SEAT Leon Cupra laps Nurburgring in record time for FWD - 7mins 58.4 secs

[Crafoo]

I am laughing so much at my supervisor from work. He is banging on about the new civic vtec concept that honda "claim" will smash the record the cupra just set. I keep telling him that talk is cheap and the only time he can really start boasting is if or when it eventually happens. That civic driver will have know his stuff too......

It may very well beat it but they do have a little bit of time to tweak it where necessary.

Give it a couple of years then the Mk3 Cupra R will retake the crown

 

[betty_swollox]

Closest FWD car I THINK lol:

8:07.97 Renault Megane RS Trophy Laurent Hurgon June 17, 2011 www.europeancarnews.com (06/2011), new record for a FWD car.[77]

 

[keithjeb]

I have seen quite a few of the DS3 racing cars on the road. The problem here i think is that when they showed the cupra most folk that own a mk2 k1/btcc kitted car were complaining that they want something that differentiated the car from the rest. SEAT create this and other still complain that it is too lairy now. Me personally, love it, then i have never been one for conformity and i like something that stands out, even though i am 38, that's just me. It gives potential customers out there options, and options are what generate sales, because let's face it, not everyone wants the same thing.

As mentioned before, these cars can be tailored to individuals tastes and I am pretty sure some of the bits from the performance pack will be able to be bought individually so you don't "have" to buy this exact model, if that makes sense. Damn i need to stop rambling on like this

Pretty much my thoughts exactly. No one is going out and buying a cupra as a Q car, thats what Octavia vRS is for, or even GTi. Seat is supposed to be the 'fun' brand within the VAG stable, it happens that with the leon ST they've got a decent boring family car as well.

Black with orange highlights and the 3l diesel from the A4 in 2.5 years when my lease is up if you're listening mr seat.

 

[mryanski]

I am laughing so much at my supervisor from work. He is banging on about the new civic vtec concept that honda "claim" will smash the record the cupra just set. I keep telling him that talk is cheap and the only time he can really start boasting is if or when it eventually happens. That civic driver will have know his stuff too......

Had to laugh at this too, Honda have been claiming for ages that the new Type R Civic will be the first FWD car to lap the 'Ring at under 8 minutes!! Errrr, too late folks, beaten to it

 

[robdf2]

I have seen quite a few of the DS3 racing cars on the road. The problem here i think is that when they showed the cupra most folk that own a mk2 k1/btcc kitted car were complaining that they want something that differentiated the car from the rest. SEAT create this and other still complain that it is too lairy now. Me personally, love it, then i have never been one for conformity and i like something that stands out, even though i am 38, that's just me. It gives potential customers out there options, and options are what generate sales, because let's face it, not everyone wants the same thing.

As mentioned before, these cars can be tailored to individuals tastes and I am pretty sure some of the bits from the performance pack will be able to be bought individually so you don't "have" to buy this exact model, if that makes sense. Damn i need to stop rambling on like this

Think you got the wrong end of the stick their JC
I was on about SEATs marketing , they have openly said that the reason the Cupra is sedate that from their market reasearch having an in your face car would affect Cupra sales , so as this is a fact and they said it why would you launch a car which is beyond In your face ?
They are contradicting everything they have said.

Everyone to their own mate and if the orange thing does it for you then I don't expect to see anything else than a tangerine enhanced Cupra on your readers ride thread lol

 

[ZBOYD]

I wouldn't describe any Cupra as sedate, conservative most definitely and to be fair no less conservative than the car it replaced, but 280hp in any FWD is less than sedate.

Being honest even 180hp isn't sedate, this little FR of mine is no slouch, and is good fun to chuck about, certainly don't find myself nodding off with boredom anyway.

 

[robdf2]

I wouldn't describe any Cupra as sedate, conservative most definitely and to be fair no less conservative than the car it replaced, but 280hp in any FWD is less than sedate.

Being honest even 180hp isn't sedate, this little FR of mine is no slouch, and is good fun to chuck about, certainly don't find myself nodding off with boredom anyway.

