Plug-in power for Cupra Leon…
New hybrid hatchback and wagon get up to 306bhp
SEAT’s performance arm, Cupra, has revealed its version of the latest Leon, and there’s a significant twist.
It will be available in both hatchback and estate forms, and will produce as much as 306bhp, but the new hot hatch will also be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Designed, engineered and built at the new purpose-built Cupra facility in Martorell, near Barcelona, Spain, the Cupra Leon will face rivals like the Hyundai i30N and Ford Focus ST. It’ll also need to fend off other competition from within the Volkswagen Group; both the Skoda Octavia vRS and VW Golf GTI will make their debuts soon.
From the outside, the Cupra Leon sports a more menacing look than its SEAT relative – and not just because of the two unique matte paint finishes available. The front bumper has a large open air dam, plus the new copper-coloured logo on the nose. Depending on the model, there’s a choice of 18 or 19-inch alloy wheels finished in silver, black, or a mix of copper and black.
On both the five-door hatchback and estate, the rear is defined by the Leon’s distinctive full-width light bar, while below it sits a new bumper with a pair of coppertrimmed tailpipes either side of a deep rear diffuser. The changes, according to Cupra, also boost aerodynamic performance; this Leon is eight per cent more aerodynamically efficient than the previous version.
Inside, the copper theme continues, with highlights on the seat stitching – there are two types of sports seats to choose from – air vent surrounds, and the steering wheel. The wheel itself is similar in design to the SEAT Leon’s, but gains two new switches. One is a starter button, while the other adjusts between the four drive modes: Comfort, Sport, Cupra, and Individual.
The 12.3-inch digital instrument panel gets a new ‘Sport’ menu view, which places the rev counter prominently to the centre of the driver’s view, while showing power, torque G-force and turbo boost readouts.
Every engine in the Cupra Leon range features some degree of forced induction, and one also gets hybrid tech. The Cupra Leon PHEV mates a 1.4-litre turbocharged petrol engine to an electric motor and a 13kWh battery, which is enough to produce 242bhp but also deliver 37 miles of electric range and CO2 emissions below 50g/km.
Turbocharged petrol units make up the rest of the range. The Volkswagen Group’s tried-and-tested 2.0-litre turbo is offered with 242bhp and 370Nm torque, or 296bhp and 400Nm. All three powertrain options on the hatchback use front-wheel drive, with an electronic limited-slip differential and a dual-clutch automatic gearbox.
However, a more potent version with fourwheel drive is reserved for the estate. Here, the 2.0-litre unit makes 306bhp, enabling this version to sprint from 0-62mph in 4.8 seconds and on to a 155mph top speed.
To keep the power in check, Cupra has given the Leon’s chassis a more sporting set-up than its SEAT counterpart. The ride height is 25mm lower at the front and 20mm lower at the rear, while an adaptive damping system is able to adjust its rate of response based on the driving mode.
Cupra claims the electric power steering system on the Leon is its “most progressive yet”. Meanwhile, the Brembo front brake discs measure 370mm, and are gripped by copper-coloured calipers.
A comprehensive list of equipment available in the Cupra Leon includes full-LED lighting (including ambient lights inside), keyless entry, and a 10-inch touchscreen infotainment system with 3D navigation, gesture control and both Apple CarPlay and Android Auto connectivity.
The safety tech on the car is equally exhaustive. A predictive active cruise control system uses a mix of GPS data and info from a front-mounted camera to proactively adjust to changing speed limits and road layouts. Blind-spot detection, traffic-jam assist and a semi-autonomous lane-keeping systems are also available.
Prices for the new hot hatch have still to be confirmed, but buyers can already pre-order a car on the Cupra website.
“Every engine in the Cupra Leon range features some form of forced induction”