You need to upgrade your Flash Player and/or Enable the Active Scripting in IE
Get behind the wheel of the world's wildest cars with Modified Luxury &
Exotics. From 750 hp BMW M3s to exotics like the Lamborghini LP640 Roadster,
to supercars like the Koenigsegg CCX, we showcase and review the very best.
Each in-depth feature includes stunning photography, entertaining editorial
and a spec box with all the hard facts.
FEATURE ARCHIVE :
Gemballa Mirage GT Story Colum Wood
Photos Joost Demuynck
Without fanfare, or even their own booth, Gemballa entered themselves into
the aftermarket hall of fame by introducing the Mirage GT at the Essen Motor
Show. Based on the Porsche Carrera GT, but extensively altered by one of the
best known tuners/manufacturers in the world, the supercar drew crowds of
auto enthusiasts of all stripes.
The lack of PR pizazz is surprising because this might just be one of the
most highly anticipated moments the aftermarket has been witness to. Quite
literally, it has been years since artist renderings first appears of the
Mirage GTR and more recently the Mirage GT. All the excitement has lead to
an awful lot of misinformation. So with all the rumors surfacing, it’s time
to set a few things straight, as well as start a few rumors of our own.
First, the bad news. The Mirage GT does not boast any forced induction
modifications to its 5.7L V10, despite what you might have already heard.
There are no turbochargers and no astronomical horsepower number (unless you
consider 645 hp astronomical … which you probably do). The good news: the
turbos and 1,000 hp V10 are in the works!
“Phase one, which we have presented now, brings more cooling air to all the
radiators and to the engine … for more engine power at high speed,” says Uwe
Gemballa. “Phase three will be a biturbo version with a new generation of
adjustable turbos. It will be started in early 2007 [and make] 800 and 1000
hp.”
But for now, those who have the good fortune (as well as the cold hard cash
type of fortune) to hold the Alcantara wheel in their hands and feel the
acceleration of the Gemballa Mirage GT, will likely not be disappointed.
Considering Porsche claims the stock Carrera GT rockets to 60 mph in 3.9
seconds and independent testing has put that closer to 3.6 seconds, the
Mirage GT might just dip below 3.5.
Technically, the only modification to the engine is an exhaust system that
increases horsepower by roughly 30 to 40 points. The new exhaust ends in
quad tips, compared to the Carrera GT’s twin tips. The two additional exit
pipes are located on each side of the original tips and are integrated into
the rear bumper in the same fashion. This involved moving the reverse
lights, which have now been integrated into the Mirage’s diffuser.
Arguably the enormous roof scoop – which according to Gemballa, will later
be used to cool the turbos – should also add to the engine’s performance
numbers, using the ram-air effect to create horsepower at speed.
Likewise, all of the added design cues on the Mirage were purposefully
thought-out to better increase performance, whether through horsepower,
downforce or cooling.
For phase one, the body alterations are significant – rivaling even those of
the IMSA Gallardo. Now some would (and likely still do) think that there is
no possible way to improve upon the evocative lines of the CGT. To them the
notion makes about as much sense as sending Scarlet Johansson in for plastic
surgery. But we’re not talking about women, we’re talking about cars and
while the CGT appeared to be perfect, Gemballa has made a success of
reinventing the Porsche.
“As you know, we have for all Porsche models a particular Gemballa design,”
says Gemballa. “The Carrera GT was already in our focus shortly after it was
shown to the public, but our first design project, the GTR Version with 1000
hp, was price-wise too high.” He goes on to explain how in 2005 the idea
came to work on the Mirage GT, a project more focused on aesthetics.
“The goal,” he says, “was to create a new Gemballa super car which will …
show what is possible for the Gemballa company.”
“As you can see, phase one of this project does include a complete new
exterior design where all elements were redesigned besides the doors and
front-fenders.”
“All these changes are basic before starting any engine upgrades. If you
follow up all the earlier 911 designs from us – this concept [the
aesthetics] was always first priority.”
What is important, insists Gemballa, is that people don’t think of it as
just a body kit. “We don’t like to talk about it as a kit,” he says. “This
automobile is a Gemballa Mirage GT based on a Carrera GT.”
Each panel on the Mirage has been carefully crafted of carbon fiber – one
would expect no less on a vehicle which sports a carbon body from the
factory. Up front a new fascia accentuates the CGT’s lines with larger
intakes which increase airflow to the radiators by 30 percent. As well, the
bumper adds additional side air ducts to cool the front brakes and features
an air outlet and new front hood, both of which help to increase downforce
on the front of the car. The exposed carbon front splitter is a separate
piece from the bumper and gives a real competition GT car look, as do the
carbon mirrors and side skirts with exposed carbon channels.
Out back several modifications have been made, all which maintain the
Porsche factory design cues but merely accentuate them. “The air intakes in
the rear sections of the sideskirts are [used for] cooling the rear brakes,”
says Gemballa, pointing out how his new design then uses the original brake
cooling ducts to ventilate the engine compartment, which will be critical
once the twin turbos are installed.