You've missed the point Z , it's not about power it's about looks
You even quoted SEATs words earlier in the Cupra thread.
The mk2 is much more in your face than the mk3 I think that's been pointed out a few times and not just my views SEAT even pointed this fact out themselves.

The comments are made at the tangerine styling they have now aired and contradicting their statements of having a more in your face car would harm Cupra sales.
From a sales point of view if you were trying to attract the more mature owners (seats words)
To the brand and improve Cupra sales , having a tangerine Cupra in your showroom is not the way to really go about it.

 

[betty_swollox]

You've missed the point Z , it's not about power it's about looks
You even quoted SEATs words earlier in the Cupra thread.
The mk2 is much more in your face than the mk3 I think that's been pointed out a few times and not just my views SEAT even pointed this fact out themselves.

The comments are made at the tangerine styling they have now aired and contradicting their statements of having a more in your face car would harm Cupra sales.
From a sales point of view if you were trying to attract the more mature owners (seats words)
To the brand and improve Cupra sales , having a tangerine Cupra in your showroom is not the way to really go about it.

+1

I think it looks dump compared to the MK2 Cupra R.

There was a nice pic uploaded where it had some sort of body kit on it, which looked proper smart, but the normal one isnt that great

 

[ZBOYD]

You've missed the point Z , it's not about power it's about looks
You even quoted SEATs words earlier in the Cupra thread.
The mk2 is much more in your face than the mk3 I think that's been pointed out a few times and not just my views SEAT even pointed this fact out themselves.

The comments are made at the tangerine styling they have now aired and contradicting their statements of having a more in your face car would harm Cupra sales.
From a sales point of view if you were trying to attract the more mature owners (seats words)
To the brand and improve Cupra sales , having a tangerine Cupra in your showroom is not the way to really go about it.

No I didn't, you chose the wrong word. Sedate: sleepy, tired slow sluggish. Not a word to describe any hot hatch really.

Now conservative or contempory is a better word to describe a look or a fashion.

Mk2 has never been in your face, they attempted it with the pretty nasty K1 (my opinion) but even the Cupra R was conservative despite its huge white alloys if you opted for them. My old Cupra with its 19" rims wasn't exactly in anyone's face, just the way I liked it.

SEAT have not really contradicted anything though, because I have not read any official statement where they couldn't offer anyone a choice, or when they have described it as sedate.

There have been statements made by the press, relating to it being maybe more grown up than before and maybe SEAT are looking for a different clientele, though I doubt it's changed its target audience much more than it did for the previous Cupra.

But if I was to take any observation, it would be the improvement of products. They may not be quite there yet with VW or Audi levels of quality (again subjective as I know people that have had bad experiences with most marques), but the latest cars have taken a firm step in the right direction. Both exterior styling and interior quality has stepped up over the previous models. The technology on offer is of the moment rather than being shoe-horned in from the parts bin after the fact.

As I've said before, why does it have to be only one way. Choice is the key, give people more choice and they are more likely to find what they want, to suit their taste. A process that does takes time to achieve. They've learnt a big lesson already in my opinion, by offering a wider choice of body styles and making the volume cars more desirable. Being a realist, I know the companies fortunes are not being made on Cupra sales, whether they are orange or not.

Offering orange styling performance packs is not a contradiction, because the standard out of the brochure car is a conservative model. But no-one said they couldn't offer something a little more bright to those that want it, who are prepared to add the options.

Listening to the press conference this morning, actually shed more light on the performance pack. It's because the out of the box Cupra couldn't deliver the sub 8 minute time. So adding the Brembos and stickier tyres made it possible. However one can assume that by offering the pack as an option, the company can continue to claim it was made by a production car with the same bits on sale to the customer. Does it mean every customer wants the racing brakes and softer compound tyres, if it's going to cost them a wedge on top maybe they don't see it as important for their commute to work with the odd B road blast every now and again.

 

[ZBOYD]

Likelihood is as was the case with the Mk2, that peoples tastes evolve to suit what they drive or what they want. Plenty of Mk1 owners rubbished the Mk2 and then lots flocked to it over the years once they found out what it was capable of.

