Unofficially, the Porsche Carrera GT is a racecar, a racecar
built for the street. What makes it a racecar is not
necessarily the huge power produced by its V10 engine
or the carbon fiber construction that keeps everything very
lightweight - although these features surely make it a fast
car. It's more the sum of its parts that make this car worth
every bit of its $440,000 price tag.

The Porsche Carrera GT was introduced as a 2004 model
and until 2005 there were already a few changes in order
to make the Carrera GT the new Porsche super car. These were
minor updates in order to make it a little more street friendly.
Between the supplemental bar hoops is now mounted a glass
screen. The seats height is adjusted along with the additional
bolstering in the thigh area. The Carrera GT is easy recognizable,
as it's a low, sleek, lightweight roadster, very beautiful on the
outside as it is on the inside. Two removable panels that can
be stored in the front trunk make the foul weather protection
available.

The car has unique features, among which are: 5.7 liter, 605
horsepower V10 engine, monocoque chassis with
Porsche-patented engine and transmission mounts made of
carbon-reinforced plastic and the first use of a ceramic
composite clutch in a production car. A very important aspect
is that The Carrera is safe and stable at speeds up to 205 mph,
thanks to its aerodynamic and race-bred suspension package.

The design of the suspension is so sophisticated that the
shape of its components improves the Carrera GT`s aerodynamics.
The designers used lightweight materials such as magnesium
for the car's substantial wheels and the frames of its special sport
seats, the result being a faster and safer car. To prove so, The
Carrera GT accelerates from a standing start to 62 mph (100km/h)
in only 3.9 seconds reaches 100 mph (160 km/h) in less than seven
seconds, 125 mph (200 km/h) in less than 10 seconds, and can
achieve a top test-track speed of 205 mph (330 km/h).

What makes this car have these impressive results is it's 5.5
liter, normally aspirated V10 engine for racing created in the
development center in Weissach, Germany. That engine's bores
have been enlarged to displace 5.7 liters in the Carrera GT. It has
a very low center of gravity, a 68-degree V angle and four
valves-per-cylinder heads. Since the block, crankshaft and
camshafts are all made of light alloys, the engine weights
only 472 pounds (214 kg).

To stop this "monster" Porsche`s team used a high-tech
braking system. Developed for demanding motorsports
applications, ceramic brakes are the first to work for on-road use.
The massive 15 inch ventilated discs and six-piston calipers have
the amazing capacity of bringing the car to a sure and safe stop,
matched only by the stunning acceleration of Carrera GT.

Porsche Carrera GT is definitely a exotic appearance, a
car that can do it all: fascinate you with its good looks,   astound
 you with its performance and abilities on the race track.

Many consider the Porsche 64 (also known as the VW Aerocoupe,
Type 64 and Type 64K10) as being the first automobile by
Porsche. It was built mainly from parts from the Model 64 VW
Beetle and there comes the model number. Its flat-four engine
produced 50 bhp and gave a top speed of 160 km/h.

Porsche Burro designed the body after wind tunnel tests made
for the Type 114, a V10 sports car that was never produced.
Dr. Porsche wanted to enter the car in the 1939 Berlin-Rome
race. The bodywork company Reutter built three cars in
shaped aluminium. Out of the three, one was crashed in the
early World War II by a Kraft durch Freude (Volkswagen)
bureaucrat. The two remaining were used by the Porsche
family. Later on, they put one of them in the storage and used
only one. In May 1945 American troops discovered the one
put in storage, cut the roof off and used it for joyriding for a few
weeks until the engine gave up and it was scrapped. Pinin
Farina restored the remaining Porsche 64 in 1947, as it was
owned and driven by Ferry Porsche. In 1949, the Austrian racer
Otto Matte bought it and won the Alpine Rally in 1950 in it.

Almost a century after its founder started designing automobiles,
Porsche is still going strong and that's the result of a premier cure
for a mid-life crisis similar to Harley - Davidson. Porsche's lineup
includes four model lines: the Boxster, the 911 models, the
Cayenne SUV, and the Carrera GT. And if these vehicles are
too expensive, Porsche also offers watches, luggage, and tennis
rackets bearing its name. Descendants of the founding family
still control the company and these days it has enlarged its area
by offering consulting services to other companies involved in
auto and furniture manufacturing, mechanical and electronic
engineering, and construction.

