This is the Porsche Carrera GT, the German automaker's first-ever supercar for the 21st century. Porsche's flagship of the mid-2000s carries a design and an exhaust note that still gives us the chills to this day. Although the Carrera GT became the definitive Porsche road car, it was unlike any of its predecessors. This is not a high-strung racing 911 converted for road use. Instead, Porsche created the Carrera GT as their expression, of the ultimate road car.

Featuring one of the best-sounding V-10 engines of all time, the sound alone is enough to make you want one. Yet, Porsche lasered-focused on every aspect of the car to ensure perfection. With only 1270 models produced, it is a unique and exclusive vehicle in every aspect. Porsche wanted the Carrera GT to be a standout model, with no relation to anything the brand had created. Yet, at the same time, it is an embodiment of the core ideology of the brand. It is a seamless blend of form and function in the most Porsche way. 18 years on, the Carrera GT continues to remain an enthusiasts favorite and is one of the best aspirational and desirable cars of all time.

Porsche Carrera GT Performance And Capability

The Carrera GT does not share a chassis or design with any other Porsche product. Yet, it still finds its foundation in Porsche's extensive participation in motorsport. The Porsche V-10 engine first saw testing in a prototype for Le Mans in 1999. At the time, the German luxury outfit had involvement in Formula One as an engine supplier. Neither the prototype nor engine would make it to eventual production for racing.

Yet, they did not put in all those design and engineering hours for nothing. The V-10 engine saw continued development with the intention of a road car. To date, the only Porsche V-10 made lies in the mid-engine layout of the Carrera GT. The large 5.7-liter displacement allowed for 612 horsepower output at 8,000 RPM and 435 pound-feet of torque, impressive in 2004 and still is today.

There is no rev range in which the Carrera GT engine is not emotive. The exhaust sings in a way that encourages you to want more, every time. About the closest thing, you could get to the sound of an F1 car bouncing off the walls at the Monaco GP.

It is obvious that a team of talented individuals spent countless hours crafting the sound of this engine. There is no other way it could have the quality it does without the craftsmanship behind it. There is a certain wailing sound that occurs between gear shifts that tugs at your heart strings.

This is in part made possible by the incredible transmission in the Carrera GT. With a unique lightweight clutch and flywheel, the V-10 engine is able to rev more like a motorcycle than a car. Many supercars were transitioning to automated transmissions at the time. Yet, Porsche knew that a 6-speed manual was the only option suitable for the Carrera GT.

In the context of modern supercars, a 3.5-second 0-to-60 time is not groundbreaking. This was in part due to the rear-wheel drive layout, now uncommon - to be the sole option. Yet, this layout gave the Carrera GT its playful character.

Although tame while cruising, the Carrera GT was a whole different beast when driving on the edge. Notorious for its oversteer, even the massive 335 section width rear tires could not tame it. That is about the biggest tire you can fit on the rear axle of any car. Thus, if it still was tail happy at that point, it was an intended characteristic.

Visceral yet mature, the Carrera GT changes depending on the way you drive it. Its incredible responsiveness is thanks to its design. The carbon fiber monocoque chassis and inboard push-rod suspension really were revolutionary for their time.

Notorious for lacking stability control, the Carrera GT is not the car to coddle drivers. It demands full attention and rewards those that learn to respect its capabilities. Even the massive 380mm carbon ceramic brakes will not save you if you're not careful. The 205 MPH top speed showed its performance capability. Yet, the Carrera GT seduces you the same way in first gear as it does in fifth.

Porsche Carrera GT Specs

Engine

5.7-liter V-10

Horsepower

612 @ 8,000 RPM

Torque

435 lb-ft. @ 5,750 RPM

Transmission

6-speed manual transmission

Drive Layout

Rear-wheel drive

0-60 MPH

3.5 seconds

Exterior Design

How could a car look so Porsche without looking like any other Porsche? The Carrera GT is one of the brand's most unique vehicles. The design team wanted to ensure that there was no doubt the Carrera GT was every bit the Porsche in style. At the same time, they wanted it to stand out from your standard 911's design or any crazy race car concept. The aesthetic and form are far simpler and sleeker than its Italian competitors of the time. It isn't intended to look like a fighter jet or spaceship.

