SEAT had a surprise in store for the 2003 Barcelona Motorshow: the SEAT CUPRA GT. It was a spectacular, exciting, attractive and sporty prototype, especially created to compete on racing tracks. In addition, its aesthetics projected the image of future SEAT production models…(read more)
Launch: 2003
Number built: 1
Petrol, V6 (V10)
Position: Centrally-mounted, longitudinal
Bore x stroke: 82,5 mm x 92,8 mm
Capacity: 2.995 cc (4.961 cc)
Valve gear: DOHC, 5 valves per cylinder, dry sump (4 valves)
Fuel system: Magneti Marelli electronic injection, 2 Garrett turbochargers with 2 intercoolers (naturally aspirated)
Max. power: 475 CV at 6.200 rpm (492 CV at 7.800 rpm)
Max. torque: 600 Nm at 5.250 rpm (510 Nm at 4.500 rpm)
Top speed: 295 km/h
0-100 km/h: 4.2 s
Drive: Rear-wheel drive, with ramp and disc limited-slip differential set at 45% in braking and 80% in acceleration
Gearbox: Hewland 6-speed sequential
Clutch: Dry triple-plate
Front suspension: Independent, double wishbones, 36 mm anti-roll bar
Rear suspension: Independent, double wishbones, 25 mm anti-roll bar
Steering: ZF electro-hydraulically power-assisted rack and pinion
Front/rear: Ventilated discs (378 mm), AP Racing 6-piston calipers/Ventilated discs (355 mm), AP Racing 4-piston calipers
Wheel rims: 18"
Tyres: Dunlop, 265/680R front and 285/680R rear
Body: Carbon fibre 2-seater GT on multi-tubular space frame structure with integral roll-cage
Length/width/height: 4.560/2.100 (2.000)/1.190 mm
Wheelbase: 2.650 mm
Tracks: 1.840/1.810 mm
Weight: 1.100 kg
SEAT had a surprise in store for the 2003 Barcelona Motorshow: the SEAT CUPRA GT. It was a spectacular, exciting, attractive and sporty prototype, especially created to compete on racing tracks. In addition, its aesthetics projected the image of future SEAT production models.
The CUPRA GT was designed jointly by SEAT Sport and Martorell's Technical Center, through the new SEAT Design Center at Sitges. The result was a clear sign of SEAT's creative ability, a racing GT car whose line was inspired by the Salsa (from 2000) and Tango (2001) concept-cars.
The CUPRA GT oozed the full dynamic potential of a high-performance Gran Turismo. On the side view, the characteristic dynamic line brings character to the vehicle's silhouette. But the CUPRA GT was much more than a show-car, because the intention was to provide it to the racing customers of SEAT Sport.
The origin of the SEAT CUPRA GT was the Toledo GT, that would go on to win the Spanish GT Championship with Ginés Vivancos and Jordi Gené in that same year 2003. Actually, the CUPRA GT (the car was given the name of SEAT's sportier versions) shares with the Toledo GT the tubular chassis and the 500 HP, V6 engine of Audi origin, as well as the 6-speed sequential gearbox.
From the second half of the year, production to order of the first units began. Just three cars would be built, that were raced in the Spanish GT Championship between 2004 and 2006.
However, regulation changes ended up slowing down the project and prevented the success of the Toledo GT from happening again, even though Vivancos and Gené achieved two podiums in the first year. Finally, ahead of the 2006 season, championship rules banned turbo engines and limited the maximum car width to 2 metres (the CUPRA was 2.1 metres wide).
SEAT Sport then handed over the cars to the new Sun-Red team. They reduced the car's width and replaced the engine with a 5-litre naturally-aspirated Lamborghini Gallardo V10 (back then SEAT was part of the Audi group of sporting brands, together with Audi itself and Lamborghini, which made this synergy possible). Sun-Red was run by Joan Orús, the engineer that had led the Toledo GT and CUPRA GT projects when working at SEAT Sport.
The unit in the SEAT HISTÓRICOS' Collection still shows the red and grey colours it was raced on in 2006 by Ginés Vivancos and Jordi Gené. The car is kept as it ended its last race, so it's waiting for restoration.
