Porsche Carrera GT

Porsche Widowmaker: 7 Legendary Models That Can Be Lethal If You Are Not Careful - image 198999

Porsche Widowmaker: 7 Legendary Models That Can Be Lethal If You Are Not Careful

While all Porsche sports cars are fast, here's how these high-risk high-reward machines gained this infamous reputation

Porsche makes some of the best sports cars in the world. Over the years, the brand has given us some capable machines, many of which are also suitable for daily use on public roads. That said, throughout Porsche’s history, many models have required drivers to be at the top of their game. Getting even near the car’s full potential demands the absolute best of the driver. While you might be quick to think of the original Porsche 911 Turbo (930), it is by far, not the only Porsche sports car to ask a lot from its drivers. Below, I have listed Porsche models, some more known than others, which wouldn’t hesitate to hurt you if you are not awake behind the wheel. There are classic race cars, supercars, and a few 911s, some of which are more recent. Without further ado, here are the seven most dangerous Porsche models that can be labeled as Widowmakers.

Porsche Carrera GT Shaves 16 Seconds Off Its Original Nürburgring Time With New Rubber From Michelin - image 198752

Porsche Carrera GT Shaves 16 Seconds Off Its Original Nürburgring Time With New Rubber From Michelin

With a fresh set of the latest Sport Cup 2 tires, Works driver Jörg Bergmeister sets a new record for the CGT with a lap time of 7:12.69 around the Nordschleife

Be it the sleek design or the evocative howl from its F1-derived mid-engined 5.7-liter V10, the Porsche Carrera GT needs little effort to seduce any enthusiast, Porsche-phile or otherwise. Even two decades on, the 600-horsepower rear-wheel drive manual is hailed by many as the last analog supercar to ever exist. However, when it comes to gaining a reputation as being a modern-day widow maker owing to some pretty high-profile crashes, Porsche had some housekeeping to do and hopefully stave off future lawsuits. At one point, there was even a no-drive request that Porsche sent out to owners, which folks like Doug DeMuro happily ignored.

911 Turbo S: 5 Ways It’s Better Than The Carrera GT - image 198103

911 Turbo S: 5 Ways It’s Better Than The Carrera GT

While the limited-run Carrera GT is hailed as one of the all time great, you'd be surprised at how far the more versatile 911 Turbo S has come in the past two decades to close the gap, at a fraction of the price

Porsche has gifted the automotive world with numerous legendary models, and among them, the 911 Turbo S and the Carrera GT stand out. The Carrera GT with its F1 derived V10 engine sounds phenomenal, and is a hero car for most Porsche people, particularly those who grew up in the 2000s, like myself. Given that it is widely considered the last analog supercar ever made, not just by Porsche, but in the wider auto industry, valuations are on the rise.

8 Porsche Models That Made History
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8 Porsche Models That Made History

From vintage beauties and air-cooled 911s to one of the last analog supercars, these Porsches are among the brand's most historically significant models

Porsche as a brand has existed since April 1931. After a successful stint with Daimler and the consulting business that included the design and engineering of models like the VW Beetle and the 16-cylinder Auto Union Type 52, things finally started to fall into place, with Ferdinand Porsche’s dream of making the perfect sports car which came out in 1939. That said, the first mass-produced Porsche performance car – the 356 – did not arrive until well after WWII ended, debuting in 1948. Since then, the German marque has developed a stalwart image as one of the most prominent performance car manufacturers in the world. With a history spanning 93 years and counting, there are many iconic models, many of which were significant to Porsche’s development as a brand. Given Porsche’s storied history and rich motorsport heritage, the list of truly noteworthy Porsche models is impressively long. However, I managed to narrow it down to seven Porsche models, with each one being historically significant through the decades, and paving the way for future Porsches.

5 Most Iconic Porsche Engines Of All Time - image 196968

5 Most Iconic Porsche Engines Of All Time

While far from the only great Porsche engines, these 5 mills truly pushed the boundaries of technology for their time

Not a lot of automakers have as many iconic engines as Porsche does. The German company is responsible for one of the most iconic sports cars ever made – the 911. The boxer engine is a staple across several Porsche models, but this is far from the only engine configuration Porsche knows. What makes an engine iconic? Is it the sheer power or is it the groundbreaking engineering? Perhaps the reliability or soundtrack? As it turns out, it is all of the above, and Porsche has more than a few engines that fit the bill.

Is This Why Porsche And Michelin Developed A Brand New Tire For The 20-Year Old Carrera GT? - image 194545

Is This Why Porsche And Michelin Developed A Brand New Tire For The 20-Year Old Carrera GT?

While these cutting-edge tires should make the analog CGT quicker and safer, there could be more to the development of this fresh rubber than meets the eye

Born from Porsche’s shattered F1 dreams, the Carrera GT is considered one of the last truly analog supercars of the early 2000s and when I say analog, I genuinely do mean it. This thing had traction control and ABS, and that’s it. No fancy stability control to save you from your own stupidity.

