Exciting Driveable Race Car Concept
2006 Chevrolet WTCC Ultra Concept Specifications
| Chassis | |
| Brakes F/R: | ABS, vented disc/disc |
| Tires F-R: | n.a. |
| Driveline: | Front Wheel Drive |
| Engine | |
| Type: | Turbodiesel Inline-4 |
| Displacement cu in (cc): | 122 (1991) |
| Power bhp (kW) at RPM: | 190(142) / n.a. |
| Torque lb-ft (Nm) at RPM: | n.a. |
| Redline at RPM: | n.a. |
| Exterior | |
| Length × Width × Height in: | 168.6 × 74.3 × 61.2 |
| Weight lb (kg): | n.a. |
| Performance | |
| Acceleration 0-60 mph s: | n.a. |
| Top Speed mph (km/h): | n.a. |
| Fuel Economy EPA city/highway mpg (l/100 km): | n.a. |
The Chevrolet WTCC Ultra has got what it takes to be the star of the 2006 Paris Motor Show - and not just because its rear spoiler shoots so brashly up towards the heavens. The bold and aggressive design of the racecar study takes the Chevrolet body language to the extreme. "We wanted to explore the concept of a Chevrolet muscle car reinvented for Europe," says David Lyon, Executive Director GM Asia-Pacific Design. "A concept that celebrates Chevy's racing heritage with a very forward looking design."
The ready-to-drive concept car set to premiere in Paris was developed by a GM team around the globe. It is the vision of a new generation of touring car- a design icon that bends the present WTCC regulations. "In addition to the premiere of the Chevrolet WTCC Ultra, we are also celebrating our second victory in the World Touring Car Championship," says the boss of Chevrolet Europe, Wayne Brannon, referring to Rob Huff's success in Brno in Czech Republic on September 3. "Our commitment to the WTCC is of enormous value for emotionalizing the brand."
In line with Chevrolet's diesel offensive, the compact WTCC Ultra is equipped with a powerful 1,991 cm3 diesel unit generating 190 bhp. The basic version of the four-cylinder engine is the common rail unit with four-valve technology and variable turbine blade geometry currently powering the Chevrolet Captiva and due to go into the Epica from spring 2007. The increase in performance was achieved by raising the turbo boost pressure.
The WTCC Ultra has a sophisticated independent wheel suspension on McPherson struts on both axles. The lower wheel control at the front is taken care of by an A-frame arm, while at the back, two additional wishbones and one trailing arm link the wheels precisely to the chassis.
To keep the unladen weight as low as possible, the designers of the WTCC Ultra have made plenty of use of modern lightweight materials. The body parts are finished in "Stealth Blue", a further development of the familiar Chevrolet blue, and are made of a glass fiber and carbon-fiber laminate. The flat underbody of the fully functioning touring concept car, which also graphically divides up the vehicle because of its dark color, and the front and rear spoilers are made of a plain weave carbon-fiber composite. The window frames and the air inlet grilles at the front are finished in semi gloss dark grey. They make an attractive contrast with the glossy silver-painted wheels and the polished aluminum door handles, number plate and centrally positioned tailpipes.
Another aerodynamic feature apart from the flat underbody and the spoilers is a rear dif-fuser to create additional downforce.
Inside, As Ergonomic as a Production-Line Chevrolet
"Our general aim was to bring the sporty nature of the exterior design inside," explains Breony Crittenden the designer in Australia responsible for leading the color and materials design. "We opted for raw dark surfaces by using, for example, unpolished metal or matte carbon-fiber inserts. By doing this, we kept a little secretive about the material, and called this design principle the "stealth theme". But Batman fans will get their money's worth in the WTCC Ultra, too: The upper part of the dash is finished in rubberised paint - and was inspired by the suits in the film "Batman returns". Overall, the Ultra's interior consists of materials and textures selected for their performance characteristics creating an aesthetic of functional beauty.
For weight distribution, the driver is situated as far back and as low as possible. All the control surfaces of the car are designed to be exactly where the driver requires, from the steering wheel and sequential gear selector, to the adjustable pedalbox and the console-mounted electrical switches. The inner door releases in the front doors are also situated further back than usual to be in reach of the driver. The steering wheel is similarly rear-ward of normal, and houses all the technical information readouts for the driver in two screens. The main circular screen displays the gear selection and tachometer, as well as oil and water temperatures, fuel and oil levels, and brake bias. Four push buttons on the wheel control the functions of the main screen. The second screen situated in the top of the ergonomically designed wheel rim displays the tachometer as a graphical display, to aid the accurate timing of gear selection. The surface treatment around the circular screen emulates the wheel arch design on the exterior.
The seat also borrows aspects of the exterior, comprising complex interwoven surfaces that echo the broken lines of the exterior. The striking form of the frame and the upholstery is designed to support and protect the driver, and is made from carbon-fiber composites with self-skinning polyurethane cushions. Aggressive sculpting of the frame and cushions provides ergonomic support of the driver to ensure a comfortable driving position. The surface of both the cushions is broken up by an asymmetrical pattern of raised dots, designed to give added grip to the driver. The seat provides head and neck protection via wings that project either side of the head support, and a six-point racing harness is employed to keep the driver in position. The love of detail is also evidenced by the embossed Chevrolet insignia on this harness belt. Nowhere on the car are there any printed logos or letters - everything is embossed, milled or cast.
