SEAT hints at new Nurburgring lap record

Repeated references to the Nurburgring during the press conference at the launch of the new SEAT Leon Cupra strongly suggest that the 280hp hot hatch has broken the front-wheel drive lap record. SEAT is waiting until the 2014 Geneva Motor Show before saying any more, but has already hinted that its new Leon Cupra is significantly faster than the current Renaultsport Megane record holder. On Bing: see pictures of the new SEAT Leon Cupra at the Nurburgring SEAT Leon Cupra and Cupra 280 review (2014 onwards) To set a new front-wheel drive production car record on the Nordschleife, the SEAT Leon Cupra would have to lap the 13-mile circuit – actually a public toll road that now plays a vital part in new car development – in less than 8 minutes and 7.97 seconds.

Lotus to double production – Return to Motorsport

Lotus CEO Dany Bahar plans to double production at Hethel and return to Motor Sport Through all the gloom and doom car makers have reported over the last year and more there has been one shining light which has seemed impervious to the downturn – Lotus. They’ve not only remained profitable but they’ve managed to bring to market a new car – the Lotus Evora – which has not only been pretty well universally praised but has a full order book to boot. Clever trick.

College for Creative Studies - GM Autonomy 2020 project

Final year Transportation Design students at Detroit's College for Creative Studies have presented the results of a GM-sponsored project, to design a GM vehicle for the year 2020. The proposals were to be based on the skateboard-shaped chassis of the Autonomy fuel cell concept shown at the 2002 Detroit Auto Show. This was one of several manufacturer-sponsored projects that were presented in the lead-up to the annual CCS Student Exhibition, which opens this Friday May 14.