2005 Porsche Carrera GT

Specifications

Configuration: Longitudinal Mid-Engine

Engine: 5.7 L Naturally Aspirated V10

Horsepower: 603 @ 8,000 RPM

Torque: 435 lb/ft. @ 5750 RPM

Max RPM: 8,400 RPM

Transmission: 6-speed manual

Cooling: water-cooled

Curb Weight: 3043 lbs

The story of Porsche’s Carrera GT starts five years before the first model left the production line in Leipzig, Germany. At the time, Porsche sought to develop a new Le Mans prototype to replace the venerable GT1.

The Carrera GT was first offered for sale in 2004, competing against the Ferrari Enzo, Ford GT, and Mercedes-Benz SLR McLaren, and it more than held its own in what proved to be an incredible year for supercars.

By utilizing a carbon-fiber monocoque and sub-frame, as well as carbon-ceramic brakes, Porsche’s engineers pushed the envelope of what was mechanically possible in order to offer a car that was as light as it was strong. A three-disc carbon-fiber racing clutch was also designed for the car, which measures 7.5 inches in diameter and is about a third the size of a normal clutch. Similar attention to detail has been applied to nearly every facet of the car. The ultra-lightweight forged magnesium wheels have center-locking bolts that are color-coded for each side of the car, ensuring that wrong bolts are never put on the incorrect side.

With 603 hp and 435 foot-pounds of torque, the Carrera GT rockets from 0–60 mph in 3.6 seconds, to a top speed of 205 mph. By the time production ceased, 1,270 examples had been built.

Did you know?
The V10 used in the Carrera GT originally was a race engine designed for the Footwork Formula One team in the early 1990’s. The design was shelved and later reintroduced for Porsche’s Le Mans Prototype, but the engine was never raced due to rule changes