Wednesday 8th January 2014

SEAT Leon Cupra and Cupra 280 - official

We knew plenty about the new hot Leon apart from what it looks like but details and pics are now live

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The SEAT Leon Cupra is back! This is good news for those of us with fond memories of hot Leons of old, the combination of VW underpinnings, a little more flair and a little less money always appealing. Having already given us extensive insight into the new Leon Cupra in an earlier preview SEAT has now revealed more details and official pics of the car, which you can see here.

Three-door SC and five-door available

We already knew the new Leon Cupra would be available in three-door SC and regular five-door formats and with a choice of two power outputs. Base cars will have 265hp, the hotter version 280hp rather than the 285hp initially reported. And we also knew all Cupras would have three-way adjustable DCC dampers as standard while the Performance Pack discussed initially instead manifests itself as a package of features to distinguish Cupra 280 models from the standard version. These include grey finished 19-inch wheels, black mirror caps, an 'Aerodynamic Pack' (ie, a spoiler), branded brake calipers and gloss black trim elements in the cabin.

There were also hints of a very, very impressive 'ring lap time that will prick up the ears of current hot hatch record holders Renault and future wannabes Honda, which has publically stated that honour as a development target of the forthcoming Civic Type R.

So what else has been revealed? Well, we've got pricing for starters. The range starts at £25,690 for the three-door SC Cupra, the 280hp version of the same costing £26,940. The five-door is only available in Cupra 280 form and costs £27,240. DSG is available on the 280hp versions only and adds £1,285 to the price. As mentioned, all Cupras get three-way adjustable dampers (badged DCC), the VAQ Haldex-based active locking differential, a 'progressive steering system', LED headlights, DAB and the SEAT Media System Plus. That diff alone is a significant feature, our earlier story before its introduction on the Golf suggesting that it's worth 8.5 seconds on a 'ring lap while ourexperience on the road suggests it imparts a significant on- and beyond the limit balance to the GTI that VW customers have to opt in - and pay extra - to enjoy.

Five doors all 280hp; diff and dampers standard

Bringing us neatly to bang for buck. A three-door Golf GTI manual starts at £26,125 so is £435 more than the Cupra SC from the off. It's also 40hp down, though torque on all GTIs and Cupra models is the same 258lb ft suggesting horsepower figures are, to a degree, malleable to suit marketing needs. Regardless, to match the Cupra's standard DCC would add £815 to the Golf and for the diff a further £995. Having spent £27,935 your Golf would be 10hp closer to the Cupra (GTI Performance with the diff adding a bit more power) but still half a second slower to 62mph than the SEAT's 5.9.

So, it's significantly faster and cheaper than a Golf GTI and includes much of what you'd pay extra for on that car as standard. As such it pitches the Cupra - and SEAT - back to where it should always have been in the eyes of folk like us, namely as the sportier, more focused member of the VW family. That keen pricing even looks troublesome to the car it matches most closely in spirit, the recently facelifted Megane 265. Starting at £25,990, you'd need to add the £1,350 Cup chassis and diff pack to the Megane to put it on equal terms with the base Cupra SC and the SEAT would still be £1,650 cheaper with the diff, the adaptive dampers and all the rest of the standard kit. Even the Cupra SC 280 enjoys a £400 price advantage over the Megane, plus the option of DSG if that's your cup of tea.

We know the Megane is exceptional. But with a price advantage like that the Cupra is already off to a flying start. Official confirmation of stealing Renault's 'ring lap record would be rubbing salt on the wound.

Orders are open now, with first deliveries at the end of March.

 

 

[SlowV6]

Good stuff IMHO.

Starts to put SEAT back to where it was with the original Leon Cupra 180 around yr2000, when it was keenly priced at £14995. All the VAG oily bits, more kit and more go that its stablemates for less money, reflecting the badge is less desirable.

[daveco]

Actually looks better than its Golf and A3 derivatives.

[Crow555]

Any idea when you guys will get a first drive?