Over the years, Porsche transformed itself from serious
money-loser into one of the most profitable car companies in
the world, all this while other car manufactures toil over cash
incentives, market share and strategies for the Chinese market.
Porsche has constantly rolled out new products and despite
the costs and risks is has quadrupled its annual unit sales in just
under a decade. The most recent debuts are the Boxster and the Cayenne.
And so far, the key of their success seems to be the long
product life cycles and the company intends to maintain this
strategy.

The Porsche 356 is the first Porsche production automobile
and it was sold from 1948 through 1965.  Although many
consider Porsche 64 as being the first automobile produced
by the German company, the 64 was never mass-produced
and it was only a drivable test-mule. The 364 was created by
Ferdinand Porsche and his son, Ferry Porsche, designed by
Erwin Komenda and its engine features derived from the
Volkswagen Beetle, deigned by Mr. Porsche Senior.

The models available were initially coupe, cabriolet (luxury
convertible) and then roadster (a stripped down convertible).
Before being withdrawn in 1965, it went through several
changes. The most desirable versions were 356 "Carrera"
(often sold for well over $150,000), "Super 90" and "Speedster".
In the late 50`s, the original selling price for a Porsche was
$4,000.

In 1954, Max Hoffman, the only importer of Porsches into
United States needed a lower cost, racier version for the
American marker. Therefore, the company created 356
"Speedster" that became a instant hit thanks to the low, raked
windshield (easily removable for weekend racing), bucket seats,
and minimal folding top. These days, this car is still very
appreciated as it is sold for over $100,000 and it has been used
in several films, including 48 Hours, its sequel - Another 48
Hours and Top Gun. In 1957, the production of Speedster
peaked at 1,171 cars. In 1959 it was replaced by the Convertible
D model, which featured a taller, more practical windshield,
glass side windows, and more comfortable seats.

Year after year, the basic shape of Porsche 356 remained the
same and was easily recognized and remarked, even though
changes were made, especially in the mechanical area. Coupe
and cabriolet models were produced every year up to 1965,
with the last 356B Roadster built in early 1963. The final model
build was 356 C that featured disc brakes and the most
powerful pushrod engine Porsche so far: the 95HP "SC".

In the year that Porsche launched 911, 1964, Porsche 356 production
peaked at 14,151 cars. Still, the company continued to sell the
356C in North America through the end of 1965 as a lower-cost
vehicle. When the customers complained the price for 911 was
too high (almost twice the price of the 356), Porsche started
producing the 912, using the 356 engine. The 912model was
sold between 1965 and 1969.

56 years after the beginning of the production, Sports Car
International named 356C number ten on the list of Top Sports
cars of the 60`s. Today, the 356 is a respected car among the
collectors, as it stood the test of time. Worldwide, thousands of
356 owners maintain the tradition, preserving their cars and
driving them regularly.

In 1953, Porsche needed a race car more powerful than the
356. So they created the 550. This was the first true competition
car from Porsche. It was lightweight, it had two seats, aluminum
body, tubular frame and an open top. They were racing only with
Volkswagen. The initial pair of 550 dominated their class at Le
Mans finishing one-two in the 1500cc division. Then, one of the two
cars won its category in the famed Pan Americana Mexican road race.

Subsequent 550`s carried on what the initial 550`s had started.
They were fitted with the four-cam Carrera flat four cylinders. They
soon became dominant cars world wide.  During races, it was fast
and easily maneuvered so no other car stand a chance. But people
loved it purchasing every one of these quick little cars they could find.

In 1956, Porsche started to produce the 550A, a slightly modified
Spyder. It was a hit, shocking the entire world by winning in its first
Appearance in Targa Florio, a brutal road race. It also humbled well-known
and more powerful rivals such as Ferrari, Maseratti and Jaguar.
In the next five years it won almost all the races in which it competed.
It became a car that attracted more attention for its occasional
losses than for the nearly non-stop victories.

The 2005 Porsche 911 redesigned rear-wheel-drive models.
The models are available as coupes and convertible Cabriolets.
They all have a rear-mounted, horizontally opposed 6-cyl engine.
The redesigned Porsche 911 has subtly altered styling and dimensions
and changed the interior. There are two types of 911: The Carrera, with a
325-hp 3.6 liter engine and The Carrera S, with 355-hp 3.8 liter.

