Porsche Carrera GT: Analog, Widowmaker Supercar With Race Car Techs
Image Above By Axion23 - Porsche Carrera GT, CC BY 2.0, Source
Some supercars require a training program on how everything operates in order for drivers to understand the car's behaviour. That is true for a Porsche Carrera GT, but it went too far as being a dangerous supercar to drive. Launched on 31 January 2004 in the US, Porsche initially plan to build 1500 of them.
But the changes made to the airbag regulations in the US caused Porsche to build a lower number than claimed. As a result, the production needs to stop in 2006, on 6 May. About 1270 units of Carrera GT have been built. 644 Carrera GTs went to the US, 31 in Canada and 49 units sold in the UK.
Let's have a read about Porsche's last analogue supercar from the mid-2000s.
1. Engine & Gearbox
By Brian Snelson from Hockley, Essex, England - Porsche Carrera GT, CC BY 2.0, Source
This rear mid-engine supercar is powered by a 5.7-litre V10. That engine makes 603 hp and 590 Nm (435 lb-ft) of torque. It is mated with a six-speed manual rather than the automated manual gearbox for most other supercars from that era.
That racing-derived engine has its own story worth mentioning. First, this engine was built in 1992 for the Footwork F1 team. Sadly, it did not happen; the engine was sitting somewhere and doing nothing. In the late 90s, this 5.5-litre V10 was used in a Le Mans prototype car. Unfortunately, they stopped with the prototype car after conducting two tests.
By Prayitno / Thank you for (12 millions +) view from Los Angeles, USA - Porsche Carrera GT, CC BY 2.0, Source
At that time, Porsche wants to focus on a new SUV project, the Cayenne. In 2000, the Porsche Carrera GT concept car appeared at the Paris Motor Show with the same 5.5-litre engine. The Cayenne sales were successful and Porsche received 500 orders for the concept car. As a result, the Carrera GT concept car was made into production. The production version has an upgraded 5.7-litre engine size.
2. Performance
The Carrera GT can do 0-60 mph in 3.4 seconds (0-100 km/h in 3.6 seconds) with a top speed of 208 mph (334 km/h). For a quarter-mile run, this car can be done in 11.6 seconds.
3. Interior
The first important feature of the interior is its bucket seats. The seats are made of carbon kevlar that weighs around 10 kg (23 lb) each. Interestingly, the cushion of the seat base is changeable with another cushion that has a different thickness. It may be because both seats cannot adjust their height.
The next important feature is its birchwood gear shift knob placed really near the steering wheel. That pays a tribute to Porsche 917 race car. Later production models were offered a carbon fibre shift knob. Another tribute is the key placement to start the engine based on the Le Mans race.
It is placed to the left of the steering wheel. So when the race starts, the racing driver runs to the car and starts the engine with their left hand. At the same time, their right hand put the car in first gear and start racing as fast as possible.
Meanwhile, the handbrake position is in between the driver's seat and the door sill. The door and roof panels have exposed carbon fibre on them. The carbon fibre also can be seen on both door sills together with Carrera GT lettering on it. There are some interior parts borrowed from Porsche 911 (996) and Boxster (986) from that era.
By Ben - Carrera GT white, CC BY-SA 2.0, Source
There are the steering wheel, both turn signal and wiper stocks and the metre cluster. The car comes standard with a CD player. Besides, this car has 18 radio presets, a navigation system and BOSE speakers. Every Carrera GT owner will get a set of bags that can be placed in several spots throughout the car. Firstly, a briefcase that has no specific placement to put it.
Second, a bag to keep a suit is placed behind the front seats. Third, a small luggage bag can be put in a compartment between the passenger seat and the door sill. The fourth luggage bag can be clipped below the floating centre part of the dashboard. There are also two secret storages which are inside both door jambs consisting of one pouch bag each. Finally, the largest luggage bag is inside the front boot.
In terms of interior colours, there are three standard colours available. 'Dark Grey' which really is black, 'Terracotta' which is a reddish tan and 'Ascot Brown'.
4. Safety
The Carrera GT has several safety features if those of you think that this car has nothing. This car only has ABS and traction control (Source: Supercars.net). There is a button on the centre console next to the steering wheel to turn off the traction control (Source: YouTube, Doug DeMuro, Here's Why the Porsche Carrera GT Is My Favorite Car Ever Made).
Other than that, two front and side airbags, seatbelt pre-tensioners and a security system are also available with this car. The security system is for disallowing the engine to start if the inserted key is not corresponding to the car.
5. Exterior
This car unmistakably has a supercar presence. It's a low, wide supercar with beautiful body curves and a clean, functional design. The headlights also a throwback to the Porsche 917 that has two light bulbs on each side. The wheels are made from magnesium with centre locks.