5 Times Porsche Cars Were Unceremoniously Destroyed In Movies - image 194481

5 Times Porsche Cars Were Unceremoniously Destroyed In Movies

No replicas here as movie producers decided to destroy real Porsche sports cars while filming

There cannot be a car movie without a great selection of performance cars. Many sports cars have gained popularity through pop culture, whether it is the big screen or video games. Porsche’s iconic sports cars also have their place in pop culture, with more than a few being featured in famous blockbusters from the movie industry. That said, not all movie cars share the same fate, and oftentimes, cars get destroyed in movies. No Porsche can truly be classified as an affordable car and this goes double for the German automaker’s sports cars.

Here's Why The RUF CTR3 EVO Is The Next Best Thing To A Porsche Carrera GT - image 188335

Here's Why The RUF CTR3 EVO Is The Next Best Thing To A Porsche Carrera GT

The CTR3 EVO is the RUF to end all RUFs and a great way to save a bunch of money if you are after Porsche Carrera GT levels of thrills

RUF was the first company to reimagine Porsche sports cars and it all started back in 1939. What started as Auto Ruf service garage, eventually became the first manufacturer to repair and restore Porsche sports cars, and eventually build Porsche-inspired, high-performance automobiles, under the RUF brand. The Pfaffenhausen-based company still makes Porsche-inspired models, but everything is now made in-house. Moreover, RUF is also a manufacturer of performance parts for Porsche models like the 911 and 718. One of Porsche’s most desired models from the 21st century is the Carrera GT, and it didn’t take long for RUF to come up with its own, mid-engine variant of a Porsche-based model. The RUF CTR3 is what we got, and here’s why it is the best way to get the Porsche Carrera GT experience (and more) at a fraction of the price.

Here's What Rally Legend Walter Röhrl Thinks About The McLaren F1 - image 188351

Here's What Rally Legend Walter Röhrl Thinks About The McLaren F1

The man who was instrumental in the Carrera GT's development, finally gets the chance to get behind the wheel of the iconic British supercar

The host of the Alte Schule (old-school in German) YouTube channel, Karsten Arndt finds himself in the foothills of Bavaria, Germany with legendary two-time WRC champion and Porsche works test driver Walter Röhrl. The pair initially discuss the Porsche Carrera GT, a car that Röhrl helped develop. Walter touches upon some of the initial struggles during the Carrera GT’s conceptualization and how it took time for the car to perform well. He emphasizes the car’s unique features: a mid-engine V10 with 612 horsepower and no electronic aids, and the importance of skilled engineers like Roland Kussmaul.

The Shop That Prides Itself On Keeping The Porsche Carrera GT On The Road - image 181082

The Shop That Prides Itself On Keeping The Porsche Carrera GT On The Road

Find out why this Connecticut-based Porsche-specialist is considered the by-word for anything to with the Carrera GT

The Porsche Carrera GT is a unicorn in the automotive world. With a mere 1,270 ever produced, it’s a true collector’s dream. Even after 2 decades, the Carrera GT continues to strike a chord in the hearts of automobile enthusiasts everywhere. The Carrera GT wasn’t just another supercar; it was built to shatter expectations. Its sleek design housed a phenomenal 5.7-liter V10 engine, practically unchanged from the Le Mans 2000 race car, tuned down for street use. This translates to blistering acceleration, the Carrera reached 0-60 MPH in a mere 3.5 seconds. With a top speed exceeding 205 MPH, the Carrera GT was a force to be reckoned with.

Analog Aficionado? Porsche's Digital Surprise Goes Way Back (Can You Guess the Car?) - image 181977

Analog Aficionado? Porsche's Digital Surprise Goes Way Back (Can You Guess the Car?)

If the all-digital instrument panel on the new 911 annoys you, Porsche dabbled with the idea in the early 2000s

Be it road cars or motorsports, Porsche is a brand that is steeped in tradition and there are certain things about models like the 911, that the German marque should be very careful about changing or altering, or it could leave the Porsche faithful reaching for the pitchforks. Think stuff like the five-gauge instrument cluster with the big analog tachometer in the center, or the twist-and-turn Le Mans-style starter that sits to the left of the steering wheel.

Where The Carrera Name Used In Porsche Sports Cars Actually Comes From
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Where The Carrera Name Used In Porsche Sports Cars Actually Comes From

A moniker that is widely used across Porsche's model lineup, find out why this legendary nameplate is so significant for the German brand

The history of the Carrera nameplate is a wild ride through the heart of Porsche’s motorsport lineage. It all began in the early 1950s with the legendary Carrera Panamericana, a treacherous open-road race that ran border to border (north to south or vice-versa) for over 2,000 miles through the heart of Mexico. Thanks to its challenging terrain, it was a white-knuckle test of endurance, speed, and raw driving skill.

2004 Porsche Carrera GT - image 106268

2004 Porsche Carrera GT

A Porsche that not only changed the perception of a supercar, but also gained the reputation of ‘Widowmaker’

The automotive world has seen its fair share of legends, but few can hold a candle to the illustrious Porsche Carrera GT. Born from the ashes of Porsche’s aspirations at Le Mans, the Carrera GT became Stuttgart’s answer to Maranello and Sant’Agata Bolognese.