Monday 11th March 2019

SEAT Leon Cupra R ST launched

Roomier version of SEAT's fastest hatch gets two driven axles to hit 62mph in 4.9 seconds

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The fact SEAT’s Leon Cupra R is a culmination of the sum of its parts has probably done it more harm than good, because the expectation for such a car is extremely high. In isolation, the front-driver is a brilliant machine, rapid thanks to that 310hp and 280lb ft-producing EA888 motor and sharp due to top-spec MQB adaptive damping. But place it head-to-head with the Civic Type R, as PH did last year, and it falls short of the very best for ultimate interaction with the driver. Perhaps now, however, the introduction of an R ST, which comes with all-wheel drive in a roomier body, will promote Seat’s top performance model appropriately.

Promising to meld the hottest hardware of the platform with the practicality of an ST body, the potent estate uses the same specification turbocharged four-cylinder TSI as its hatch sibling, albeit in post-WLTP 300hp form, and drives through a Haldex-clutch all-wheel drive system via a seven-speed DSG gearbox. This added traction gives the estate a healthy advantage over its sibling, with the zero to 62mph dash taking just 4.9 seconds – nine tenths better than the hatch. It is, of course, identical to the technically very (very) similar VW Golf R estate's time.

The R ST’s chassis utilises the same dynamic damping as the five-door hatch and gets camber set to negative two degrees both front and rear. The car rides on 19-inch wheels painted in Cupra copper and there are Brembo calipers to slow things down, as with the hatch. Actually, most of the car’s styling and features are identical or very nearly that to the ‘regular’ R, including the carbon fibre front splitter, door mirror covers and diffuser. There’s a new rear spoiler, because the tailgate’s different, but the Cupra seats inside are identical. And the rest is, well, as you’d expect – familiar VW Group with a sprinkling of Latin flair.

SEAT only made 799 R hatches, with 24 heading to the UK. The brand's yet to reveal the build numbers for the estate, although deliveries are due to begin in March. More will be revealed when PH gets to drive the R ST in the coming days…

[rob.e]

I like this a lot, but for me they should have made more effort to differentiate it from the Golf R wagon.

They're just too similar i think (other than the bronze). Maybe this one should have had a manual box and recaros, aiming more for the "clubsport" market?

[Master Bean]

Error in the first paragraph. 380hp. Remind me again who does the proof reading?

[Tintop2]

Probably being a wee bit slow (or I have overlooked something written elsewhere that explains the logic) but why is this being launched as a Seat and not under the Cupra brand?

[GTEYE]

So this one is branded as a SEAT, not a Cupra?

Hmm, rather confused branding.

[bluesierra]

Master Bean said:

Remind me again who does the proof reading?

The readers, mainly...

[Onehp]

This is a better offering than the previous ST Carbon edition, that had the styling but without the crucial "... R ST’s chassis utilises the same dynamic damping as the five-door hatch and gets camber set to negative two degrees both front and rear." Kudos.

That five door hatch remains underestimated as it is in essence (hardware) a Clubsport S but with the supposedly much missed rear seat. The Type R might edge it depending on taste, but sport auto lapped the Cupra R quicker on Hockenheim Short and lists it at the top of their hot hatch shopping list.
http://www.auto-motor-und-sport.de/test/seat-leon-...

I'm happy I got the ST manual, don't need the styling of these, prefer the lighter fwd + diff dynamics and the manual of course, in the ST body for family use (+45kg). Available in the classifieds for a whole lot less... why not add some mods to improve it. Of mine, I can heartily recommend the Superpro Supaloy lower alu control arms with the duroball/uniball rear bush. It gives the car that extra feedback past 8/10ths with more consistency, stock mqb-bin bushes can't keep up when truly on it, removing that last bit of satisfaction as the front end turns a bit sloppy. Steering feel is significantly improved (I got the 006 with extra caster) but interestingly also throttle and even brake response, front wheels do it all... Also cures worst of the dreaded fwd wheelhop. I imagine it closes the dynamic edge the R versions have. No added noise even on stud tyres on the world's roughest roads, only downside is a 'sportier' response on sharp edges on the road. FYI

Edited by Onehp on Tuesday 12th March 15:45

[E65Ross]

bluesierra said:

Master Bean said:

Remind me again who does the proof reading?

The readers, mainly...

You mean "...with the zero to 62mph dash taking just 4.9 seconds – nine tenths better than the hatch. It is, of course, identical to the technically very (very) similar VW Golf R estate's time." doesn't make sense to you?

[J2daG1990]

E65Ross said:

You mean "...with the zero to 62mph dash taking just 4.9 seconds – nine tenths better than the hatch. It is, of course, identical to the technically very (very) similar VW Golf R estate's time." doesn't make sense to you?

Made sense to me. It's nine tenths quicker than the equivalent hatch (SEAT). However the 4.9 seconds is identical to the Golf R Estate. No idea on how accurate this is though I'm not going stat hunting!

[Nickp82]

The copper detailing has been very hit and miss for me on the other models/versions but this looks awesome.

[martin12345]

Wish this was available with a manual
Would love the combination of Estate body, 4WD and manual trann'y - might even open my wallet !! - whereas the DSG just puts me off

[Mercury00]

The article doesn't actually explain or show in photographs what ST means. I'll just assume it's a rebadged Focus.

[GTEYE]

Mercury00 said:

The article doesn't actually explain or show in photographs what ST means. I'll just assume it's a rebadged Focus.

Leon ST = Estate

[Onehp]

Missed by the article, this now has the DQ381 7 speed DSG. Improved cruising, mpg, better response in manual and will take lots more Nm if one so desires...

[Dannbodge]

Mercury00 said:

The article doesn't actually explain or show in photographs what ST means. I'll just assume it's a rebadged Focus.

"Sports Tourer"
So basically an estate

[dukebox9reg]

SEATs branding department need shooting. Makes no sense to car nuts the badging strategy so what's Joe average going to think.

Started with them making FR a trim level rather than identifying the warm varient along the lines of the Focus ST.

Though I do like the Leon ST, think it's the best looking of the smallish estates so hopefully my FR Sport (with a more lowly 190bhp rather than 300bhp) will be boarding the ship soon in Barcelona to make the trip up to Blighty.

[unsprung]

a couple of pleasing engine noises

among the musical notes of this promotional video:

https://youtu.be/6lvSy93wkgo

[st4]

GTEYE said:

So this one is branded as a SEAT, not a Cupra?

Hmm, rather confused branding.

Indeed. They’d have been better keeping the Cupra as a model line rather than a stand alone brand.

Nice enough car this and a good value proposition. Preferable on the outside to the bland as heck golf r but not as nice in the inside.

[AJB88]

GTEYE said:

So this one is branded as a SEAT, not a Cupra?

Hmm, rather confused branding.

Yes this is still a "SEAT" because its still a MK3 Leon at the end of the day which is based on MK7 Golf.

The MK4 Leon will be the first to get a "Cupra" badged variant rather than a "SEAT" Leon Cupra variant.

[Hub]

Just a run out special really isn't it? For a fairly niche model there's been loads of different power outputs and powertrains with these, including the recent 'carbon edition' which is probably less desirable now!

I do like a fast estate though!

[Ahbefive]

Just another Golf R