[HorneyMX5]

Other than for the badge I have no idea why anyone would choose the Golf over this. It's even much better looking.

[Krikkit]

daveco said:

Actually looks better than its Golf and A3 derivatives.

Agreed - looks better, faster, cheaper (marginally!)

Still, it seems like a lot, £26k+ for a hot hatch... Maybe I'm just wearing rose-tinted specs again.

[Luketopps]

Really, really, REALLY like the look of these! I'm looking at getting a 1.4 fr when I'm back in from my gap year in April. I'll have to wait a few years for the cupra until my insurance is more reasonable!

White SC 280 manual with the 19" rims please

[KeithR]

It's a shame the looks aren't as purposeful as the package and intent of the car; dull as ditchwater

[BUG4LIFE]

The R will have to be something special! I really like this...bunch of cash though.

[Guvernator]

KeithR said:

It's a shame the looks aren't as purposeful as the package and intent of the car; dull as ditchwater

Yep have to agree, the previous gen Leon was a much better looking car as it looked a bit different to the rest of the VAG hatchbacks but this looks just like a Golf, i.e. boring.

[TNH]

Only thing letting the Leon down is the interior i think. It's just so bland in comparison to the other VAG products.

[Uncle John]

Doesn't look aggressive enough for my eyes but yes certainly better looking than the Golf.

[Agoogy]

TNH said:

Only thing letting the Leon down is the interior i think. It's just so bland in comparison to the other VAG products.

I think bland is an adjective that can be levelled at most vanilla VAG products... (not including Porsche/Lambo/Bug/Bentley etc...)...Seat and Skoda onbioulsy don't get the shiny trinkets that VW and Audi have, but shiny trinkets are just that, the odd splodge of chrome, the architecture and design of the dashboards and stuff all remain 'baklnd' IMO.

That said, this is clearly head and shoulders the best VFM on offer, and subjectively clearly better looking..
2-3 years 2nd hand I'll be looking hard at these

[Beefmeister]

So a 5dr Cupra 280 is £27,240. The Golf GTi 5dr with Performance Pack and 19's is £28,620 but still 50bhp down.

That's quite a big tick for the Seat!

[STrich]

TNH said:

Only thing letting the Leon down is the interior i think. It's just so bland in comparison to the other VAG products.

When I saw the interior in photos I thought the same, but in real life, it is a really nice place to be. Which is why I bought the 1.8 SC FR.

Admittedly, this makes me somewhat biased also

The Cupra is a great looking car, but I think only the R could potentially tempt me to change in a couple of years time.

[fathomfive]

Nice but overwheeled IMO.

[delays]

Wheels pinched from Porsche?



I'm a big fan of this, and I actually quite like the interior - it just looks well made. Return to form for SEAT I reckon.

[biscione]

19inch wheels, on a hatchback.

Aero pack = a spoiler.

Glad job i'm not in the market for a new hatchback, I think I'd rather slit my wrists instead!

[Redlake27]

Whilst the shape isn't as creative as the last generation, I think this is one of the better looking hatches on the road and has a more timeless style than its predecessor. Even the basic SE 3 door looks desirable (and quite good value judging by the adverts on the back of every car magazine....is this the most advertised car v sales numbers in the UK??)

Compared to its relatives, it looks less bloated than the new Golf and less blingy than the A3.

If I was in the hot-hatch market, this would be a contender. As much as I like the Megane 265, I've never been keen on the shape. The Focus ST is tempting , but I'm hoping that its Aston-esque facelift helps it look more resolved. In the meantime, the Seat is probably the right car at the right time for this niche.

[InsolentMinx]

wow... impressive, but don't forget you'll need to budget an extra £1k to replace those godawful wheels!

Seriously, why can't manufacturers just put simple and attractive wheels on their cars nowadays?

[FestivAli]

To my eyes definately the best looking of the Golf, A3 and Skodas on this platform. I know SEAT have had this sort of design for a few years, but I think it's basically what Audis should look like now if they weren't going to go back to looking solid like the early noughties cars.