2003 Porsche Carrera GT 5.7L V10 (612 HP) 6MT

Vehicle Overview

In 2000, at the Paris Motor Show, Porsche pulled the wraps off a concept car that stunned everyone: the Carrera GT, an open-top supercar that shared nothing with any other model in the automaker’s lineup.

The German automaker unveiled the concept car mostly to lure more customers to its booth, where it had the facelifted Porsche 911 (996 generation) Turbo and the GT3. But the GT instantly became the star of the show, and customers started to ask the automaker when the production version would be launched. The company’s management saw the opportunity, and four years later, thanks to the high income gained from the Cayenne SUV, it produced the Carrera GT for the public. Initially, it said it would make just 1,500 units of it, but it ended up building less than 1,300 units, due to change in safety regulations.

From its front, the car resembled the glorious 917 race car that won the 24 Hours of LeMans race in 1970. Its dual headlamp design and the low height of the Carrera GT recommended it as a possible track contender. A few elements regarded it as a member of the Porsche family, such as the lower bumper that featured a broad center air intake and a pair of side scoops that flanked it. In addition, the cut for the hood was similar to those installed on the 911 lineup.

Porsche made the car’s profile resemble a serious race car, with a low waistline and a raked windshield. The removable roof was made from carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) and couldn’t be stored in the car due to limited space. When opened, the vehicle boasted a set of safety arches behind the seats in front of the long and flat rear deck. A set of wide air intakes in front of the rear wheels grabbed air to cool the massive V10 engine of the mid-engine car. At the back, the automaker installed two triangular taillights and a deployable wing that could raise at high speeds to increase downforce. In addition, to increase high-speed cornering, Porsche added a diffuser under the rear bumper.

While the car’s exterior looked more closely related to a race car, the cockpit was fit for a luxurious vehicle. The leather-wrapped cabin featured high-bolstered seats separated by a thin center console. Fronting the driver was a classic-looking five-dial instrument cluster where the tachometer took center stage. The red line on it started above 8,000 rpm. Porsche installed the gear stick high on the center stack, above the buttons controlling the windows and the dials for the HVAC system.

The Carrera GT was the first car in the world to boast an entire CFRP frame that carried all the car’s components and modules. Furthermore, the passenger area was made from composite carbon fiber, which increased the vehicle’s structural rigidity. The mid-ship longitudinally-mounted engine was a V10 powerplant paired with a transverse-mounted six-speed gearbox that sent the power to the rear wheels. In terms of safety, the automaker offered the Carrera GT with ABS and ESP.