Volkswagen is bringing new power to the track this year with the Ameo Cup and the company has finally revealed official details about the car. Volkswagen is considerably excited about this new model and the VW Ameo Cup one-make race. The Ameo Cup 2017 season is scheduled to start in June at the Kari Motor Speedway near Coimbatore followed by a couple of rounds at MMRT in Chennai and one round at the Buddh International Circuit (BIC).
Much like the Ameo sedan, the Ameo Cup will be manufactured completely in the Volkswagen plant at Chakan, near Pune and is a first for a car in a one-make series. It’s powered by a 1.8-litre, turbocharged TSI petrol engine that produces 205hp at 6100rpm and 320Nm between 3200rpm and 4600rpm. Sirish Vissa, head of Volkswagen Motorsport India, commented on the new Ameo Cup car saying, “The car is unlike anything Indian motorsport has seen from the Volkswagen’s stable. It has more power and amazing handling, yet it is simple enough for budding racers to learn on. The race machine is on par with international standards and the new elements in the car make it possible to take our one-make series to a new high.”
The engines are mated to a 6-speed racing sequential gearbox with steering-mounted paddle shifters. The car will run on new 17-inch wheels shod with tyres specifically developed for this car by MRF, with 205/605 rubber. The car's body comes fitted with a big spoiler for improved downforce, while the front suspension comes with McPherson Struts with 2-way adjustable KW dampers. while the front suspension comes with McPherson Struts with 2-way adjustable KW dampers.
Karthik Tharani, Volkswagen Motorsport India development and test driver, added on the performance of the car, “The Ameo Cup race car is a very well sorted machine and this is evident with the test lap time of 01:51.780, which is 4.6 seconds quicker as compared to the Vento Cup race car around the Madras Motor Race Track (MMRT).”
