Wednesday 19th August 2009

Leon Cupra R - The Hottest SEAT Ever

261bhp Cupra R set for Frankfurt show debut

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This is the new SEAT Leon Cupra R, the most powerful production SEAT ever, and it's set to be revealed in the flesh at next month's Frankfurt motor show.

The new Cupra R gets the same 1984cc turbocharged four-cylinder engine as the Audi S3, meaning 261bhp and 258lb ft of torque. SEAT proudly boasts that this "matches the power output of the title-winning SEAT Leon TDI World Touring Car", which is possibly more an indictment of the state of the WTCC than an achievement for the road car.

Still, those chunky power and torque figures mean that the new SEAT flagship can hit 62mph from rest in 6.1sec and tops out at 155mph.

Whether the Leon Cupra R will be able to manage that without either shredding its tyres or torque steering into the nearest convenient hedge is more debatable. After all, the Audi S3 is all-wheel-drive only and the next most powerful SEAT, the 237bhp, 221lb ft Leon Cupra isn't exactly a torque steer-free experience.

SEAT has, however, thrown a whole alphabet of acronyms at the Leon Cupra R to get all that power down cleanly. There's ABS with TCS, ESP with EBA, and XDS - the VW group's clever electronic system that mimics the effect of a mechanical limited-slip diff.

Further improving the Cupra R's chances of taming its engine are 345mm front disc brakes with 286mm items at the rear.

SEAT hasn't yet decided if it will bring its flagship to the UK, but considering Britain's appetite for hot hatches we reckon they'd be mad not to get it into showrooms here.

 

[Spidersoon]

If those front brakes are 17inches then the wheels in the photo must be 24's!

[ewenm]

How heavy is it?

[fathomfive]

Looks like it rides too high to me.

I wonder if they've managed to include some suppleness in the suspension at all...

[skylinecrazy]

What a vile colour...

[Garlick]

Good to see some decent power from a SEAT again though.

[900T-R]

Spidersoon said:

If those front brakes are 17inches

They're not, just like the rears aren't actually 16" - 286 mm translates to 11 and a bit. It's the marketeers' way of saying 'look, these brakes are so fking big that you need 17" wheels to clear them.'

Edited by 900T-R on Wednesday 19th August 12:19

[FWDRacer]

The badge snobs can bemoan all they like - The Hot SEAT products are still the most visually exciting to come off The VAG/Audi platform strategy.

[Bada Bing!]

Looks like a tractor cum taxi to me.

[JumpinJack]

Hmmm, performance is clearly better than the previous Cupra R, but IMO, I still prefer the styling and overall looks of the last model. And what the fk is that colour??? I think the marketing/adverstising exec needs a good telling off!

[pilchardthecat]

FWDRacer said:

The badge snobs can bemoan all they like - The Hot SEAT products are still the most visually exciting to come off The VAG/Audi platform strategy.

I agree.

And it looks much nicer than the Cupra - it doesn't have that hideous body kit with al the pointless gashes and gussetts (eg in the rear bumper). It's actually pretty restrained styling wise compared to other hot hatches. I quite like it, and i'm generally a bit of a VAG hater

edit to add photo of the previous, hideous abomination

Edited by pilchardthecat on Wednesday 19th August 12:31

[s3fella]

Someone at PH towers needs a metric to imperial conversion tool......

[anonymous-user]

Putrid green seems to be the only colours hot hatches come in now..Who buys them and thinks it is a good idea?

I like this but not in green..

[jamoor]

LOL Generic tat, I would rather buy the Ford.

[mustard tab]

yeh but how much will it cost???

[Carcher]

jamoor said:

LOL Generic tat, I would rather buy the Ford.

Have you ever driven the SEAT?

[dinkel]

Carcher said:

jamoor said:

LOL Generic tat, I would rather buy the Ford.

Have you ever driven the SEAT?

Tell us all about it please.

[jamoor]

Carcher said:

jamoor said:

LOL Generic tat, I would rather buy the Ford.

Have you ever driven the SEAT?

Just go and drive a Skoda Octavia/ VW Golf / Audi A3.

I have developed an intense hatred for the tat VW produce, sorry!

[Matt_N]

s3fella said:

Someone at PH towers needs a metric to imperial conversion tool......

Yep, since when did 345mm = 17" and 286mm = 16"?!

[adycav]

Ah, the infamous Mk2 LCR which SEAT said that they would never build following the badge shake-up a few years back (Cupra became FR, Cupra R became Cupra).

It needs to be a considerable improvement on the standard Cupra. I test drove one extensively before eventually buying a Focus ST - I owned a Mk1 LCR (early one with 210ps) and I really liked that so had high hopes for the Mk2.

The Mk2 Cupra was a real let-down imo - rock hard suspension, characterless engine, little sensation of speed even though it was pretty quick, horrible interior, rattly trim, and appalling stereo for a c.£20k car.

The Focus ST was much better and so was the Mazda 3 MPS for that matter.

Edited by adycav on Wednesday 19th August 12:53

[Carcher]

dinkel said:

Carcher said:

jamoor said:

LOL Generic tat, I would rather buy the Ford.

Have you ever driven the SEAT?

Tell us all about it please.

I don't know if that is a sarcastic comment or not?