The 6-speed manual transmission is standard to all 911s. Optional,
we can choose the 5-speed automatic with manual shift gate and
steering-wheel controls. Standard, the 911s have antilock 4-wheel
disc brakes, antiskid/traction control and front side airbags. The
redesigned Careras include side airbags in the windowsills for head
protection. In the convertibles models, we find a power top and heated
glass rear window. A suspension with lowered ride height and shock
absorbers are standard on the Carrera S and optional on the Carrera. This
system helps adjusting firmness within driver selectable Normal and
Sport models. All other Porsche models have 18 inch wheels, but the Carrera
S has 19s. An option for the Carrera is a Sport Chrono Package. It includes
a dashboard-mounted stopwatch and it allows altering various engine and
chassis controls in order to improve driving performance. All 911s offer
a navigation system.

In 2006, Dr. Ing. H.c. Porsche will extend it's current product
line with the addition of a new 911 Turbo, the sixth generation
of the 911 series. This top-of-the-range model will have its world
premiere at the Geneva Motor Show on February 28, 2006 and
as from June 24, 2006 it will be available in German dealerships.
 
The 911 Turbo (type 997) has a few improvements. It has an
output of 480 bhp at 6,000 rpm, a 3.6 litre engine, a rated torque
of 620 Nm and a maximum torque available between 1,950 and
5,000 rpm. All these numbers are translated into driving
performance, as the 911 Turbo with six-speed manual transmission
only needs 3.9 seconds to get from zero to 100 km/h. The coupe
reaches 200 km/h in 12.8 seconds. Despite these performance
statistics, Porsche developers succeeded to keep the average
consumption to 12.8 liters per100 km.
 
For those who need even more speed, the 911 Turbo offers the
optionally Tiptronic S automatic transmission. This way, it can reach
100 km/h from a standing start in just 3.7 seconds and 200 km/h in
a mere 12.2 seconds. Both manual and automatic transmissions
have a top speed of 310 km/k. Available for the first time, the optional
 "Sport Chrono Package Turbo" enhances the vehicle's flexibility even
further.
 
The Porsche 911 Turbo features a redesigned all-wheel drive with
an electronically controlled multi-disc clutch. The result will be the
transfer of the available power to the road. That's because, depending
on the driving conditions, this system will determine the optimal torque
distribution to ensure the best-possible drive.  Also, Porsche Traction
Management (PTM) ensures variable power distribution to the two
driven axles. This means that on the road the 911Turbo will prove
outstanding traction in the rain or snow, high agility on narrow country
roads and optimal active safety even at high speeds.

The new 911 Turbo's driving performance is duly tempered by its brake
system, which comprises monobloc fixed-caliper disc brakes with six
pistons at the front axle and four at the rear. The diameter of the internally
ventilated and perforated brake discs at the front and rear wheels is 350
millimeters. An optimized ceramic brake system that Porsche offers is
Porsche Ceramic Composite Brake (PCCB). This high-tech system
reduces with 17 kilograms the standard brake system and provides an
excellent fading stability.

The major bodywork change of the 911 Turbo is the modified front end with
its distinctive, tautly drawn cooling air inlets. Combined with the standard
oval bi-xenon headlights, it will define the new unmistakable image. From
the rear perspective too, the Turbo will seem more powerful. This is due
first and foremost to its tail end, 22 millimeters wider than that of the previous
model, to which the redesigned wing spoiler element has been aligned.

Secondly, the lateral air inlets behind the doors have been redrawn and now
they offer a more efficient supply of cooling air to the charge-air intercoolers.

The basic price for the 911 Turbo is 115,000 Euros. In the USA, from July
8, 2006, the vehicle will be available at $122,000 (not including taxes).

Introduced in September 1969, the Porsche 914 was a sporty,
mid-engined two-seater with a targa top and a 4 cylinder boxer
engine. The idea for this new model came up as Volkswagen
and Porsche collaborated to create a new car. VW would take
914 bodies and finish them as 914/4s, and Porsche would take
their portion of the body shells, and build 914/6s. When sold in
North America, however, all 914s would be considered Porsches.

Porsche 914 is not like other Porsches. It has pop-up headlamps,
a vertical rear windshield, and a flat deck lid covering the rear
trunk and engine. It has no backseats so when you sit down,
 you are practically on the floor, which is on the road.

The interior of the 914 is quite simple, not luxurious but with all
necessities. There's not too much space other than the
passenger seat. The transmission is like the 928's with 1st
down and to the left. The 914 has a targa top, and like
911's, it stores in the trunk. But if you take off the top and
roll down the windows, the Porsche 914 is a pretty nice
little roadster.

