Unofficially, the Porsche Carrera GT is a racecar, a racecar
built for the street. What makes it a racecar is not
necessarily the huge power produced by its V10 engine
or the carbon fiber construction that keeps everything very
lightweight although these features surely make it a fast
car. Its more the sum of its parts that make this car worth
every bit of its $440,000 price tag.
The Porsche Carrera GT was introduced as a 2004 model
and until 2005 there were already a few changes in order
to make the Carrera GT the new Porsche super car. These were
minor updates in order to make it a little more street friendly.
Between the supplemental bar hoops is now mounted a glass
screen. The seats height is adjusted along with the additional
bolstering in the thigh area. The Carrera GT is easy recognizable,
as its a low, sleek, lightweight roadster, very beautiful on the
outside as it is on the inside. Two removable panels that can
be stored in the front trunk make the foul weather protection
available.
The car has unique features, among which are: 5.7 liter, 605
horsepower V10 engine, monocoque chassis with
Porsche-patented engine and transmission mounts made of
carbon-reinforced plastic and the first use of a ceramic
composite clutch in a production car. A very important aspect
is that The Carrera is safe and stable at speeds up to 205 mph,
thanks to its aerodynamic and race-bred suspension package.
The design of the suspension is so sophisticated that the
shape of its components improves the Carrera GT`s aerodynamics.
The designers used lightweight materials such as magnesium
for the cars substantial wheels and the frames of its special sport
seats, the result being a faster and safer car. To prove so, The
Carrera GT accelerates from a standing start to 62 mph (100km/h)
in only 3.9 seconds reaches 100 mph (160 km/h) in less than seven
seconds, 125 mph (200 km/h) in less than 10 seconds, and can
achieve a top test-track speed of 205 mph (330 km/h).
What makes this car have these impressive results is its 5.5
liter, normally aspirated V10 engine for racing created in the
development center in Weissach, Germany. That engines bores
have been enlarged to displace 5.7 liters in the Carrera GT. It has
a very low center of gravity, a 68-degree V angle and four
valves-per-cylinder heads. Since the block, crankshaft and
camshafts are all made of light alloys, the engine weights
only 472 pounds (214 kg).
To stop this monster Porsche`s team used a high-tech
braking system. Developed for demanding motorsports
applications, ceramic brakes are the first to work for on-road use.
The massive 15 inch ventilated discs and six-piston calipers have
the amazing capacity of bringing the car to a sure and safe stop,
matched only by the stunning acceleration of Carrera GT.
Porsche Carrera GT is definitely a exotic appearance, a
car that can do it all: fascinate you with its good looks, astound
you with its performance and abilities on the race track.
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Tags: 2005 Porsche Carrera, Car Worth, Carbon Fiber Construction, Carrera Gt, Foul Weather Protection, Glass Screen, Lightweight Materials, Minor Updates, Porsche Carrera Gt, Price Tag, Production Car, Racecar, Safer Car, Seven Seconds, Sport Seats, Suspension Package, Test Track, Thigh Area, Track Speed, Transmission Mounts