unique...

'This respect' (the fact they have a 21st Century visage) is singular.

Otherwise it would be these respects.

Grammatically there is nothing wrong with the phrase. Sorry to be a pedant back.



>> Edited by domster on Monday 24th May 14:22

[tony.t]

I think "respect" would have to be plural for this sentance to be correct. The respect can hardly be unique if both the Carrera GT and Paganini Zonda both have it.

[domster]

Hehe, what a sad lot we are discussing this

Technically, the sentence is grammatically correct. But you are right that it is odd for two things to share a 'unique' characteristic. So it is arguably a grammatically correct sentence that doesn't make a lot of sense

I think most people understood what Mr Kuah meant tho'.

[ultimasimon]

I highly enjoyed that snippet of automotive porn. V10's are the new black - it's official; Dodge, Porsche and even Volks Wagon have shown us how. With ultra compact dimensions not much bigger than that of an eight, smoother power and more of it is on the way. B M W have also indicated that the next M5 will be powerered by a V10, and I would not be at all suprised if Audi has one up its sleeve.

Sadly my current car fund will not stretch to the heavy necessity of a half million euros. Fortunately there was enough information in the extremely well presented report to allow me an accurate insight of what life with the Carrera GT would be like, which for the time being, will have to do.

The Enzo may well have been the icon of the new millenium but is not available as a soft top - watch out, the 'ultimate hairdresser's car' has arrived.

[chris_n]

Did I hear right at the end of last night's Top Gear that they are testing the Carrera GT next week?

Surely it will beat the McLaren Merc as the fastest car so far around their track?!

Can't wait!!!

[dinkel]

I guess 1:15 . . . anyone for the poll?

[GuyR]

Read Top Gear magazine, all the details are already in it.

[chrisj]

ultimasimon said:

powerered by a V10, and I would not be at all suprised if Audi has one up its sleeve.

Lambo Gallordo?
And that Nuvolari concept thing?

For the record, I think the Carrera GT is stunning, different, desireable, unobtainable.

[ultimasimon]

chrisj said:

ultimasimon said: powerered by a V10, and I would not be at all suprised if Audi has one up its sleeve. Lambo Gallardo? And that Nuvolari concept thing? For the record, I think the Carrera GT is stunning, different, desireable, unobtainable.

Yes I forgot that one though as by badge it is a different car.

[racketman]

lovely car! funny how almost everyone who has tested it has said that the clutch is a bit of a nightmare and how easy it is to stall it,but here its praised?
oh well,its not like i would ever be in the position to find out anyway!!

[BiscuitMonster]

Awesome! Saw this car at the Dubai Motorshow, it is phenomenal. Couldn't take a very close look though, it was even better guarded than the Enzo

[scoobybloke]

They do a review of the CGT v the Enzo in Car Magazine this month (and the McL Merc SLR) - they rate the Enzo over the CGT (Merc 3rd). Good read. Also a good article with Walter Rohrl doing a lap of the Ring in a GT3

Pic from Goodwood last year - I want both of these in my fantasy garage



Chris