Gemballa Reveals New 400kW+ Twin Turbo Porsche 911

Motoring Channel Staff - 14/Nov/2006

Leonberg, Germany — Since 1970 Gemballa has been tuning Porsches, having released abundantly powerful stand-alone sports cars like the Cyrrus, Mirage and Avalanche, all of which span many generations of Porsche.

Their latest weapon of mass distraction is the Turbo GT 550, which the designers and engineers at Gemballa came up with to celebrate the release of the 997 type Porsche Turbo. It's the kind of vehicle that may seem like overkill to some drivers, and is designed to fulfill the needs of performance car enthusiasts who want the best of the best - the kind of car that is built for weekend laps around the 20km Nürburgring in Germany.

With Gemballa's globally recognised exploits - there's even an office in Australia now - the company has released the Gemballa Turbo GT 550, with the 550 pertaining to the car's output measured in horsepower. 

This thing ain't slow. It's quicker than most exotic Italian and German cars, and is only one a half tenths of a second slower (0.15) to 100km/h from a standing start than the V12-powered Ferrari Enzo. And that's without the overboost feature...

Work began on the Porsche 911 Turbo's 3.6-litre engine to increase power and torque levels, while other areas of the car - including the chassis and bodywork - were also tinkered with. 

The 6-cylinder boxer engine found in the Porsche 911 Turbo in it's standard state of tune generates 353kW of power (480hp) and 620Nm of torque. That's quite enough power to satisfy most people. But not for Gemballa. By fitting a power kit that comprises a range of upgrades, including but not limited to a complete exhaust system (including metal sports catalysts and a modified engine management system), the Gemballa Turbo GT sports car generates another 51kW of power, taking the grand total to 404kW, or 550 horsepower (hence the name).

Torque has also risen from 620Nm to a truly awe-inspiring 796Nm, which gives the vehicle the ability to rip from standstill to 100km/h in about 3.8 seconds, and when the overboost feature kicks in - which cranks up the dual turbochargers' boost pressure slightly - the same sprint is dispatched in a very scary 3.55 seconds. And, as Gemballa says, for drivers who are daring enough this hot-rod can accelerate to 317km/h (197mph), which makes the Turbo GT 550 a good 8km/h (5mph) faster than the production version 911 Turbo.

As well as the increase in brute force, Gemballa uses a complete stainless steel exhaust system to perform acoustic tuning. The German company insists the sound the car produces is "awesome" and is enough "to give anyone goose bumps".

Gemballa also ensures that its latest machine can cut through the air effectively at high speeds and still be controllable. With a complete aerodynamics package, Turbo GT 550 looks and performs like a super car, or as the German tuner puts it, an absolute sensation in terms of its appearance and driving dynamics.

To enhance the visual appearance of the power-boosted 997 turbo - which was already a stunningly beautiful car - Gemballa has developed an advanced aerodynamic kit. People with an eye for detail will notice the new Gemballa front spoiler, which is more about practicality than anything else, as it reduces the lift on the front axle and helps to diminish the drag at higher speeds. The side skirts continue the line that starts with the much lower front spoiler, and they help to make the car look lower and optimise the aerodynamics in the area of the rear wings, according to the German tuning house, while discreet air inlets help to cool the tyres and brakes. 

Gemballa talks about the style of the new Turbo GT 550, which brings racing car flair to the vehicle, which can be seen most prominently at the rear end. This is because Gemballa has pulled out all the stops here, to ensure that the cars it passes (of which there will be many) are able to enjoy an impressive view. A particularly striking feature is the rear wing that has been significantly modified compared to the production version. It's big, and may attract unwanted attention, featuring openings at the bottom to provide the turbocharged engine with additional "air to breathe" says Gemballa. Its top is adorned by the impressive main spoiler, which helps to create downforce for the rear axle. 

The rear apron has has also undergone a complete make-over, featuring two large horizontally spaced exhaust outlets, sort of like the V10-powered Carrera GT's rear end. Gemballa calls the rear section a "racing grille" and it's not far from the truth - this Turbo GT 550 looks like a race car, particularly when it's fitted with huge 20-inch black/chrome alloy wheel rims.

With their stainless steel rim flanges, the 20x9-inch front and 20x11.5-inch rear rims look spectacular and increase grip levels in tandem with other chassis modifications, such as a coilover suspension system. This allows the center of gravity to be lowered to suit the particular driver and to further enhance the handling, and Gemballa has revealed that a it is also currently developing a modified larger braking system.

Inside the tuned Porsche 911 Turbo's cabin. Gemballa fits a new sports steering wheel with a 340 mm-diameter, and it explains that a number of other interior customisations are available upon request.

Related articles:
- Gemballa GTR 650 Avalanche
- Porsche 911 Turbo (997)
- Porsche Cayman S