RE: SEAT 'Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack' launched

RE: SEAT 'Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack' launched

Monday 9th February 2015

SEAT 'Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack' launched

Just when it seemed the Leon 'ring lap saga was over...



Hang on, you may be thinking. That's the 'regular' Leon Cupra Performance Pack, the car we heard about last year, that nobody has actually driven yet but that customers have ordered. But it's different. This is the 'Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack', a car that reputedly mirrors "the exact specification" of the 7:58 'ring record car, meaning there probably won't be a Mega Ultimate Sub8 Performance Pack any time soon. What a shame.

Ultimate pack only on three-door. Boo!
Ultimate pack only on three-door. Boo!
So on top of the Performance Pack's bigger brakes, Brembo calipers and lighter wheels, the Ultimate adds (if that's the correct word) a series of weight saving measures. So the climate control has gone, replaced by a "simpler heating system" but with no kilogram saving stated. Four of the eight speakers have been removed as well, plus the centre console armrest and rear air vents. How will poor buyers cope with such abject sparseness?

Jokes aside, SEAT is keen to stress the everyday usability of the Leon, indeed asserting it "is no impractical track day toy." Wonder which rival they could be thinking of there? The rest of the Leon Cupra's standard equipment (what is there left without the armrest and the air vents?) remains, including the Dynamic Chassis Control dampers, cruise control, sat-nav and DAB.

The price? The Ultimate costs £4,200 on top of the £27,210 for a Leon Cupra SC 280. Sort of. Don't forget the £460 for Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2s. And there's the option of DSG too if you want. And that's everything. Really. So it's £31,870 for a manual with the tyres. SEAT has said each Ultimate will be built to order with no exact production numbers confirmed. You suspect quite a few customers with a regular Performance Pack on order will be after one! Should an Ultimate ever actually arrive in the UK, we will endeavour to get our hands on it PDQ. And head to the Eifel region, armed with a stop watch.

Author
Discussion

pSynrg

Original Poster:

238 posts

181 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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So, still behind the RS275.

Not that it matters really, but why bother with second best?

manmaths

437 posts

139 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Meh

hondansx

4,562 posts

224 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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The wheels remind me of ones you see on a 15 year old Corsa with completely the wrong offset.

crosseyedlion

2,170 posts

197 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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So, apart from the brembos and wheels, you're paying over 4k for less kit?

kambites

67,462 posts

220 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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crosseyedlion said:
So, apart from the brembos and wheels, you're paying over 4k for less kit?
Clearly now Porsche are part of VW, the other subdivisions have been having lessons from them. hehe

C.A.R.

3,967 posts

187 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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The Crack Fox said:
Thanks for this SEAT, I was pulling my hair out here. It has seemingly been 10 minutes since someone launched another bloody hatchback to hit an irrelevant laptime and I was worrying you'd all gone off to create something unique, appealing and interesting instead.





/grumpy.
Indeed. Whatever happened to the SEAT of old?

The one who made an interesting alternative Hot Hatch and was very quiet and dignified. Now it's shouting about the fact that it has a re-bodied Golf which is a bit quick...

EricE

1,945 posts

128 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Just because Porsche can charge more for less doesn't mean the brand on the other spectrum of the VAG can get away with that. Fair play though, it is worth a try. laugh

Ryvita

712 posts

209 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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I've read this article three times now and I'm still missing the bit where it says "revised LSD", "10 extra lbft", "carbon fibre and unobtainium doo-dads" or even "suspension geometry changes"...

4K for what exactly??? Somebody above mentioned that the wheels are the main difference but my reading of that paragraph is that they're in the standard performance pack kit?

aka_kerrly

12,416 posts

209 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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C.A.R. said:
Indeed. Whatever happened to the SEAT of old?

The one who made an interesting alternative Hot Hatch and was very quiet and dignified. Now it's shouting about the fact that it has a re-bodied Golf which is a bit quick...
What on earth are you on about.



