The previous generation SEAT Leon ST was one of our favourite cars. Will the new version be just as good? One of the big surprises when SEAT revealed the new Leon hatchback last month, was the fact the ST estate model was announced at the same time. We’ve become used to manufacturers drip-feeding variants into…
Category: SEAT
Gallery Feature | Fifty Shades of (automotive) Grey
Over 17% of new car buyers picked grey last year, and it’s now the third most popular tone in the UK. But how many different types of grey can there really be? Quite a lot, actually. For reference ESM’s Editor has never actually seen Fifty Shades of Grey, or read any of the books. However, he surmises that…
Twin Test Review | VW Polo GTI vs SEAT Ibiza Cupra Black
On paper these two VAG family cousins share many similarities but, peel back the surface, and you’ll discover that things aren’t quite so homogenous. Which Spanish-built supermini wins out though? If you’ve read our review of the SEAT Ibiza Cupra you’ll know there is a lot to like about this condensed hot hatch. However, sharing a powertrain and platform with the…
2016 SEAT Ibiza Cupra 1.8 TSI | Review
With the current SEAT Ibiza nearing the end of a lengthy lifecycle, the Cupra has been hotted-up for one final fling. Is this Ibiza still up for all-night rave, or is it now more last tango in Benidorm?You remember 2008, right? A time when George W. Bush was still President of the United States, ‘Rockstar’…
SMMT Test Day 2016 – Part One
Returning to the SMMT Test Day after the extravagant ‘twelve cars in one day‘ affair of last year, ESM promised to try to be more selective over driving choices this year. The result was certainly a varied motoring experience, to say the least. It’s the potentially the biggest day of the year for anyone who writes about cars,…
Opinion – Seven fast estates we want to see built
The number of performance estates seems to have expanded massively in recent years but, here at ESM, that’s not enough for us. No, we’re greedy, and we want to see even more quick wagons on the market. To help we’ve come up with a septet that we think should happen. These aren’t just ‘pie in the sky’ ideas – we’ve…
EngageSportMode Awards 2015 – Part One
You know the drill. At the end of each year EngageSportMode likes to dish out hypothetical trophies made from macaroni and glitter. This year is no exception, other than 2015 featured a lot more new metal to be driven. Does it matter that we’re already into 2016? No, of course not. Sticking with our tried and tested formula, part…
Friday Photo – Frankfurt 2015 Gallery
This year’s Frankfurt Motor Show proved to be fairly impressive, with a host of big names revealing new products and concepts. Incredibly, this even included cars that hadn’t been previewed in a press release weeks beforehand! Who knew that was still possible? We’ve picked out some of the notable cars making an appearance in Germany. ESM actually spent the first…
SMMT Test Day 2015 – One day, Twelve cars [Part 3/3]
We’ve made it to the final part of our epic journey through the dozen cars we experienced at the SMMT Test Day. Don’t forget to read part one and part two first! Eight cars down, we were now into the home stretch of the 2015 SMMT Test Day. Two of the final quartet were rather…
Lessons in conservatism – New BMW 3 Series and New SEAT Ibiza
Today’s title may be a pun on yesterday’s general election, but we don’t want to labour the point too much. Sorry. Yesterday also saw the unveiling of two ‘new’ cars, although you’d be hard pressed to realise it. Being a car-designer must be a fairly easy job these days, especially when it comes to mid-lifecycle ‘refresh’ time…
Friday Photo – Geneva 2015 | Orange is the new … blue?
Earlier in the week, the doors opened at the PalExpo centre for the 2015 Geneva Motor Show. EngageSportMode spent a hugely enjoyable day helping the guys at Motoring Research with their live blog on Tuesday. If you haven’t seen the live blog already, go grab a Toblerone and experience it now. Then come back and see why…
SEAT Leon Eurocup Racer – A Seriously Good Looking Race Car!
SEAT’s Leon is on something of a roll at the minute, with the Cupra 280 taking the FWD record at the Nürburging, whilst also picking up various accolades and positive reviews from the motoring press. So, what’s better than a 280 PS Leon? A stripped out racer with 330 PS and a humongous rear wing of…
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