First look: Seat goes for sport with Cupra GT

VOLKSWAGEN'S Spanish subsidiary Seat has dabbled in Supercar territory with this prototype called the Cupra GT racer.

Revealed to the world at the Barcelona motor show, the final version of the car is expected to race in this year's Spanish GT series and Seat Sport will start building GTs to customer order later this year.

Powered by a 375kW/600Nm twin turbo 3.0-litre V6 engine borrowed from Audi, the Cupra GT has an estimated top speed of 295km/h and 0-100km/h acceleration of 4.2 seconds.

The engine is mid-mounted and delivers its power through a six-speed automatic gearbox to the rear wheels.

Braking is via massive 378mm ventilated discs up front and 355mm ventilated discs at the rear, mated to dark titanium coloured AP brake callipers.

Suspension is via independent double wishbones with Ohlins coil shock absorbers.

Styling highlights of the two-seater include the "Dynamic Line" developed by former chief designer Walter de'Silva and first seen on the Salsa concept.

There are gull wing doors with handles flush to the panels, widened rear wings, integrated bumper and a large spoiler trailing from the curved roof.

The unusual headlight arrangement is reminiscent of the Tango roadster concept car.

There are quick release 18-inch titanium coloured alloy wheels and the front wheels are shod with 265/650 tyres and the rear, 285/680.

To complete the sporting picture, the whole carbon fibre chassis is painted a vivid metallic orange with titanium coloured headlight casings, grille surround, twin tailpipes and spoiler brackets.

Seat says structural rigidity and safety have been priorities and this has been achieved by developing a central structure with intertwining anti-roll bars for the chassis.

At the front, the sub-chassis is reinforced by the arch formed by the dashboard beam and windscreen frame. The reinforced rear lends rigidity to the central section and the tubular structure, reinforced with a series of buttresses, distributes stress in several directions.

The solid sub-chassis is the anchorage point for the rear suspension system.

Torsional rigidity is also achieved by the stiff coil and shock absorbers, and low centre of gravity.