So quiet and dignified, it's exactly what the new SEATs are, only this is a POLO chassis with Golf GTI running gear strapped to it making it faster than the Golf and cheaper than the Polo.

Using this logic the Leon should have the Golf R engine with FWD but cost standard Golf GTI money.


Craikeybaby

10,369 posts

224 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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aka_kerrly said:
What on earth are you on about.



So quiet and dignified, it's exactly what the new SEATs are, only this is a POLO chassis with Golf GTI running gear strapped to it making it faster than the Golf and cheaper than the Polo.

Using this logic the Leon should have the Golf R engine with FWD but cost standard Golf GTI money.
Seeing that makes me feel nostalgic about my old Cupra.

I can't see why anyone would have the new one over a Megane Trophy R though.

neil1jnr

1,460 posts

154 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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aka_kerrly said:
Using this logic the Leon should have the Golf R engine with FWD but cost standard Golf GTI money.
Mate, this is exactly what a Seat Cupra 280 is, Golf R engine for less than GTI money, check broker prices, you can get a 3dr DSG Cupra 280 for less than £23K.

MustardCutter

238 posts

119 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Don't see why you would buy this over the normal ring performance pack, it's not like this 'ultimate' spec is still the record holder so it doesn't have the same appeal anymore. I would just get the normal performance pack...

Fetchez la vache

5,568 posts

213 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Craikeybaby said:
I can't see why anyone would have the new one over a Megane Trophy R though.
Maybe they've been bit by Renaults build quality they have purchased in the past, vowwed never again, and have liked the seats they have purchased since.
I fall into that category.

Or maybe they're sensible and couldn't give a st how fast a car goes round the ring in the first place.
I imagine there are plenty who fall into that category.

Ecosseven

1,972 posts

216 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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I like the Leon and can see me getting an FR version in the future but this 'sub8' edition seems totally pointless unless you only drive on the track.

CS400

145 posts

110 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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MustardCutter said:
Don't see why you would buy this over the normal ring performance pack, it's not like this 'ultimate' spec is still the record holder so it doesn't have the same appeal anymore. I would just get the normal performance pack...
Spot on, I agree,
I effect your paying more for less and all that weight saving is lost if the driver is slightly overweight or you have a space saver laugh

CS400

145 posts

110 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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neil1jnr said:
aka_kerrly said:
Using this logic the Leon should have the Golf R engine with FWD but cost standard Golf GTI money.
Mate, this is exactly what a Seat Cupra 280 is, Golf R engine for less than GTI money, check broker prices, you can get a 3dr DSG Cupra 280 for less than £23K.
Also,
The Cupra 280 is better to drive than the Golf R and it is likely that there will be less of them around. You can get them remapped to around 371bhp and 360lbft with a Revo stage 1 remap and it will still cost less than the Golf R biglaugh

soad

32,829 posts

175 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Didn't anyone tell Seat that the new Honda Civic Type R and 4WD Focus RS were coming, and probably won't cost this much..?

2smoke

215 posts

110 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Funnily enough I'm test driving a Cupra 280 this afternoon. I'm actually interested in the ST, which although not out yet seems to make more sense with this engine and chassis. My local dealer only has the three door unfortunately but worth a spin.
Not sure if it will lure me away from my RWD German company car but I'm open to 280bhp of persuasion.

As previously said I would take the performance pack but this seems pointless. Just save the extra cash and add leather and an upgraded navigation system, or just save the cash...

iloveboost

1,531 posts

161 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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soad said:
Didn't anyone tell Seat that the new Honda Civic Type R and 4WD Focus RS were coming, and probably won't cost this much..?
Well no one's sure of the price, but if it's £32K it will make a lot of these track focused turbo hot hatches look a bit expensive. Still nobody tells a GT3 owner that he's overpaid, and could have bought a Carrera S instead. biggrin

the_hood

770 posts

193 months

Monday 9th February 2015
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Does anyone care?