Another alteration which was made, but which is in keeping with the CGT’s
design, is the rear spoiler. The Gemballa version is much wider than stock
and mimics the design of the rear of the car. Whereas with the stock piece
only the center part raises up at 70 mph, now a huge whale tail emerges to
increase downforce in a big way.
“The wind-tunnel test was finished with perfect results,” says Gemballa.
“Without using the possibility to adjust the length of the front lip (which
can be extended another 30mm) we reached 62 lbs more downforce in front and,
depending on the rear spoiler position, between 77 lbs and 187 lbs more
[downforce] in the rear!”
The wheels are another Gemballa specialty and yet they can almost be passed
off as stock. With a similar design and with the same dimensions as the
CGT’s (19 x 9.5-inches up front and 20 x 12.5-inches in the rear), each
forged alloy piece represents a first for Gemballa. Painted jet black,
rather than the factory silver, these custom wheels were designed to fit
with the Carrera GT’s factory F1-style center locking bolt system. Gemballa
insists that his wheels are practically the same weight as the stock
Magnesium ones and are significantly stronger.
Inside each rim sits the factory brakes, not the Brembo setup we first
spotted on the car at the Essen Motor Show, which strengthened the validity
of the rumor that the Italian brake manufacturer will soon begin producing
aftermarket carbon ceramic rotors. As though this wasn’t enough, Uwe
Gemballa practically confirms the rumor. “This was the first prototype,” he
says. “Phase two [of the Mirage GT] will include a new more racing type
brake system with 400mm carbon ceramic brake discs and racing calipers.”
Gemballa also told MLE that this second phase will include an adjustable
suspension which will be able to raise and lower the car by up to 40mm.
As for the rest of the phase one modifications, they can be found in the
cockpit of the Mirage.
“The interior is completely redesigned,” says
Gemballa; and he isn’t kidding. Red alcantara, black leather and carbon
fiber coat almost every surface inside. A carbon shift knob is surrounded by
a red leather boot, encased in a new carbon center console. Carbon coats the
front of the dash while brilliant red Alcantara runs across the top, around
the sides and wraps down and across the doors. The seats also display use of
all three materials, with sticky red Alcantara used down the middle, black
leather on the sides and some carbon accenting near the top.
Located in the dash is a new multimedia system with a CD/DVD player,
navigation system and a hookup for the rear view camera. This also includes
a data control center where the driver can view the Mirage GT’s speed,
acceleration times and even G-Forces!
The completion of this project took the Gemballa company one and a half
years and surprisingly almost all of it was kept secret until the car’s
unveiling. Likewise, production time for a Mirage GT is a lengthy process,
which Gemballa estimates at two and a half months. The price in Euros for
the conversion is €229,800, which when converted, puts it at a smidge over
300 grand in US dollars. Don’t look for a Mirage GT in the states, however,
because another company owns the name, so the Mirage will be sold in the US
as the Gemballa GT.
“When you see the details,” says Gemballa, “you can understand that this
project was for us a real target to set a new milestone.”
Did they reach their goal? Undoubtedly!
After lustily admiring the Mirage GT’s new body and fantasizing over the
upcoming twin-turbo V10, it goes without saying that the Gemballa Mirage GT
is one of the finest automobiles we’ve ever featured.
Uwe Gemballa does not disappoint.
SPECIFICATION & DETAILS
BODY
Mirage GT Aero kit including: front bumper, lip spoiler, hood, rear sections
of front fenders, side skirts, rear skirt, rear diffuser with integrated
reverse lights, rear spoiler, exhaust cover, painted engine covers, rear
mounted camera, targa roof with roof scoop and carbon mirrors.
WHEELS, TIRES, BRAKES
(F) Gemballa GT Sport 19 x 9.5-inch wheels with Michelin Pilot Sport
265/35/19 tires; (R) Gemballa GT Sport 20 x 12.5-inch wheels with Michelin
Pilot Sport 335/30/20 tires.
INSIDE
New center console with integrated stereo system and 6.5” monitor with car
data control system, carbon frame for center console with carbon shift knob,
carbon dash front, red Alcantara dash front and top, red Alcantara door
panels, black painted door handles, 340mm Gemballa steering wheel in leather
and Alcantara, “MIRAGE GT” entrance panels, Alcantara airbag covers,
Alcantara roof lining, floor mats and seats reupholstered with Alcantara,
leather and carbon fiber accents.
ENGINE
Porsche 5.7L V10
ENGINE MODIFICATIONS
Stainless steel exhaust with quad tailpipes.
NUMBERS
Horsepower: 645 hp @ 8000 rpm
Torque: 435 ft-lbs @ 5750 rpm
Zero-60: 3.5 sec.
Top Speed: 205 mph
Gemballa North America
28346 Ray de Copas
Malibu, CA 90265
W: www.gemballausa.com
E: gemballana@msn.com
T: 310-457-1709
You need to upgrade your Flash Player and/or Enable the Active Scripting in IE
