oh so silly.....
well... perhaps not, here is why...
First, I admit it, you have to be a car nut and speed demon to appreciate all this, but let's face it, Porsche gives you more than Ferrari, and certainly a lot more than Lamborghini, De Tomaso, Viper, Jaguar, Mercedes, Lotus, Maserati and whatever other exotic cars may be out there for a fraction of their prices...
Whoever said that the Ferrari 360 Módena is pure sex on wheels... well, hmmm I suppose beauty is in the eyes of the beholder... (as far as Ferrari goes, I like the F-50 far better)... and the Porsche GT2's suspension and brakes I venture to say that they are far better than the F-50's... which brings me to the Carrera GT's entire technological package as being superior to anything out there... for one, The McLaren F1 is a few years older now, introduced in 1993 only 100 were made, at a price of around one million USD... driver's seat in a center position with two rear off center seats... hmmm well, it is still the fastest of them all, its BMW engine makes 0-60 in 3.1 seconds. The 911 GT2 makes it in 3.7... and rats.... the Carrera GT makes it in 3.8 according to Porsche (but they are conservative.) R&T (in the May issue, not on line yet) they seem to have tested the Carrera GT, I suspect that the Carrera GT might be able to make it in 3.5 and even challenge the McLaren F1's record of 3.1, but do not know for sure.
The [F-40] and F-50 were based on Ferrari's F-1 machine and only 349 were made of the F-50's. Luca di Montezemolo, (that's Ferrari's racing Capo), said that a car like that would not be made again because of tougher emission rules... well, the Carrera GT throws that out the window....
One thing I will admit Ferrari is better at... Their engine's music is far more distinguished than Porsche's lower tenor rumbling turbos, but once again, the Carrera GT gets closer to a Ferrari opera, their 10 cylinder power plant is normally aspirated so the pitch is substantially higher than its turbo brothers, still, not quite the soprano of the red beauties.
...oh wait, there is also the Ferrari Enzo (at $652,000 and 660 HP)... so the Carrera GT at the MSRP of $450,000... does not sound too much out of line, as to what the "market will bear" hmmmm just take a look at EBAY and its cousins AMZN, YHOO etc...
I am sure, you would be great at shorting exotic automobiles, too bad there is no market for such thing... -gg
Anyway... enjoy the videos and pictures...
The Introduction (cannot download that into your hard drive though. Click on "model introduction" for slide show)
www3.us.porsche.com
A lap at the Weissach test track: (check out also the director's cut of the same which can be down loaded to your hard drive) 4 camera views and 2 sound tracks (engine and exhaust)
www3.us.porsche.com
This has a very brief video-history of Porsche at Le Mans, great pictures (in motion) of the old pre-war era monsters on 4 wheel drifts, you know, those incredibly heavy dinosaurs with skinny tall tires and gigantic steering wheels that the old masters like Caracciola. Neubauer, von Brauchitsch, Farina, Varzi, Rosemayer, Villoresi, and of course the greatest of them all, Tazio Nuvolari, used to dominate so elegantly and with great skill... and yes, a preview of the Carrera GT. ]
www3.us.porsche.com
On a "standard" mode (yes, there are ways to make it even more powerful), it has 612 HP, I can barely imagine it. As a humble member of the proletariat, I only have 462 HP -gg --so I am short a whooping 150 HP and 40 Kg. heavier... hmmm makes me wonder if I should trade it... [better not have those thoughts]
612 HP, that's 99 more than the Ferrari F50, yes, 15HP less than the McLaren F1 (but at about a 40% discount in its price -g) 152 more than the Viper (The GT2 has 462, btw), 12 more than the Mercedes CLK-GTR
more specs...
www3.us.porsche.com
Mid-engine 10 cylinder motor (normally aspirated, i.e. NOT turbo) Ceramic composite brakes AND Clutch
In short... Excellence in engineering and pure beauty in motion.
A 4 page extract (with pictures) of an article in Christophoros (The Porsche Magazine)
www2.us.porsche.com
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Porsche's Philosophy:
The Carrera GT was originally conceived at the 24 Hours of Le Mans. As Porsche secured its sixteenth outright victory in June 1998, the idea was proposed of a road-going sports car based exclusively on racing technology. Two years later, in the autumn of 2000, that concept began to take shape.
As a pure encapsulation of Porsche engineering, the Carrera GT is a natural evolution based on more than 23,000 race victories. A road-going supercar built for uncompromising performance and unlimited driving pleasure.
That pleasure begins as you unlock the door with a squeeze of the key remote. Step inside and you'll find an elegant composition of interior materials, including carbon fiber, leather and magnesium. Turn the key and the powerful V10 eagerly springs into life. The vigorous acoustics are an exhilarating prelude to what is an unforgettable driving experience. Blip the throttle, and the engine resonates with the rush of incoming air. The resulting sound is straight from the racetrack, only this time you can drive it on the road.
Power is delivered with explosive prowess, yielding equal measures of agility and precision with effortless energy and control. Acceleration through corners is accomplished with ease and barely a trace of body roll. The lightweight chassis combines with a low center of gravity and balanced weight distribution to achieve unprecedented cornering speeds.
With such uncompromising performance, the Carrera GT is a genuine racing machine. With its cultured refinement and all-round versatility, it's a truly powerful presence on the road.
www3.us.porsche.com
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What's next ? How about a Super Hornet F-18 ? Take a peek, one of R&T lucky dogs got a ride in one of them, here is their "test" -gg
roadandtrack.com |
