According to Motor Authority, Gemballa has introduced yet another version of their Mirage GT, this one called the Gold Edition.

Based on the Carrera GT, the Gold Edition adds about 60 hp to the stock Carrera GT mill to bring it up to 670 hp. The car will do 0 to 62 in 3.7 seconds and 0 to 124 mph in 9.7 seconds, along the way to a top speed of 208 mph.

But main “feature” of the Gold Edition Mirage GT is… well… the gold styling. In addition to lots of carbon fiber, it features a gold-on-white color scheme and custom gold alloy wheels. The interior includes more gold accents.

To me, it is just plain ugly and garish. But I’m sure there is a sheik somewhere just waiting for this gold-trimmed beast.

More pictures after the jump.

[source: Motor Authority]

Well-known tuner Gemballa has released a ton of photos and details on their new Carrera GT-based supercar, the Mirage GT Carbon Edition.

In addition to the obvious styling changes, Gemballa has made lots of aerodynamic changes to help the car stick better and breathe better. Lots of carbon fiber is used, both inside and outside of the car.

The engine has been tweaked to produce 670 hp and will get from 0 to 62 in 3.7 seconds along the way to a top speed of over 208 mph. The Mirage GT also features an electro-hydraulic suspension which can be raised to clear curbs and speedbumps, or lowered at speed.

The interior features an entirely new center console featuring a multimedia unit and data control system.

All this can be yours… if you pony up the $425k on top of the price of a Carrera GT. Oh, and you’d better hurry, as they are only building five of them.

More pictures and full press release after the jump.

[source: Gemballa via Autoblog]

PRESS RELEASE

The ultimate super sports car – GEMBALLA MIRAGE GT Carbon Edition

For more than 25 years, the automobile manufacturer GEMBALLA Automobiltechnik GmbH & Co. KG builds exclusive sports cars which are based on the Porsche model range. Thereby, the company under the management of the founder Uwe Gemballa always sets standards regarding engine performance, innovative automobile design and exclusive interior. This is impressively confirmed by numerous lap records on the most difficult race track of the world, the Nürburgring Nordschleife. And also by winning many awards such as the renowned “red dot design award”. And last but not least by thrilled customers all over the world.

And also the latest super sports car – the GEMBALLA MIRAGE GT Carbon Edition – limited to only 5 pieces will conquer the motor sports hearts of its future owners in supersonic speed. Based on the Porsche Carrera GT the specialists from Leonberg near Stuttgart present an extremely attractive version of the MIRAGE GT. The eye-catching main evolutionary characteristic is the GEMBALLA body element production in carbon fibre. But that is not all: ultra-light aerodynamics components which have been optimised in the wind tunnel and a power engine with powerful 670 hp top performance render an impressive top speed of 335 km/h. A ground-breaking, hydraulic, height-adjustable coilover kit is especially adjusted to the GEMBALLA wheel-tyre combination GT SPORT Forged and this interplay provides perfect road handling. And also the interior is upgraded from the floor room to the roof lining. Perfectly processed and stylishly arranged leather and carbon turn every Mirage GT cockpit into an exclusive unique masterpiece.

Carbon – as far as the eye can see

Already the serial version of the Carrera GT presents itself with an abundance of ultra-light and high-strength carbon material. And GEMBALLA continues this trend in the MIRAGE GT Carbon Edition by using it as the main component of all body parts. Each single element of the GEMBALLA aerodynamics design is optimised in the wind tunnel, produced in perfect surface quality and accurately fitted into the automobile.

The core part of the newly designed MIRAGE GT front is the striking apron with the enhanced air inlets for an improved ventilation of the front coolers. In combination with the new front lip, GEMBALLA does not only achieve an aggressive look, but also generates additional downthrust. Also the front wings and the bonnet are replaced by proprietary development components. At the flanks, you find newly designed side skirts.

These calm down the air duct between the axles and send additional cooling air to the brake system through integrated passages. The new diffuser which is fitted into the new rear skirt stabilises the rear section at high speeds and in connection with the enlarged rear wing, it generates contact pressure at the rear axle. Further advancements are provided by the individually adjustable Gurney flap which is inserted in the wing profile. The body kit is perfected with the GEMBALLA roof channel as well as the air scoop of the engine compartment and the rear view camera casing.

3.7 seconds from zero to hundred km/h – accompanied by an incomparable exhaust sound

But the GEMBALLA MIRAGE GT Carbon Edition does not only impress with its fascinating design. As a result of an optimised engine management and a special exhaust system with sport catalysts and pneumatic valve control, not only the engine performance and the acceleration improve significantly. Due to its 670 hp / 493 kW at 8,000 rpm and 630 Newton metres at 5,700 rpm, the ten-cylinder accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in breath-taking 3.7 seconds. The top speed is 335 km/h and therefore also faster than the basic model. For an enhanced gas pedal response, the GEMBALLA technicians fit a sports clutch with special pads. Especially when driving stop and go in city traffic, this is an enormous advantage and allows a smooth and bucking-free take-off.

Innovative running gear technology for the race track and for everyday use

The running gear components in the MIRAGE are especially adjusted to the enhanced engine performance and sporty driving manner. They consist of four individually adjustable coilover dampers in a unit with progressively coiled double springs. For everyday use, the electro-hydraulic height-adjustment is extremely innovative and enormously helpful. By pushing a button in the passenger compartment, it is possible to lift the body by 45 millimetres at the front- and rear axle and therefore allows driving over obstacles such as underground car park entrances and traffic ramps. Also by pushing a button or by reaching 80 km/h, the MIRAGE lowers itself to its original level. As the perfect wheel-tyre combination, GEMBALLA gits the multi-part rims GT SPORT Forged in the dimension 9.5 x 19 and 12.5 x 20 with tyres in the serial measurement 265/35 ZR19 at the front axle and 335/30 ZR20 at the rear axle.

