Seat Announces Hot New Leon Pairing

SPANISH car maker Seat has announced details of two hot hatch versions of its popular new Leon model. The Leon Cupra and Cupra 280 variants boast 265 and 280 horsepower respectively, while the latter assumes the status of the most powerful Seat to date. Both are positioned above the current FR trim level.

CCS students tackle GM project

Seniors studying Transportation Design at the College for Creative Studies (CCS) in Detroit, Michigan, have recently completed a project with General Motors that has been underway since late 2009. General Motors challenged the students to design an Extended Range Electric Vehicle (EREV) that focused on the brand identity of Buick, Cadillac or Chevrolet, utilized the EREV components, and optimized aerodynamic attributes. Design features that incorporated sustainability materials and efficiency were also considered important components of the design development.

Mini and BMW M get new leaders

The overseer of BMW’s vaunted M division is taking another spin in the driver’s seat at Mini. Longtime company executive Kay Segler will take over stewardship of the iconic small-car brand on May 1. He previously led Mini from 2004 to 2008.