I see history judging the Mk3 no differently. Time will no doubt tell.

 

[DeanC]

Likelihood is as was the case with the Mk2, that peoples tastes evolve to suit what they drive or what they want. Plenty of Mk1 owners rubbished the Mk2 and then lots flocked to it over the years once they found out what it was capable of.

I see history judging the Mk3 no differently. Time will no doubt tell.

Exactly. You will notice all the people who prefer the mk2 own one ;-)

 

[ZBOYD]

Exactly. You will notice all the people who prefer the mk2 own one ;-)

I'm not pointing fingers, I'm generalising.

I've owned them all, and enjoyed them all. I know all their strengths and weaknesses. I'm positive about most of my SEAT ownership, I know that isn't the case for everyone. But you pays your money, you make your choice. It works for you or it doesn't.

Peoples opinions are subjective to their own experience. Though I do find that those with a. negative point to put across seemingly have to shout a lot louder than those who don't. Not to say I don't appreciate those opinions, I'm all for it, but the cliche of a broken record can come to mind in some cases, some folks seem to get het up just because someone else has a positive outlook.

Fine, you don't like it, we get it. But lots of others do, they have just as a fair right to express their opinions and not be jumped on for simply liking what they see.

 

[DeanC]

Indeed. I would never have thought about owning a SEAT before seeing the mk3 at the dealera down the road and taking one for a spin.

 

[robdf2]

No I didn't, you chose the wrong word. Sedate: sleepy, tired slow sluggish. Not a word to describe any hot hatch really.

Now conservative or contempory is a better word to describe a look or a fashion.

Mk2 has never been in your face, they attempted it with the pretty nasty K1 (my opinion) but even the Cupra R was conservative despite its huge white alloys if you opted for them. My old Cupra with its 19" rims wasn't exactly in anyone's face, just the way I liked it.

SEAT have not really contradicted anything though, because I have not read any official statement where they couldn't offer anyone a choice, or when they have described it as sedate.

There have been statements made by the press, relating to it being maybe more grown up than before and maybe SEAT are looking for a different clientele, though I doubt it's changed its target audience much more than it did for the previous Cupra.

But if I was to take any observation, it would be the improvement of products. They may not be quite there yet with VW or Audi levels of quality (again subjective as I know people that have had bad experiences with most marques), but the latest cars have taken a firm step in the right direction. Both exterior styling and interior quality has stepped up over the previous models. The technology on offer is of the moment rather than being shoe-horned in from the parts bin after the fact.

As I've said before, why does it have to be only one way. Choice is the key, give people more choice and they are more likely to find what they want, to suit their taste. A process that does takes time to achieve. They've learnt a big lesson already in my opinion, by offering a wider choice of body styles and making the volume cars more desirable. Being a realist, I know the companies fortunes are not being made on Cupra sales, whether they are orange or not.

Offering orange styling performance packs is not a contradiction, because the standard out of the brochure car is a conservative model. But no-one said they couldn't offer something a little more bright to those that want it, who are prepared to add the options.

Listening to the press conference this morning, actually shed more light on the performance pack. It's because the out of the box Cupra couldn't deliver the sub 8 minute time. So adding the Brembos and stickier tyres made it possible. However one can assume that by offering the pack as an option, the company can continue to claim it was made by a production car with the same bits on sale to the customer. Does it mean every customer wants the racing brakes and softer compound tyres, if it's going to cost them a wedge on top maybe they don't see it as important for their commute to work with the odd B road blast every now and again.