Yet, we've still never seen any other supercar design quite like it. Its long elegant body forces the eyes to admire the low roof line. To emphasize that facet, the roof line of the Carrera GT is over 2.5 inches lower than a Mazda Miata. The commanding side air ducts are a highlight and a defining design element of the Carrera GT.

There isn't a single aesthetic quality that does not have functionality. Carbon fiber graces every single body panel and structural element. Even the engine itself is a stressed member of the chassis with a carbon fiber cradle. The removable Targa top was of course also carbon fiber. Yet, owners tend to prefer an open-top driving experience without it.

Exterior Colors

Standard Colors

Guards Red

Fayence Yellow

Basalt Black

GT Silver

Seal Gray

Dimensions

Length

181.61 in

Width

75.63 in

Height

45.91 in

Wheelbase

107.48 in

Track Width

63.5 in (front) / 62.5 in (rear)

Cargo Space

2.68 cu-ft

Interior Design

The interior of the Carrera GT is its most unstated feature. Instead of being flashy, Porsche decided to take a simple approach. There are no crazy wide screens or revolutionary infotainment systems like we find in modern days supercars. Instead, you'll find beautiful soft Terracotta leather at every corner. Although comfortable, the Terracotta is difficult to maintain clean and in good condition. Extended sun exposure to the leather can leave it looking shiny and old.

The extended leather steering wheel is devoid of intrusion of a single button. The massive exposed carbon fiber door sills are eye-catching. They are there in case you didn't know you were in a full carbon fiber body. The carbon Kevlar seats look as good as they did back in 2004. Where there isn't carbon fiber or leather, beautiful aluminum finishes grace the cabin. The balsa wood shifter is the feature piece of the extended center console. It may be a simple cabin, but we like it.

It comes as no surprise that the Carrera GT lacks interior space. It is a purpose-driven car and storage capability is not a big selling point. Yet due to the low roof of the Carrera GT with the top installed, the car is difficult to even enter. There is minimal headroom even for an average-sized individual. Thus, if the weather is suitable, there is no better way to experience the thrill of the Carrera GT than with the top off. In typical Porsche fashion, five simple gauges, with the central tach, keep the driver focused while providing critical vehicle information.

Porsche Carrera GT Price, Availability, and Ownership

Porsche Carrera GT Price

Porsche Carrera GT

$440,000 (est)

The base price of the Carrera GT at launch was $440,000 MSRP. With less than 1270 examples ever made, it was bound to be a collector car. Prices of exclusive German supercars have sky-rocketed in the last two years. Before 2021, prices were on average below a million dollars, but well over MSRP. Now, you'd be lucky to find one under seven figures. In 2022, the average sale price for a Porsche Carrera GT is $1.6 million.

What you need to know before buying a Carrara GT is that it is rare to find a Carrera GT for sale with even more than 10,000 miles. We doubt a single model has made it above 50,000 miles. As a result, almost every option is low mileage and collector quality.

Is there any other car that can compare to the Porsche Carrera GT? Its closest competitor is the Lexus LFA. Both are ultra-limited V-10 supercars without brand predecessors. Both sing like songbirds at every touch of the throttle and cost seven figures.

Yet, if your decision is between either, you can't really lose, can you now? Both are icons of their respective brand and have no modern equals. Will Porsche ever build a rear-wheel drive V-10 supercar again? We wouldn't bet on it. Thus, if you seek the most rewarding road car that Porsche has ever built, look no further than the Carrera GT.

FAQ

Q: Are Land Rover and Range Rover the same thing?

Yes. Land Rover is the brand name and Range Rover is the model name.

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Range Rover is just a model made by Land Rover.

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Range Rover is the most expensive of the Land Rover brand. The Land Rover Discovery Sport is the cheapest.

Q: What is the price range for Range Rover?

A Range Rover starts at $104,500 and goes up to over $240,000.