by Dan Roth
SEAT, being under the VAG corporate umbrella, certainly knows what’s been going on with Audi’s racing diesels. Perhaps the division looks up to its Ingolstadt cousins with admiration, and it’s hoping that imitation yields the same type of success. SEAT will be the first manufacturer to field a diesel-powered entry in the FIA’s World Touring Car Championship. Two TDI racers will take to the macadam on July 28th and 29th in Sweden.
The car itself is a Leon sporting a 2-liter diesel engine that’s based on the 170PS street-going mill. In WTCC trim, power is up to 280PS, and the turbocharger and gearbox have been swapped for racing units. The rules stipulate that a diesel car carry a 30kg weight penalty, and the attendant hardware for the powertrain shifts the weight distribution in a bad direction. SEAT is banking on the moves the chassis provides, as well as the muscular torque delivery of the diesel to make the Leon competitive.
Press release after the jump
[Source: SEAT]
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Categories: Audi
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