sedate :
More example sentencesSynonyms
calm, tranquil, placid, composed, serene, steady, unruffled, imperturbable, unflappable; dignified, serious, serious-minded, formal, decorous, proper, prim, demure, sober, earnest, staid, stiff, stuffy, boring
• informal starchy, stick-in-the-mud
View synonyms
slow, unhurried, relaxed, leisurely, unrushed, slow-moving, slow-going, slow and steady, easy, easy-going, gentle, comfortable, restful, undemanding, lazy, languid, languorous, plodding, dawdling, leisured, measured, steady
• informal laid-back

that covers my meaning Z but lets not nik pic
the point of my post was the fact that the tangerine cupra is not in line with how SEAT have broadcast to the world how they are marketing it ,
they said they conducted a market research programme which said that they wanted to tone down the looks of the cupra (reading between the lines says mk2 cupra was more aggressive) but then in next breath have introduced the tangerine
or have i totally dreampt that up??????????

i agree choice is good we all want that , thats why these forums exsist because we are all different from the norm and share our views and experiences on making our cars stand out from the pack and perform better.
i do agree whole heartedly that the mk3 has come on leaps amnd bounds compared to the mk2 , but tbh i think this is the first proper VW SEAT , which has been a long time coming.

 

[ZBOYD]

that covers my meaning Z but lets not nik pic

Nit pick surely? no let's not.

the point of my post was the fact that the tangerine cupra is not in line with how SEAT have broadcast to the world how they are marketing it ,
they said they conducted a market research programme which said that they wanted to tone down the looks of the cupra (reading between the lines says mk2 cupra was more aggressive) but then in next breath have introduced the tangerine
or have i totally dreampt that up??????????

i agree choice is good we all want that , thats why these forums exsist because we are all different from the norm and share our views and experiences on making our cars stand out from the pack and perform better.
i do agree whole heartedly that the mk3 has come on leaps amnd bounds compared to the mk2 , but tbh i think this is the first proper VW SEAT , which has been a long time coming.

I pour cold water on most marketing campaigns, because they often ask the wrong questions of the wrong people. But seemingly that's how automotive companies work, and nothing much has changed.

In my opinion very little has changed in regards to how they have marketed the Mk3 to the Mk2 or the Mk1 before it. Except they can't make up their minds how or who they want to market the car too.

We were the sporty arm of VW, the we were the emotive arm of VW/Audi, now we are a sprinkle of Spanish fun with German engineering.

All subjective, even SEAT don't know what camp they want to be in. Disregarding all the marketing bullshit, and from my own personal point of view I see good looking, good value products with high levels of equipment. The lines may of blurred over the years, but that's the way of the world.

 

[jc_boc]

Think you got the wrong end of the stick their JC
I was on about SEATs marketing , they have openly said that the reason the Cupra is sedate that from their market reasearch having an in your face car would affect Cupra sales , so as this is a fact and they said it why would you launch a car which is beyond In your face ?
They are contradicting everything they have said.

Everyone to their own mate and if the orange thing does it for you then I don't expect to see anything else than a tangerine enhanced Cupra on your readers ride thread lol

Watch this space mate My point is as reported the cupra is launched as a more grown up car. You have the options of 260PS or 280PS, 5 door or SC, manual or DSG. This appeals to a very broad market and now they have thought of the more "flamboyant", if you want to call it that, owner and are offering this version which is a lot more eye catching. That was my point, choice, what every one really wants at the end of the day/ As Z said, market research aint worth the paper it's written on. Sending someone out there to round up 20, 50 or 100 arbitrary car owners who have the imagination of a rolling rock counts for nothing in my eyes.

Cars will always be a marmite situation for owners and enthusiasts. The question is, what works for at the end of the day and can you have that offered? I think SEAT have done that here. I may get the stock 280 and add the trimmings from the performance pack less the brakes and wheels just to make it "look" a little more aggressive

 

[RacerBice]

Being honest even 180hp isn't sedate, this little FR of mine is no slouch, and is good fun to chuck about, certainly don't find myself nodding off with boredom anyway.

Agree totally. My SC 180 FR also goes like it's on acid.

 

[GrahamFR]

i think the main thing we should take from all this is that we need to invest in some Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres!

 

[ZBOYD]

i think the main thing we should take from all this is that we need to invest in some Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres!

If you need to lap the ring in under 8 minutes.

 

[betty_swollox]

Exactly. You will notice all the people who prefer the mk2 own one ;-)

It's not a case of sour grapes at all.