CMST GAC Empow R Carbon Fibre Widebody Body Kit
The CMST Empow R aero kit is a dry-carbon and FRP widebody body kit developed for the 2023-onward GAC Trumpchi Empow R (ๅฝฑ่ฑนR). It was created during CMST's "Empow R Project", a co-developed carbon-fibre aero programme that produced two demonstration cars: one street-focused build and one fitted with a "mini-widebody" treatment that widens the track. The headline panels โ front lip, bonnet, side skirts, rear lip, canards and rear wing โ are formed in dry carbon fibre, while the wheel arches and rear bumper vents are moulded in FRP to keep the wider, more complex shapes affordable and paintable.
- Vehicle: GAC Trumpchi Empow R (ๅนฟๆฑฝไผ ็ฅบๅฝฑ่ฑนR), turbocharged 2.0-litre
- Fitment years: 2023 onward
- Material options: Dry carbon fibre (headline aero) and FRP (arches, rear vents)
- Key pieces: Bullhorn front lip, full carbon bonnet, side skirts, 4-piece canards, 8-piece wheel arches, 5-piece rear lip, fixed rear wing with end-plate canards
- Finish: Gloss 2x2 twill weave clearcoat on dry-carbon pieces; primed FRP ready for colour-matched paint
What the CMST Empow R kit actually is
This is a full aerodynamic body kit, not a single styling part. CMST built it around the factory Empow R silhouette and split the design into two specifications. The street build keeps the standard track width and bolts the carbon aero straight onto the OEM body. The widebody build adds flared front and rear arches so the car can run a wider track and broader tyres, which is the version most enthusiasts photograph. Both specifications share the same dry-carbon front lip, bonnet, side skirts, rear lip and rear wing, so the aero language is consistent whichever route you take.
The Empow R is GAC's hot version of the Empow sedan, powered by a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder. A front-drive turbo sedan with a willing engine is a sensible base for an aero kit: the front axle benefits from reduced lift, and a balanced rear wing helps keep the car planted at speed. If you are researching the broader range, AME stocks the full CMST catalogue alongside other carbon programmes.
Piece-by-piece breakdown
Front lip and canards
The front lip is a dry-carbon "bullhorn" design that extends below the factory bumper and sharpens the leading edge of the car. Working with it is a 4-piece canard set mounted on the front bumper corners. Together they manage airflow at the front of the car: the lip reduces the volume of air slipping under the nose, and the canards create small vortices that help reduce front-axle lift and add a measure of front downforce. On a turbocharged sedan that sees highway and spirited road use, that translates to a steadier front end as speed builds.
Full carbon bonnet
CMST replaces the steel bonnet with a full dry-carbon item. The obvious benefit is weight removed from the highest, most forward part of the car, which is exactly where shedding mass helps handling. A carbon bonnet also shows the 2x2 twill weave under clearcoat, so it doubles as the visual centrepiece of the build. As with any aftermarket carbon bonnet, factory bonnet pins or the standard latch should be checked for secure engagement before driving.
Wheel arches and side skirts
The side treatment is a 2-piece dry-carbon side skirt set plus an 8-piece FRP wheel-arch kit covering the front and rear guards. The skirts tidy airflow along the flanks and visually drop the car's centre of gravity. The flared arches are the heart of the widebody specification: they add width to cover the increased track and wider tyres, and CMST moulds them in FRP because fibreglass forms the deep, compound arch curves more economically than autoclaved carbon. The arches also carry vent detailing to emphasise the car's stance.
Rear lip and bumper vents
At the back, a 5-piece dry-carbon rear lip wraps the lower bumper and frames the factory quad-exit exhaust. CMST integrates a lower aero blade and pairs it with FRP rear-bumper air vents, giving the tail a diffuser-style appearance that visually pulls the car towards the road. The split 5-piece construction makes the rear lip easier to ship and to fit around the existing bumper without a full bumper replacement.
Rear wing
The fixed rear wing replaces the OEM boot spoiler entirely. It is a dry-carbon design with small canard-style end plates, profiled to suit the Empow R's roofline. Unlike a subtle ducktail, a raised fixed wing sits in cleaner air above the boot and is there to generate rear downforce. That extra rear load is most useful at higher speeds, where it improves high-speed stability and helps balance the front aero so the car does not feel nervous. You can see the same philosophy across AME's CMST carbon fibre body kit range.
