SEAT has revealed the UK price for the new Leon Cupra.
Costing £19,595 on the road for 237bhp, the Cupra sits at the top of the Leon range, and will be offered with one very special engine, exclusive to SEAT: a 2.0-litre turbocharged T FSI 16-valve petrol unit. Compared to a £20,360 Golf GTI with 197bhp from the same engine, it looks good value.
The engine has been uprated from the Leon FR/Golf GTI’s version on which it is based. Modifications include a larger turbocharger, reinforced pistons and engine block, strengthened connecting rods, a new ultra heat-resistant alloy for the cylinder head, plus larger injectors. The car also sounds sportier thanks to a specially tuned exhaust system. Yet despite the Cupra’s extra dose of power, the efficiency of direct injection allows average fuel economy of 34 mpg.
As a result, SEAT’s most powerful model to date can sprint from rest to 62 mph in 6.4 seconds, before hitting a maximum speed of 153mph -- performance that the company likes to compare with the Leon Touring Car, as driven by Jason Plato, and which helped SEAT secure the BTCC Manufacturers’ Trophy 2006.
Standard specification includes bi-xenon headlights, six airbags, ESP (Electronic Stability Programme), dual zone climate control, MP3-compatible CD player for directly connecting, for example, an iPod, plus front and rear electric windows.
From the outside, the new Cupra is distinguishable from other Leons through its black door pillars and mirrors, black chin spoiler, exclusive 18-inch alloy wheels, single wide oval exhaust pipe, red sports brake callipers and the word ‘CUPRA’ across the tailgate, where ‘LEON’ would usually reside. The Cupra sits 14 mm closer to the ground than a standard Leon.
Inside it gets an exclusive steering wheel, gearknob and dials, aluminium-covered pedals, dramatic wraparound bucket seats, and black trim throughout.
Pity about the ped-friendly design that's forced the raising of the front snout though...