Claiming to have developed the fastest ever production model in the Spanish automaker’s history, SEAT of The Netherlands introduced a special edition version of the Leon Cupra that packs a whopping 310 ponies under its hood. Based on the standard Cupra, the Dutch upgraded the 240HP 2.0-liter TFSI engine (the same unit is used on the Golf GTI) to develop a total output of 310 HP and a maximum torque of 425 Nm or 315-lbs/ft. According to SEAT, the revised Leon Cupra 310 Limited Edition can achieve a top speed of 259 km/h or 161 mph making it the fastest ever production vehicle to wear the SEAT badge. The ‘super’ Cupra which will be built in a limited run of just 100 units, all destined for the Dutch market, also sports black 18-inch Orion alloy wheels and a special badge on the dashboard with the production number of the vehicle. Prices in The Netherlands are set at € 32,995.

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Spanish car maker SEAT has introduced a new selection of shades for the Leon entitled ‘Custom Palette colors’. Priced from £550, UK buyers can choose from a set of eye-catching shades including the Lumina Orange illustrated above with optional 18” Orion black alloy wheels. The vibrant orange color is available on the range-topping Leon FR and all Cupra models. The Custom Palette also introduces three new color options for the Leon, the Speed Blue, Kiwi Green and Furia Grey, the latter being a more ‘stealthier’ shade than the other two

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It’s not everyday that you see a mainstream manufacturer offering “unconventional” colours otherwise limited to exotic supercars to mass production models so it was a nice surprise to see that Seat has made available a Lamborghini orange for its new Seat Ibiza Sport Coupe. As most of you know, both Seat and Lamborghini are members of the VW Group. It should be noted that Seat is no stranger to “weird” colour offerings - remember the bright yellow and kiwi green that were available for the second generation Ibiza?

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Seat will introduce a new ultra-small city car by 2011, the company has announced. Based on the forthcoming Volkswagen Up!, Seat’s as-yet unnamed new model will be the spiritual successor to the Arosa.

There is no official word on the engines planned for use in the new city car, but Seat president Erich Schmitt has said it plans to “have hybrids available in the A-segment in the future.”

The new car will be part of the Seat’s dramatic model-range expansion, which will be spearheaded by the new Bolero saloon, based on the previous-generation Audi A4, and the forthcoming Tribu compact SUV.

The microcar will undercut the Volkswagen Up! in price – an impressive achievement considering VW’s stated aim of pricing the base Up! at around €6000 when it goes on sale in Europe.

Seat’s city car is a key part of the company’s “2018 strategy”, a plan to expand the corporate portfolio to up to 40 models within the next decade, with the brand being launched in new market and territories.

Schmitt said: “We are focusing on eastern European countries, but before we can consider launching the brand there we must also concentrate on strengthening the model portfolio and our dealer network.

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