First hatch and estate from Cupra brand also arrives with 306bhp petrol power
Young performance brand Cupra has added to its line-up in two forms of the Leon hot hatchback and Cupra’s first model to be offered with a plug-in hybrid powertrain.
Based on New Seat Leon, it will be available as both a five door and an estate, with a range of petrol engines as well as a PHEV variant.
The Leon e-Hybrid plug-in combines a 1.4-litre, 148bhp petrol engine with a 113bhp electric motor and 13kWh battery pack, combined makes 242bhp and 295lb ft of torque. It will be capable of 37 miles of electric range.
The standard Cupra Leon uses the 2.0-litre turbocharged TSI petrol engine, available with 242bhp or 298bhp, in both hatchback and estate forms, the more powerful 306bhp version is only available to the estate, which also gets four wheel drive. All versions will receive the dual-clutch DSG automatic gearbox and feature an electric limited slip differential.
Distinguishing from the standard Seat Leon, the Cupra Leon adorns a larger front splitter, expanded air intakes, roof spoiler and Cupra badging, sits lower to the ground (25mm on the front axle, 20mm on the rear), and gets a bespoke exhaust. All models have full LED headlights and a rear LED lightbar the entire width of the tailgate, 18inch alloy wheels as standard, but can be upgraded to 19inch alloys and uprated 370mm Brembo brakes.
Inside you get sports seats, steering wheel with engine start and drive mode select buttons, a 10.1in central touchscreen and fully digital instrument cluster with bespoke Sport view mode. Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay are also available. LED ambient mood lighting bathes the interior, along with copper and dark chrome emphases that match the exterior trim.
It is set to go on sale in the summer, with customer deliveries due in the subsequent months. As with the fourth-generation Seat Leon, prices for the Cupra models are expected to increase over the outgoing model, suggesting a starting price of around £32,000.