Porsche's purebred racer

By ALASTAIR SLOANE

Motor shows are full of concept cars. Some make it into production, others end up gathering dust in the corner of a workshop.

But when Porsche shows off a prototype, Sydney to the bush it ends up in showrooms.

Take the Carrera GT, the supercar project born after Porsche's one-two victory at Le Mans in 1998 and unveiled at last week's Paris Motor Show.

It is based on Formula One technology and Porsche chairman Wendelin Wiedeking says it is "very likely" 500 will be made, with production beginning in 2003.

But the limited-edition model won't be cheap - perhaps the equivalent of $1 million in New Zealand's battered currency.

The rear-drive Carrera GT is chock-a-block with "pure racing technology," says Porsche.

Its mid-mounted 5.5-litre V10 engine produces 410kW and 600Nm of torque, drives through a six-speed manual gearbox and is the same configuration as the latest 3.0-litre Grand Prix race engines.

The car's lightweight bodyshell is made of carbon fibre sitting on a spaceframe chassis. The suspension system and the 380mm ceramic brakes are racebred, too.

The 90-litre fuel tank sits behind the passenger cell to maintain constant front-rear weight distribution irrespective of fuel load.

Porsche says the 1250kg two-seater GT's top speed will be 320 km/h, and will accelerate from zero to 100 km/h in under four seconds.

Although it is sparsely equipped - air-conditioning isn't available and a radio is optional - the driver and passenger will be protected by an extra spaceframe cell built into the cabin. Airbags will be standard.

The Carrera GT points to future development at Porsche. It looks sleeker, smoother and cleaner than the 911 and Boxster - design aspects each is expected to take on when they are updated next year.