The
2006 British Motor Show heralded the first time that SEAT used a UK show for a world debut of a new car. That car was the SEAT Leon Cupra, the most powerful SEAT to date, positioned above the new Leon FR.
SEAT has upped the output of the turbocharged direct-injection engine found in the Leon FR (and shared with the
VW Golf GTi) from just under 200bhp to a headline-grabbing 240bhp. SEAT claims that the Cupra will hit 62mph from rest in just 6.4 seconds, with a top speed of 153mph, which is right on the money to compete in the all-important pub war against the current breed of hot hatch with nearly 250bhp, including the Vauxhall Astra VXR.
With such performance to shout about, you'd expect the new Leon Cupra to wear suitably aggressive body addenda, but SEAT has actually done a subtle job on the Leon shape. Instead of adding large spoilers, the Cupra takes styling cues from SEAT touring car racers used in the British and World Touring Car Championships, including sculpted bumpers, 18-inch alloy wheels, black door mirrors and a large oval exhaust pipe. Inside, the story is the same, with proper bucket-style sports seats, a Cupra-branded steering wheel and black trim.
Despite the July revealing of the new Leon, UK sales will not start until early 2007, with prices being announced then. SEAT hot hatch fans will have to make do with the new Leon FR instead. We've driven it already so watch out for the review on the main
Road Tests page.
Shane O' Donoghue - 20 Jul 2006