Gemballa GTR 650 Avalanche: Enter at Own Risk

By Feann Torr - 20/12/2005

When the 997-type Porsche Carrera hit the scene in mid 2004, fans and casual admirers of the now-legendary Porsche 911 were fascinated with the car's new look - not to mention its improved chassis and increased performance.

As time wore on, the company released the 4WD and convertible versions of the hot new 911 Porsche to cater to increasing demands in the marketplace.

But one of the most influential models - the one that performance enthusiasts are eagerly awaiting - has still yet to make its way to the spotlight.

Porsche is yet to release its thumping twin turbo version of the 911, and besides a few spy photos floating around the digital ether that is the world wide web, most of the info is pure speculation.

But there is relief on the horizon for those itching to surpass 300km/h in a brand-spanking Porker.

Porsche tuning stalwart Gemballa has developed a tough looking street/track machine, one which more than doubles the Carrera's torque output.

Say hello to the deliciously berserk GTR 650 Avalanche.

For the measly sum of €240,000 ($390,000) the Leonberg-based company will hand over the keys to a new Avalanche, which is based on the Porsche 997 Carrera S, and whose first port of call is the wheel shop. Will that be 19- or 20-inch wheels today?

It should also be noted that the GTR 650 Avalanche won't be available to all and sundry. Indeed, deep pockets will only get you so far. The company has a reputation to keep, after all. Gemballa explains that the "ultimate German sports car will be available to a selected clientele starting next year [2006]."

If you somehow manage to belong to this "selected clientele" the next step for the 997-type Carrera based supercar is a substantial alteration to its image, in order to ensure the garden variety Porsche Carrera drivers don't make the mistake of challenging it to a bitumen battle. Or so the theory goes.

Carbon is the order of the day here, with all body extras (save for wheel arches and sidewalls) being fabricated from the lightweight material.

The front apron is replaced with a more aerodynamically aggressive item, featuring three large air intakes flanked by vertical brake cooling inlets. There's also a carbon fibre lip spoiler up front that just begs to be scratched into oblivion by speed humps and driveways.

Moving to the side of the car and its plain to see that Gemballa has scooped out the doors in flamboyant style, which lead to large and decidedly purposeful intakes that feed oxygen to the rear mounted boxer engine - which we'll get to in minute.

New side skirts are also part of the eye-catching Avalanche, giving the car a ground-hugging profile. Even the skirts have their own air inlets that direct the flow of air to the rear wheels with an eye towards cooling the rear disc brakes, while the 20-inch black alloy rims add a touch of racing menace.

Gemballa also mentions that its disturbingly powerful creation is fitted with custom made sports seats, a sports steering wheel and aluminium pedals, sweetening the visual appeal just that little bit more.

At the rear the GTR 650 Avalanche can be distinguished from other 997-type 911 Porsches thanks to its solid dual element rear wing. And just like the Mitsubishi Evo's mesh-covered air vents in the bonnet allow the engines heat buildup to escape the engine bay, the Avalanche also has similar apertures, only in this rear-engined application they exist just behind the rear wheels.

Finally, a new rear apron is integrated on the Carrera's body, featuring a large mesh-covered opening to improve engine cooling, and at the same time exposing a pair of Carrera GT inspired big bore exhaust outlets.

And they'd want to be big exhaust pipes too, as Gemballa has really gone to town on the Carrera S's 3.8-litre horizontally opposed 6-cylinder mill.

In it's factory state of tune the Carrera S generates 261 kilowatts of power (355bhp) @ 6600rpm and 400 Newton metres of torque @ 4600rpm.

Gemballa's creation cranks out 820Nm of torque @ 4800rpm and about 478kW thanks to some seriously cool forced induction.

The Gemballa GTR 650 Avalanche's boxer engine benefits from a number of internal upgrades, least of which are the lightweight and super-strong titanium piston rods. These help deal with the increased pressure in the cylinders.

The intake system is quite complex, featuring no less than three intercoolers, heaps of additional plumbing and a "special turbo configuration" as Gemballa calls it, which hikes power from 355hp to 650hp, or roughly 261kW to 478kW.

The German tuning company didn't see a need to publish 0-100km/h figures, opting instead for the more impressive 0-200km/h dash, which takes just 11.2 seconds. That's hot - nuclear furnace hot. The two-seat dream car also has a top speed of 335km/h, which will be enough to shatter the egos of Ferrari F430 and Lamborghini Gallardo drivers - where the law permits, of course...

Chassis upgrades for the striking Porsche-based beast include bigger brakes, featuring gargantuan 8-piston calipers whose pads bite dinner plate-sized 380mm perforated disc brakes. The abovementioned 19-inch wheels are shod with 235 and 315 width tyres, while the large 20-inch alloys are shod with 245 and 325 front and rear tyres. Gemballa can also fit an optional roll cage for drivers who yearn for even more torsional rigidity (or who plan on rolling the car).

Those buyers who can wait no longer for the factory-built twin-turbo 911 to hit the showroom floor, the Avalanche will be a good alternative, and one that will outpace the upcoming 911 Turbo without too much difficulty: 820Nm of torque at the rear wheels = big league action.

And there you have it: the wild-but-highly-desirable Gemballa GTR 650 Avalanche in all its customised, triple-intercooled glory. A dream car for most, reality but for a "selected clientele". It makes for a compelling performance proposition in its own right, but also continues Gemballa's tradition of stand-alone sports cars that began in the 1980s, with vehicles such as the Mirage, Cyrrus and of course the Avalanche.

The headline doesn't lie: enter at own risk.