The red centre locks are on the left side and blue on the right side. 19-inch front wheels and 20-inch at the rear are made from forged magnesium wrapped with exclusive Michelin tyres. 235/35/19 for front tyres and 335/30/20 for the rear. The brakes are ventilated carbon ceramic known as Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes (PCCB). Six-piston brake callipers are applied to all brakes.
Porsche also makes the side mirrors look beautiful with V-shaped support. As if a human hand was holding the mirrors. The twin exhaust pipes also have a beautiful jet exhaust look. The spoiler is adjustable, either by using a button on the centre console or based on the car's speed (Source: YouTube, Doug DeMuro, Here's Why the Porsche Carrera GT Is My Favorite Car Ever Made). The rear diffuser is made from carbon fibre.
The Carrera GT is not only a supercar but also an open-top supercar. The roof is divided into two parts that weigh 2 kg each.
The passenger-side roof is placed over the driver-side roof in the middle where both roofs meet. To open it, the passenger seat must first move forward since the latch is behind the headrest. Once unlatched, the roof can be removed and placed upside down into the front boot.
Secure the roof by placing its strap labelled '1' provided in the boot horizontally. Do the same process for the driver's side roof. However, this roof is placed naturally on top of the inverted roof pair. Ensure the strap labelled '2' is secure on it and the process is done. The front boot is covered with a diamond-stitched soft material. It is so that the roofs will not be damaged when in place.
As for the exterior colour, five standard different colours are available. There are 'GT Silver', 'Seal Grey', 'Basalt Black', 'Guards Red' and 'Fayence Yellow'.
By Ben - Porsche Carrera GT, CC BY-SA 2.0, Source
Silver is the most famous colour for Carrera GT followed by grey. Only eight Carrera GTs are painted in red.
Customers can also request any custom colours for their car, known as 'Paint To Sample (PTS)' (Source: YouTube, Doug DeMuro, Here's Why the Porsche Carrera GT Is My Favorite Car Ever Made). Only 40 units came with PTS colours (Source: YouTube, DK Engineering TV, Porsche Carrera GT User's Guide).
6. Mechanicals
The Carrera GT is rich with many racing technologies. It is common to see in Ferrari models, but not in a Porsche road car. The chassis and the subframe are made of carbon fibre which makes this car more lightweight. The front and rear suspensions are double-wishbone axle pushrods inspired by the 911 GT1 race car. That race car won Le Mans in 1998. The majority of suspension components are made from aluminium.
The clutch is a racing-derived twin-plate ceramic clutch. Therefore, practising operating the clutch is important since it is not easy to manage. The benefit is this clutch is lighter and more durable than the normal clutch.
Not only that, the engine is equipped with a dry-sump system (Source: YouTube, AutoTopNL, PORSCHE CARRERA GT | REVIEW on AUTOBAHN [NO SPEED LIMIT] by AutoTopNL). Overall, this rear-wheel drive supercar weighs 1380 kg (3042 lb.) (Source: Supercars.net). Lastly, the Carrera GT is only available as a left-hand drive car.
7. Dimensions
• Length: 4613 mm (181.6 inches).
• Wheelbase: 2730 mm (107.5 inches).
• Height: 1166 mm (45.9 inches).
• Width: 1921 mm (75.6 inches).
8. Price
Based on Supercars.net, the Carrera GT was priced at 440,000 USD / £363,572 / MYR1,972,520 when it was new in the US. 19 years later now, the market price of the Carrera GT is worth more than twice its original price. The Carrera GT is the last of its kind with safety feature compromisation and no electrification while being lightweight. These reasons contribute to a pure driving experience that is tricky to drive.
From March 2022 till March 2023, the average asking price for 16 Carrera GTs is 1.4 million USD / £1,156,820 / MYR6,276,200. You can check out the latest market price of this car at Classics.com. Within that duration, the cheapest Carrera GT sold just over 1 million USD / £822,590 / MYR4,471,500. On the other hand, 2 million USD / £1,645,180 / MYR8,943,000 is the most expensive Carrera GT ever sold.
9. Maintenance & Care
The main issue that is not related to the maintenance is of course its driving experience. Enormous power, stability control absence and the rear-mid engine setup make it easy to switch direction. And easy to lose control. It is not the same as more modern supercars that are too easy to drive assisted by electronics. According to Hotcars, clutch packs that are easy to break, oil and coolant pipe leaks, ignition switch and transmission problems are the issues with the Carrera GT.
10. Efficiency
If efficiency is your concern, Carrera GT's combined fuel consumption is 16 US mpg (19 UK mpg / 14.7 L/100 km).
Porsche will never make this iconic supercar again because of the stricter regulations and electrification. Those movements also cause enthusiasts to look back at the Carrera GT. It is one of the last proper driver's cars loaded with racing technologies.
