Retuned and just raring to go

A £500 upgrade adds serious performance to the Leon Cupra R - but is it a case of power over poise?

We’re big fans of the Seat Leon Cupra R. Back when we first tested it last year, it made an instant and lasting impression as a sharper, meaner and all-around more focused version of Seat’s quick hatchback, and we were sad that there weren’t more than the 24 allocated examples headed to the UK. And at the time, it didn’t feel like it needed much more punch. But tuning company ABT thinks otherwise, which is why it now offers a £500 upgrade, which adds more power and torque without voiding the manufacturer warranty or increasing fuel consumption either. Does it improve the

Cupra R’s appeal? We find out...

WHAT’S NEW?

As mentioned, the ABT upgrade is the biggest change, with the rest of the additions largely the same as the Cupra R we’ve tested before. However, this is an ‘ST’ model - estate car, for the rest of us - and that means it boasts more space and better practicality levels than the hatch. The brakes have been beefed-up (now Brembo units), while the suspension has been retuned over the regular ST for better cornering. And, of course, there’s an all-wheel-drive system in place.

UNDER THE BONNET?

Pop the bonnet and, at first, there’s not a lot out of the ordinary. There’s VW Group’s tried-and-tested EA888 turbo 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine linked to all four wheels via a seven-speed DSG automatic gearbox. But the ABT tune-up ensures things don’t stay normal for long. Power is boosted up to 345bhp from a regular 296bhp, while torque goes up to 440Nm from 400 - sizeable increases on both fronts. It means that the R will charge from 0-60mph in 4.5 seconds and carry on to a 155mph top speed.

HOW DOES IT LOOK?

Understated, menacing and with the right amount of presence, the Cupra R ST ticks all our boxes when it comes to a well-judged performance car. Around the back, it’s hard to miss the quad exhaust tips, but in truth, most passers-by won’t distinguish the R from a regular Leon ST - and that’s either a good thing or bad thing, depending on your own preference.

WHAT’S THE SPEC LIKE?

The ST comes in at £38,475 - and that’s after the £500

ABT upgrade. For that, you do get a reasonable amount of standard equipment. It gets an infotainment offering, accessed via a central touchscreen. Elsewhere it’s standard-fit Seat. That means good ergonomics, reasonable materials and logically-located controls but not exactly exceptional.

THE VERDICT

The ABT upgrade is an absolute no-brainer. The power hikes, for just £500, are well worth optioning, and the no warranty drawback only bolsters the appeal. Then there’s the driving experience that sits behind the outright flat-out speed; the steering and brakes combine to make a car which feels sharp to begin with, even without 345bhp under your right foot.