Abstract
Keywords - Carrera GT, ceramics, carbon fiber reinforced plastics, stainless steel, aluminium
Abstract - The Carrera GT is the most impressive demonstration of what is technically feasible today in the automotive materials sector. This sports car, which is built in Leipzig and delivered in small numbers to customers since the Fall of 2003, sums up all our experience and engineering know-how in the design of competition and racing cars. In view of this claim and the cars leading-edge position, we have combined the best possible technical solutions in it a dream come true for any development engineer.
However, if one wishes to develop a roadgoing, though thoroughbred supersport model from an original competition- or racing-car concept, it is not enough to merely install a sufficiently powerful engine into a suitably exciting package. The formula for excellent road dynamics is more complex, and can be expressed as follows: The greatest possible degree of weight-saving plus the lowest possible center of gravity plus maximum rigidity equals optimum quality on the road. This makes the question of utilizing new materials and their potential as a means of achieving the required properties an extremely important one. It is only through the use without compromise of the latest materials technologies in design and construction that we can achieve high performances which are not limited to breathtaking maximum speeds and acceleration figures alone, but can be experienced by the cars owner each time he takes his car out for a ride. This kind of high performance includes such dynamic driving qualities as maximum agility, but also the maximum degree of visible and tangible quality inside the car, in order to guarantee optimum function on the one hand and to stimulate pure emotions on the other.
This paper will give you an idea of the ingredients that have been used to make up this unique recipe. The most significant one is fiber-reinforced plastic, usually reinforced with carbon fiber and used in sandwich form for the monocoque, assembly mounts and body elements. Next come the ceramics used for the brakes and now, a worldwide first, for the clutch as well. But we are going to tell you also about new process technologies for aluminium and magnesium and about our use of the new H 400 austenitic stainless steel.