SEAT’s newly separated Cupra performance brand has set up camp in Croatia to test its second model: an all-electric touring racecar.
The e-Racer can produce the equivalent of 670bhp to race from a halt to 65mph in 3.2 seconds and 125mph in 8.2 seconds. To deliver performance like this, it uses a battery consisting of 6,072 round cell batteries, equivalent to 9,000 mobile phones. This amount of power enables a range that makes it perfectly compatible to compete on the new E-TCR (Electric Touring Car Races).
The Cupra e-Racer is apparently the first touring car produced that complies with the requirements for competing in the new E TCR series: the first-ever electric, multi-brand touring car championship. Cupra headed over to Zagreb to test the integration of the electric battery pack with the rest of the vehicle.
All electrical, battery, cooling and propulsion systems had previously been assessed individually, but these tests marked the first time the elements were integrated and tested together on the track. Cupra says the results were “very optimistic” and the data collected during these tests will be used to continue adjusting the systems and help focus on the vehicle’s performance.
Dr. Matthias Rabe, SEAT’s R&D vice-president, hoped to take racing to the next level with the Cupra e-Racer. “We believe we can help reinvent motorsport and achieve success,” he commented. And quoted that “Motorsport is one of the pillars of Cupra and we are proud of the team that is making this electric touring racecar possible.”
Cupra unveiled its first car back in February – a performance focused version of SEAT’s Ateca SUV – so expect more of souped-up SEATs to emerge over the coming months.
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