Porsche 968 is basically the successor of the Porsche 944.
It has a low nose and wide wheel arches that helps accentuating
the beautiful lines of this classic shape that in a Porsche Guards
Red is a real head turner.  It has also the classic GT front engine,
rear wheel drive layout with the added advantage of a rear transaxle
giving almost perfect weight distribution.

Instead of the hidden headlights of the 944, the 968 has visible
pop up headlights, similar to the Porsche 928. This brings the
look of the car inline with the new Porsche 997-911. This change
has also a practical advantage: the headlights can be washed
along with the rest of the car instead of having to pop them up to
wash them.

As for the interior, it remains the same as produced in the 944,
keeping the famous "oval dash". The designers used the same
robust materials which have given all Porsche owners many years
of trouble free motoring.

The exterior has a few differences: the door mirrors have
been streamlined with the tear drop effect and the wheels
have 5 spoke Cup design alloys. The rear bumper is more
blended and with integral rear light clusters, making it almost
indistinguishable from the bodywork. All these bodywork changes
made the 968 look a lot like the 928, and added the engine heritage,
some people have referred to it as "the daughter of 928".

The engine is a version of the one first used on the 944 S2: it is a
4 cylinder, 3 liter, 16 valve unit. And they added VarioCam for
optimum power throughout the speed range. It has 240 HP
at 6200 rpm and a torque of 305 Nm at 4100 rpm, given by the
improved combustion chamber and inlet manifold design.  At the
time of production, it was a remarkable engine, having the highest
displacement per cylinder of any car engine and also the highest
torque output of any unblown 3 liter engine. Clearly, the result of
Porsches investment in this engine paid off.

The rear-mounted gearbox is a 6-speed manual or 4 speed tiptronic.
It is the first ever mounted on a production car. The chassis has
almost perfect weight distribution and very stiff characteristics.

Usually, most cars start to fail when it comes to breaks and the
reason is that it doesn't matter how fast the car is in a straight
line if you can't take a bend (turn) at the right safe speed. But Porsche
brakes have always been the envy of most road sports car
manufacturers. You will notice little or no or no discernable fatigue
even under harsh use of Porsche 968. ABS adds even more
safety to the already excellent braking system. Also, what makes
the brakes so effective is that the wheels themselves are designed
to prevent the tire from coming off the rim in the event of a sudden pressure
loss.

A new Porsche 911 is always fascinating because it's interesting
to see how after more than 40 years of development the Porsche
team still manages to bring changes and improvements to this
icon model. 

The new 997 bodyshell combines the sleek modern looks of
the 996 series with the popular retro styling cues from older 911s.
The front end is completed with round lights and separate
parking/fog/indicator lights. This change, combined with wider
hips echoes the last of the air-cooled 911s, the 993. Other changes
in the bodyshell are the new door handles, wing mirrors and the
stylish cut of the rear wings into the bumper/lights.

Even if the 997 looks a lot like the previous model, the 996, the new
car is actually 38mm wider which creates a more aggressive
appearance. With each new model introduced, Porsche has aimed
to reduce the drag co-efficient helping the 911 slide through the air
more effectively, and so aiding performance. The same thing has been
done with the new car, and if we compare the 993 Cd of 0.34 to the
997`s 0.28 we can see how far the aerodynamic game has moved on.
The latest body shell and rear wing combine with new underbody
paneling to also offer increased levels of down force for this latest
evolution of Porsche's finest.

The latest Porsche model is the best handling 911 ever. Improving a
car's rigidity helps ensure the suspension can work more effectively
and while not making such a quantum leap as the team did with the
996. Porsche improved torsional rigidity by 8% and added as much
as 40% more flexural strength.

For the new car, Porsche wanted to improve crash safety so they
added two new air bags located in the side of each front seat back-rest,
designed to protect the thorax. They kept the previous two front and two
side airbags, which means that now there are six in total. For the same
reason, crash safety, the reinforced body shell features further protection
such as a more extensive use of super high strength steel.

The latest model is also 50 kg heavier than the 996. The reason is that
modern crash safety regulations kind of force the new cars to come with
increased weight, despite the usage of a large range of weight saving
measures, including an aluminum bonnet.

Aside from the crash safety improvements, much of the additional weight
can be attributed to the higher standard specification of the new cars.
Power to weight is similar with the latest car offering 233 bhp per tone
against it's predecessors 238  and the new models improved aerodynamics
must help it post Porsches claimed performance figures, which are
identical to the 996.