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From speedarena.com Car Features Competition born
"Dynamic Line" design The GT cars have always been recognised for being the most fascinating and seductive. These cars combine power and speed with striking design like no others. Without a doubt, the SEAT Cupra GT belongs to this class of cars. Designers at he SEAT Design Centre in Sitges used their full creative potential and developed the Cupra GT without being conditioned by the parameters that must be observed in any production model project. From a side view, the "Dynamic Line" can be seen on the Cupra GT, a curved line created by Walter de’Silva, SEAT Design director, when he designed the Salsa concept car. Lending character to the side image of the vehicle, this line runs from the front, discreetly over the front wheelguard and descends gradually until the robust rear pillar. The horizontal line at the base of the window is quite narrow, which sets off the proportions of the Cupra GT, which is 4.56 metres long, 2.10 metres wide and 1.19 metres high. With their "seagull wing" opening, the doors feature an evolutionary system for this concept where the hinge is located on the inside at the top of the pillar, and the door handles are flush with the door panels. Seen from the side, the impressive, six double-spoke 12J x 18 rims stand out with their visible, dark titanium colour AP brake callipers. The front rims are shod with 265/650 tyres with 285/680 tyres at the rear, whose rims feature a single bolt for easier tyre change operations. The front end of the Cupra GT juts out a short distance. Reminiscent of the Tango concept car, the grille has a titanium colour surround framing the centrally mounted SEAT symbol, and two large intake vents can be found at both lower ends of the "lip" that frames the front end. The front view captivates with its purity of lines, and the lights attract attention on closer inspection. With xenon bulbs, the front lights are devoid of an internal casing and their architecture can be seen from the exterior. The widened rear wings increase the muscular look of the vehicle, and the bumper is perfectly integrated into the rear end, where the two, dark titanium colour exhaust pipes are visible from beneath. Especially eye-catching from the rear is the large spoiler that trails off the roof, which creates gravitational forces. These forces are increased by the front intake vents, whose incoming air creates the grounding effect that gives the car maximum adherence to the asphalt. The roof on this GT is slightly curved, ending with a wide, dark glass rear window. The impressive, V6 twin turbo engine with more than 500 hp output is housed beneath the rear window. Made of carbon fibre, the chassis is painted orange with a vivid metallic sheen, while the rims, headlamp casings, front grille surround, exhaust pipes and rear spoiler brackets are dark titanium colour.
A winning combination of engine and technique The mechanics and chassis of the SEAT Cupra GT have been developed to withstand the most demanding treatment and deliver the most impressive performance. Beneath the skin of this concept racing car, competition engineers at SEAT Sport have developed a sophisticated tubular structure that houses a 2.995 cc V6 twin turbo engine, from Audi origin, with over 500 hp output. The engine is in a rear central position and delivers power to the rear shaft with an efficient, six-speed sequential gearbox over the rear axle. The model features two generous air intake vents next to the side windows behind the doors to cool the engine and let the double intercooler breathe correctly. The Cupra GT has been built for speed. The harnessed energy of over 500 hp is not meant for the faint-hearted, but for experienced race-track drivers. Estimated performance points to 4.2 seconds to accelerate to 100 km/h and expected top speed is 295 km/h depending on the transmission ratios selected. High-speed in curves will also be attained thanks to a highly rigid chassis and special suspension ratings adjusted by SEAT Sport for racing purposes. This V6 twin turbo engine not only delivers exceptional performance, but its torque output guarantees elasticity from the lowest rev range, reaching and maintaining its maximum of 600 Nm at 5,250 rpm. With this feature, the SEAT Cupra GT adapts itself easily to even the most demanding driving conditions. It also features a refined chassis and a powerful brake system made up of 378 mm ventilated front and 355 mm ventilated rear discs. The suspension system is equipped with an independent, double wishbone with Öhlins coil shock absorbers, which ensure precise handling, even on the most winding tracks. Both the chassis and the brakes are in perfect harmony with the agility and performance level expected of a race car. Structural resistance High speed driving forces engineers to develop elements on the structure of the chassis that maintain the levels of rigidity and safety that are required for competition driving. The vehicle’s structure warrants special attention. A tubular shell, whose central structure comprises intertwining anti-roll bars, features three main areas. At the front, the sub-chassis is reinforced by a front arch made up of the dashboard beam and windscreen frame. Two reinforcements that originate in the rear structure lend rigidity to the central area. Finally, the rear tubular structure, which is reinforced with a series of buttresses that distribute stress in several directions. At the same time, this solid sub-chassis is the anchoring point for elements of the rear suspension system. Greater torsional rigidity is achieved thanks to this set of elements. A stiff coil and shock absorber rating and a low centre of gravity allow the SEAT Cupra GT to move quickly and sharply over the asphalt of the most demanding track. Spectacular, exciting, attractive and sporty. This is the Cupra GT, a prototype of racing car presented by SEAT as a world premiere at the 2003 Barcelona Motor Show.
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