Dry carbon vs FRP vs the factory PP bumpers
This kit deliberately mixes two aftermarket materials, and the factory parts are a third. Understanding the differences helps you set expectations on weight, finish and care.
| Material | How it is made | Strengths | Trade-offs |
|---|---|---|---|
| Dry carbon fibre | Pre-preg carbon cured under heat and pressure in an autoclave | Lightest and stiffest option; true 2x2 weave show finish | Clearcoat is UV-sensitive and needs care; higher cost |
| FRP (fibreglass) | Glass fibre laid into a mould with resin | Robust, easy to paint, forms complex arch shapes economically | Heavier than carbon; needs paint to look finished |
| PP (factory) | Injection-moulded polypropylene | Flexible, cheap, shrugs off minor knocks | Heavier and not a structural upgrade; plain finish |
The practical takeaway is that CMST puts dry carbon where light weight and a visible weave matter most โ bonnet, lip, skirts, rear lip and wing โ and uses FRP for the arches and vents, where paint-matching to body colour is expected anyway and complex curves are easier to form. The factory PP bumpers stay flexible and cheap, but they are not a performance or weight upgrade, which is the gap an aero kit fills.
Fitment and finish
Carbon and FRP panels are made to tighter, more brittle tolerances than flexible PP, so fitment is a workshop job rather than a driveway one. Plan for trial-fitting, checking panel gaps against the adjacent OEM panels, and securing pieces with the correct mix of clips, bolts and panel-safe adhesive. Three points are worth flagging before you book the work:
- Paint-matching the FRP: the arches and rear vents arrive primed and must be sprayed to match your car's colour. Budget for a painter who can match GAC factory paint, including any pearl or metallic, so the FRP disappears into the body.
- Dry-carbon clearcoat care: the exposed weave is protected by a clearcoat that degrades under prolonged UV. Park undercover where practical, wash with pH-neutral products, and consider a UV-stable ceramic coating or paint protection film to keep the weave from yellowing.
- Widebody arch fitment: flared arches change the relationship between the tyre and the guard. Wheel offset, tyre width and ride height all need to be set so the tyre clears the new arch through full suspension travel and steering lock. Get the wheel and tyre package confirmed before the arches go on.
Because the kit ships as discrete pieces, a competent body shop can fit it in stages and correct gaps as they go. Browse compatible carbon panels and arches in the wider carbon fibre body kit collection if you are planning the build around a painter's schedule.
Why carbon makes sense on this car
The Empow R is a light, front-drive turbo sedan, so it responds well to two things: removing weight high on the car and reducing front-end lift. A dry-carbon bonnet, lip, skirts and wing address both at once, while the FRP widebody arches let the car run a wider, more planted footprint. You also get the design payoff โ a factory-shaped sedan gains a coherent, motorsport-derived aero look without resorting to mismatched parts. For owners chasing the same effect on the wheels, AME also lists carbon fibre wheels that complement a carbon aero build.
Frequently asked questions
Does the CMST Empow R kit fit my year?
The kit is designed for the GAC Trumpchi Empow R from the 2023 model year onward. It is shaped to the Empow R body specifically, not the standard Empow, so confirm your car is the R variant and built from 2023 before ordering.
What is the difference between the dry-carbon and FRP pieces?
Dry carbon fibre is autoclave-cured pre-preg carbon: it is the lightest and stiffest option and carries a visible 2x2 weave under clearcoat. CMST uses it for the front lip, bonnet, side skirts, rear lip and rear wing. FRP (fibreglass-reinforced plastic) is heavier but easier to mould into complex shapes and to paint, so it is used for the wheel arches and rear bumper vents, which are colour-matched to the body.
Do the widebody arches need cutting?
The 8-piece arch set is a flared widebody fitment intended to cover a wider track and tyre. Depending on your final wheel offset, tyre width and ride height, some trimming or guard rolling of the OEM metal can be required so the tyre clears the arch through full suspension travel. Have your wheel and tyre package confirmed and the fitment done by a workshop experienced with widebody conversions.
Should I have it professionally fitted?
Yes. Carbon and FRP panels are more brittle and less forgiving than flexible factory PP bumpers, and correct panel gaps, secure mounting and colour-matched paint on the FRP all need a body shop. Professional fitment protects the parts and gives the clean, flush result the kit is designed for.
Can I buy individual pieces instead of the full kit?
The kit is built from discrete components โ front lip, bonnet, side skirts, canards, arches, rear lip, vents and wing โ so you can stage the build rather than buying everything at once. If you only want the front-end transformation, start with the front lip and canards; if you want the full widebody stance, you will need the arch set as well. Contact AME Motorsport to confirm current availability of single pieces for your build.
Build your Empow R with AME Motorsport
If you are putting a carbon aero package together for a 2023-onward GAC Trumpchi Empow R, AME Motorsport can supply the CMST pieces and advise on staging the build with your painter and workshop. Start with the full CMST body kit range to see the carbon and FRP components, then get in touch to confirm fitment and the right wheel and tyre package for the widebody arches.