(March 5, 2014) GENEVA — The SEAT Leon Cupra 280 has smashed the Nürburgring Nordschleife lap record in Germany for a front-wheel drive car. With an time of 7:58.4, it becomes the first FWD production model to dip below the eight-minute barrier.

The car used to set the amazing lap time was a production-specification Leon Cupra 280 DSG, equipped with an optional Performance Pack that includes Brembo high-performance brakes, specially designed 19-inch alloy wheels and Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tires.

Formally announcing the record at the Spanish company’s Geneva Motor Show press conference, SEAT S.A. President Jürgen Stackmann said: “Our ultimate expression of the successful Leon formula is the all new Leon Cupra. It is the fastest and the most powerful car we have ever built and yet is a comfortable family car. The Cupra is our new icon.”



Sticking with a high-performance theme, SEAT is also putting the new Leon Cup Racer — the competition vehicle developed and built by SEAT Sport — on display in Geneva. The Cup Racer forms the basis of the Leon Eurocup, beginning in May 2014 and which invites private race teams to compete on some of Europe’s most iconic racing circuits. 

Another attraction on the SEAT stand is the new Mii by MANGO, a new range-topping, design-driven edition of SEAT's city car created in collaboration with the famous design label MANGO.

SEAT is owned by Volkswagen Group and the only Spanish automaker with a full lineup of eight sedan, hatchback and minivan nameplates. The Leon is a small family car that comes in coupe and hatchback styles. 

SEAT is currently demonstrating impressive performance in its sales figures. With 355,000 vehicles delivered worldwide, the Spanish manufacturer achieved growth of 10.6% in 2013, in a market that shrank by 1.8% in Europe. In Germany, for instance, SEAT achieved a market share of 2.8% following growth of over 22%, placing it in the top ten. In the United Kingdom, registrations of the brand increased by around 17%, and close to 8% in its home market of Spain.

The new Leon family made a major contribution to this success: no less than 102,000 new SEAT Leon models were registered in 2013, 44% more than in the previous year.