What Is It?
2004 Porsche Carrera GT
What's Special About It?
The numbers speak for themselves: 10 cylinders, 612 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, 0-to-60 in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. Although these numbers sound like the specs of a Le Mans racecar, the Carrera GT is a production street car that wraps all of Porsche's most advanced engine and chassis technology into one vehicle. The body is a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque that offers the best strength-to-weight of any material currently available, according to Porsche. This translated into a car that's stiff enough to withstand the rigors of high-speed driving while weighing in at just 3,042 pounds. Because of its high-speed capability, aerodynamics was a key aspect of its roofless design. Like most racecars, this Carrera uses specific underbody geometry along with a rear diffuser to create a suction effect for high levels of downforce at speed. More racing technology comes in the form of its ceramic brake rotors and ceramic composite clutch plate. The Carrera GT will come standard with a set of 20-inch lightweight magnesium wheels wrapped in tires developed specifically for the GT. As you might expect, only a limited number will go on sale to the public and they're already all spoken for. Those lucky customers who already have their orders in are expected to get delivery in late 2003.
Why Should You Care?
Not since the legendary 959 has a Porsche so exemplified the idea of a supercar for the street. Porsche's foray into the realm of the SUV may have caused many a Porschephile to call into question the company's current leadership, but the introduction of the Carrera GT should be more than enough to bring them all back into the fray.
2004 Porsche Carrera GT
What's Special About It?
The numbers speak for themselves: 10 cylinders, 612 horsepower at 8,000 rpm, 0-to-60 in 3.9 seconds and a top speed of 205 mph. Although these numbers sound like the specs of a Le Mans racecar, the Carrera GT is a production street car that wraps all of Porsche's most advanced engine and chassis technology into one vehicle. The body is a carbon-fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) monocoque that offers the best strength-to-weight of any material currently available, according to Porsche. This translated into a car that's stiff enough to withstand the rigors of high-speed driving while weighing in at just 3,042 pounds. Because of its high-speed capability, aerodynamics was a key aspect of its roofless design. Like most racecars, this Carrera uses specific underbody geometry along with a rear diffuser to create a suction effect for high levels of downforce at speed. More racing technology comes in the form of its ceramic brake rotors and ceramic composite clutch plate. The Carrera GT will come standard with a set of 20-inch lightweight magnesium wheels wrapped in tires developed specifically for the GT. As you might expect, only a limited number will go on sale to the public and they're already all spoken for. Those lucky customers who already have their orders in are expected to get delivery in late 2003.
Why Should You Care?
Not since the legendary 959 has a Porsche so exemplified the idea of a supercar for the street. Porsche's foray into the realm of the SUV may have caused many a Porschephile to call into question the company's current leadership, but the introduction of the Carrera GT should be more than enough to bring them all back into the fray.
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