Porsche Carrera GT

Hold the Cayenne: It's sports cars, full speed ahead! Porsche surprised the Paris Auto Show with its ultra-exotic Carrera GT concept, a two-seat mid-engine open sports car packing a 5.5L 40-valve V-10 that produces 558 hp and 442 lb-ft of torque. Weighing just 2750 lb, the Carrera GT is capable of a sub-4.0-sec 0-100-kph (0-62-mph) time and a top speed of 205 mph, Porsche says. Power gets to the ground via a six-speed gearbox with a "thoroughbred motor racing clutch." As sports cars get more civilized, manufacturers like Ferrari and Porsche are out to prove they can still design and build hard-edged machinery. The Carrera GT is Porsche's volley at the 485-hp Ferrari 550 Pininfarina Barchetta (Dec. 2000), plus it will serve as a homologation piece for Porsche's return to Le Mans this June. The Carrera GT's drivetrain and suspension form one unit, with the rear axle's spring struts pivoting on the gearbox-just as in a race car.

Porsche says its acceleration and top-speed estimates are preliminary, and "may become even more impressive should the Porsche Carrera GT enter series production."

What are the chances of that? The Carrera GT is Porsche's first production-intended sports car concept introduced at an international auto show since the Boxster concept appeared at Detroit in 1993.

"Indeed, the concept car might become reality as early as 2003, naturally in an exclusive series of very special models for very special purchasers," according to Porsche.