Motorsports comes to Wörthersee.
Audi and Volkswagen may be the big stars at Wörthersee every year, but fellow Volkswagen Group automaker, SEAT, is looking to make a splash this year with their new Lean Cup Car that shows the automaker’s commitment towards motorsports in the future.
The new SEAT Leon Cup Racer may be from one of the lesser-known Volkswagen Group automakers, but it’s hoping to put them on the map in the motorsports arena with new customer and professional race teams. The new Cup Car is based on the production Leon five-door and can be prepared for a wide range of racing series across the globe.
“Motorsport is deeply anchored in our brand; SEAT has more than 40 years of racing history and, with the Leon Cup Racer, we are now writing the next chapter for our highly motivated customer teams. The Cup Racer is not a show model, but the first test car for our development work,” says Dr. Matthias Rabe, SEAT Executive Vice-President for Research and Development.
“The new generation of the SEAT Leon provides a compelling basis; its sporty qualities are highly acclaimed by customers and motoring journalists alike. With the racing version, we are building on from the great sporty success of recent years.”
Powering the SEAT Leon Cup Racer is powered by a modified 2.0-liter turbocharged inline-four cylinder engine that can be mated to two different transmissions. The engine produces 326 horsepower (330 PS) and 243 lb-ft. (350 Nm) of torque and all of that is sent through a six-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission to the front wheels with steering wheel paddles, and an electronically-controlled differential lock. The Endurance Racing variant of the Leon Cup Racer sports a sequential racing transmission with center console-mounted shift lever and a mechanical differential lock.
The Cup Racer may wear a similar design and many characteristics of the production five-door Leon, but it is built for performance and wears a special matte grey paint with orange accents. The track of the car is 40 mm wider than the production Leon, and uses 18-inch wheels at all four corners. SEAT worked to optimize the aerodynamic properties and achieve maximum downforce with the Leon Cup Racer starting with the front-end which features large air intakes and a new splitter to redirect air to the engine and brakes. The flared fenders utilize new outlets to help dissipate heat from the brakes and are connected by a pair of side skirts. Air runs from the front to the rear beneath the smooth underbody to the rear diffuser with integrated center-mounted exhaust outlet. The final touch is a new rear roof spoiler that helps to generate more downforce at the rear axle. Aspects such as the LED headlights with sharply angled LED daytime running lights from the production car and rear LED lights were retained and give the racer a bit of an edge in the styling department.
Inside, the theme is minimalistic safety. To reduce weight, the Leon Cup Racer has been stripped out to its bare bones and fitted with a single bucket seat with HANS device and specially-developed leather that regulates moisture. A motorsports steering wheel with various controls along with a high-resolution TFT display faces the driver while a console with numerous functions sits beside. A full, high-strength roll cage offers superb protection in case of a crash or rollover.
The SEAT Leon Cup Racer will be available in the future after development and testing is completed. The DSG-equipped model will start at € 70,000 plus VAT, while the Endurance variant will be priced at € 95,000 plus VAT. Deliveries are expected to begin in 2014 for sprint and endurance racing for a variety of series, including the possibility of a WTCC version with a 1.6-liter engine.
[Source: SEAT]
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