The headline figures don't say it all, not by a long chalk. But they certainly say a lot: 612bhp, 0-62mph in 3.9 seconds, 0-100mph in a shattering 6.9, a top speed of 205mph. Oh, and 461,058 euros, or roughly £310k. But this car is about sensation rather than pure numbers. With the Carrera GT, Porsche has devoted itself to providing a fabulously connected and sensational drive, not just a guided missile to blast past everyone else on the Autobahn.

In a way, you can forget everything you ever knew about Porsches. This one is all-new: a bespoke and beautiful carbon-fibre monocoque chassis that's clothed in carbon-fibre panels. It has racecar-style all-wishbone pushrod suspension and a new mid-mounted V10 engine. Virtually no parts bar the steering column and instruments are shared with a 911 or Boxster.

Yet, in other ways this is just like any other Porsche. It has been designed with durability in mind. It's equipped with traction control and the options of navigation and climate control. It's meant to be useable everyday. And it's got racing heritage deep in its genes.