Press Release
Porsche Carrera GT ??????????????????????????????????????? Highlights
Thoroughbred ten-cylinder racing engine
The ten-cylinder power unit with dry sump lubrication behind the cockpit of the Carrera GT is based on a 5.5-litre V10 normal-aspiration engine which might well have been raced in the 24 Hours of Le Mans, given its qualities as a genuine racing machine. Engine capacity has been increased to 5.7 litres for the production car, enabling the power unit of the Carrera GT, with its tremendous performance, to meet all requirements for circuit racing and at the same time providing all the qualities required in everyday motoring. Indeed, the Carrera GT clearly proves its status as a supersports for the road through its performance data alone: Maximum output is 450 kW (612) at 8000 rpm, maximum torque 590 Newton-metres (435 lb-ft) at 5750 rpm. Top speed, in turn, is 330 km/h or 205 mph, the Carrera GT entering new dimensions through its acceleration from 0 ??????????????????????????????????????? 100 km/h in just 3.9 seconds, and 0 ??????????????????????????????????????? 200 km/h in a staggering 9.9 seconds.
The optimised V-angle of the cylinders of 680, in conjunction with the crankshaft fitted very low down, helps to give the engine the very low centre of gravity required on a car of this calibre. Another reason for this narrow cylinder angle was to provide sufficient space for the aerodynamic improvements required. Porsche has opted for the ten-cylinder concept with 570 cubic centimetres per cylinder since this offers optimum conditions for the cylinder charge cycle. Four valves per cylinder and aerodynamically designed intake ducts ensure a perfect cylinder charge and optimum efficiency. Built at Porsche's engine plant in Stuttgart-Zuffenhausen, the ten-cylinder, through its configuration as a load-bearing component in the car, has an extremely stiff engine block and housing, with the advantage of the cylinder bores remaining absolutely stable and almost entirely free of any distortion.
Ideal for the race track and optimised for the road
The ten-cylinder power unit makes a significant contribution to the ideal weight of the Carrera GT. Weighing only 214 kilos or 472 lb, the engine is made exclusively of light alloy combining supreme strength with equally outstanding temperature resistance. This applies both to the crankcase itself and to the cylinder heads, the crankshaft, with its stroke of 67 millimetres or 2.99" and cylinder bore of 98 millimetres or 3.86", providing overall engine capacity of 5733 cubic centimetres. The forged crankshaft built for minimum mass inertia offers maximum torsional stiffness. The pistons themselves are connected to the crankshaft by titanium conrods combining superior strength with low weight for outstanding refinement and a long, dependable service life at engine speeds of over 8000 rpm.
A six-speed manual gearbox developed especially for the Carrera GT and fitted transversely at the rear of the car conveys the enormous power of the engine smoothly and consistentlyto the road.
Innovative six-speed manual gearbox
A six-speed manual gearbox developed especially for the Carrera GT and fitted transversely at the rear of the car conveys the enormous power of the engine smoothly and consistently to the road. Compact in design and with the lowest possible centre of gravity, the gearbox contributes to the car's optimum weight distribution. Due to the need to use a clutch as compact as possible for racing requirements, the Carrera GT does not come with a two-mass flywheel ??????????????????????????????????????? but the function of such a flywheel is provided nevertheless by the special design of the input shafts: The first main shaft is hollow, with a long and thin full shaft running inside as a spring rod. Together with the mass weight of the angle drive the two shafts acting as a torsion spring serve to absorb possible jolts coming from the engine, reducing transmission noise in the process. On the Carrera GT Porsche uses ball-bearing Flexball shift cables for the first time on the outer transmission section, thus introducing yet another worldwide innovation in automotive technology. Contrary to conventional shaft cables with a wound steel core, Flexball cables are made of a flat stainless-steel band resting in bore bearings at each end. This allows the transmission of movements even over larger distances without any frictional losses worth mentioning, providing a very high efficiency rating of 96 percent.
Cutting the ceramic clutch disk with a water jet at 3,000 bar pressure
Another world-first achievement: the ceramic clutch
The Carrera GT is the first car in the world to feature a ceramic clutch, to be precise the PCCC Porsche Ceramic Composite Clutch. A particular feature of this worldwide innovation is the small clutch plate measuring just 169 millimetres or 6.56" in diameter and giving the entire drive unit a very low centre of gravity. Another decisive advantage is the low mass weight of the clutch with its positive effect on the engine's dynamic qualities. Previously only a carbon-fibre clutch was able to offer these qualities required in motorsport. But having a much shorter service life, such a clutch would not have met the demands made of the Carrera GT in terms of everyday driving dependability. The PCCC Porsche Ceramic Composite Clutch exceeding even the service life of conventional clutch plates is an all-new construction in every respect. Developing this new technology, Porsche's engineers have benefitted from their excellent experience with PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes, at the same time continuing the development of this material, making it suitable for a two-plate dry clutch with a long running life.
Push-rod front suspension element at the monocoque bodyshell
The suspension ??????????????????????????????????????? dynamic and comfortable all in one
The chassis and suspension of the Carrera GT has already proven its qualities under the toughest conditions, being carried over from the Porsche 911 GT1, the winner of the 1998 24 Hours of Le Mans. Experience gained in this and other races regarding the particular requirements made of a composite carbon-fibre chassis has gone into the Carrera GT in all details and with all its features. The fine response and optimum transmission of forces to the chassis of the Carrera GT are ensured by the double-wishbone pushrod axles front and rear. Contrary to the McPherson spring struts commonly used on other Porsche sports cars, pushrods have separate guide sleeves and springs, pursuing a design principle providing sensitive response and perfect spring balance at both low and high speeds. The high standard of driving dynamics, finally, is also supported by the agile power steering.Ceramic brakes for supreme stopping power
The Carrera GT comes with ceramic brake discs introduced in production cars by Porsche as the first manufacturer in 2001, when this world-first achievement made its appearance in the 911 GT2. Now PCCB Porsche Ceramic Composite Brakes have been further optimised and enlarged for the Carrera GT, diameter of the cross-drilled composite ceramic brake discs with their efficient involute cooling ducts measuring 380 millimetres or 14.96" front and rear, another 30 millimetres or 1.18" more than on the 911 GT. Measuring 34 millimetres or 1.34" in thickness, the ceramic discs featured in the PCCB brake system are about 50 per cent lighter than grey-cast-iron discs of the same type and size. In conjunction with the brake lining also developed as a all-new technology, PCCBs immediately build up a very high and, in particular, consistent frictional coefficient when applied, reaching their maximum brake power within fractions of a second. And with abrasion being kept to an absolute minimum, the safety reserves are also very good, even when the brakes are used to the extreme.Electronic assistance when driving to the limit
When running on different road surfaces and under adverse weather conditions, ABS and the traction control system allow a dynamic style of driving even when the driver goes to the very limit. This system enhances driving stability when braking and accelerating and gives the driver of the Carrera GT an appropriate feeling of safety in line with the car's outstanding performance. The four-channel anti-lock brake system allows individual control of the wheels on the front and rear axles, with the entire set-up of ABS being adapted to the ceramic brakes for very short stopping distances keeping the driver under control with full response of the steering. Integrated four-channel anti-spin control (ASC) is activated whenever required throughout the car's entire acceleration process, preventing excessive wheel spin on the drive wheels and keeping the rear end of the car smooth and stable on the road. Yet another feature serving to slow down the drive wheels of the car when spinning is the automatic brake differential (ABD). Whenever he wishes, however, the driver can do without this electronic support by switching off the entire traction control function by a button in the cockpit.
20-inch forged magnesium wheel