Exclusive interior design without limits

GEMBALLA presents the perfect symbiosis between sportive functionality and luxurious ambience. The interior designers combine the most precious materials such as fine leather, ultra-suede and carbon fibre in a very stylish way. The leather which is processed with expert hand is very resilient and yet extremely soft. The characteristic natural product with its individual grain and the masterly decorative stitching render an extravagant look around the newly designed centre console. The latter is entirely made of carbon fibre and contains the GEMBALLA Multimedia unit and the Data Control System.

The harmonically integrated display presents driving data such as acceleration, cross-acceleration and deceleration values. Another highlight in the GEMBALLA MIRAGE GT Carbon Edition is the full-size airbag sports steering wheel with a diameter of 340 millimetres.

GEMBALLA – the specialist for high end Porsche refinements and innovative engineering design offers the entire refining set for the GEMBALLA MIRAGE GT Carbon Edition which is only limited to 5 specimen from 298,000 euros (net price, without basic automobile).

Here is a cool video of an Edo Competition Carrera GT flying down the road. Crank it up!

[source: YouTube]

A group of about 20 Carrera GTs recently met up in California for a drive. This you gotta see!

[source: YouTube]

So, somebody thought it was a good idea to use some old wooden boards to help drive a Carrera GT on a trailer. At this point, I usually say “hilarity ensues” but in this case, it is sort of painful to watch.

See for yourself.

[source: YouTube via Jalopnik]

CAR Magazine has posted a video that all Porschephiles will find interesting. In their June 2008 issue, they will be celebrating 60 years of Porsche. This video takes you behind the scenes at a photoshoot for that issues and includes a sweet 1973 911 Carrera RS 2.7, a 959, a Carrera GT, and a 911 GT2.

[source: CAR Magazine]

People who pay attention to trends have noticed matte black paint schemes popping up all over. Several production cars, like the Dodge Charger R/T and even the Porsche Cayman S Porsche Design Edition 1 sport matte black stripes, but Gemballa has fully embraced the color.

At the recent Essen Motor Show, Gemballa showed off no less than three of their creations fully decked out in matte black paint schemes. These included the Carrera GT-based Mirage GT, the 911-based GT 600 Avalance Biturbo, and the Cayenne-based Biturbo GT 750.

The Mirage GT is pictured above, and I’ve included a picture each of the GT 600 and GT 750 after the jump, but do yourself a favor and click here to see more pictures of these evil beasts.

[source: Autoblog.nl via The German Car Blog]

Some of you may have read about this fatal crash during a Ferrari Owners Club track day at the California Speedway back in June 2005. Ben Keaton, the owner of the Carrera GT, was driving while Corey Rudl, who was interested in purchasing a Carrera GT, was a passenger. They were traveling at approximately 130 mph on the straightaway when a Ferrari entered the track at a slow speed. Keaton tried to avoid the Ferrari and lost control, hitting a concrete barrier, killing both men.

Corey Rudl’s widow, Tracy Rudl, filed a lawsuit alleging the wrongful death of her husband. She sued the estate of the driver, the track owners, the Ferrari Owners Club, the driver of the Ferrari, and Porsche. The $4.5 million settlement was split as follows: 49% from the estate of the Carrera GT driver, 41% from the track owners and event organizers, 8% from Porsche, and 2% from the driver of the Ferrari.

According to an article in Sports Car Market, an investigation revealed the track suffered from two design defects. First, the pit-out was designed so that it brought drivers onto the track in the middle of the straightaway and the pit-out driver’s view was completely block by the guardrail, so a driver had to rely entirely on a flagger. Second, the concrete wall along the straightaway had been moved out toward the track to accommodate a children’s play area that was set up for a NASCAR race held earlier.

It also revealed that the Ferrari Owners Club president had been warned by one of their vehicle certifiers that he believed something was wrong with the handling of Keaton’s Carrera GT and that it should not be allowed to run. Also, event organizers failed to enforce track safety rules about cars entering the track.

The Ferrari driver and the flagger blamed each other, but the investigation concluded that the driver was at fault for entering the track too slowly.

But the strangest part, to me, is that the lawsuit also claimed that the Carrera GT was defective because Porsche designed it without electronic stability control. The lawyer for the plaintiff had this to say:

Most people, especially those with children on the streets and highways, would fear a vehicle like the Carrera GT, with its tricky handling characteristics, 600-plus horsepower, and unskilled, unqualified drivers. When a ‘race car for the streets’ is sold to anyone with enough money, regardless of his ability to drive it, and it doesn’t even incorporate modern electronic safety devices that correct driver errors, then maybe the manufacturer should accept some responsibility for the foreseeable deaths that will result.

Tracy Rudl also added:

My loving husband was an innocent passenger in an expensive sports car that inexplicably failed to incorporate a modern, life-saving safety feature.

I can see some negligence on the part of the track owners and event organizers because there were obviously some things wrong with the track, but to blame Porsche for building an “unsafe” car because it doesn’t have PSM?

Click here to read the full article from Sports Car Market, it has a lot more details and is a good read.

[source: Sports Car Market]

[source: YouTube via The German Car Blog]

[source: The German Car Blog]