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2017 Kia Cee'd TCR Race Car Teased

The TCR features racers based on all my favorite cars, the Golf R, Leon Cupra, Astra K, Subaru WRX STI and Civic Type R. Kia will also join the action next year with this Cee'd-based project.
2017 Kia Cee'd TCR Race Car Teased 4 photos
Photo: TCR
2017 Kia Cee'd TCR Race Car Teased2017 Kia Cee'd TCR Race Car Teased2017 Kia Cee'd TCR Race Car Teased
Boy, it's been ages since we last wrote something nice about the Kia Cee'd GT. And now it's got a big wing on the back and about a foot of extra width.

The point of a teaser is to get you excited without revealing everything. For example, we don't know what kind of engine this Korean will have. The company putting the race car together previously said it will use a 2-liter turbocharged engine with an output of 330 hp and a paddle shift gearbox, but there haven't been any updates.

Most cars that make up the field are SEAT Leons and VW Golfs, so the re-tuned 2-liter is not a problem for them. They are either equipped with DSGs or a sequential gearbox, in which case there's a weight penalty.

We might imagine that the new 2-liter turbo from the i30 N has been adopted, but in reality, Kia doesn't have a lot to do with the project. Development has been left to Austrian specialists STARD. To ensure reliability, they are testing the best available components „back to back“ before deciding which supplier will finally be chosen for the series.

“The testing program is going very well, and the results excel our expectations. We are developing a motorsport customer car, for a client with very clear and strict guidelines. Therefore we are even more satisfied that we are perfectly on schedule with the project,
" said STARD CEO Michael Sakowicz.

"To give an example, we are currently testing 4 different damper suppliers. The same approach applies to the gearbox, brakes, engine auxiliaries and many further,"
added Philip Thonet, the company technical head.

This fast-paced teaser is a preview of the official debut, which will happen in September.

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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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