The hottest version of the upcoming Seat Leon will
be offered under the recently launched Cupra brand. So meet
the upcoming 2020 Cupra Leon. Compared to the standard Leon
test cars, the still fully camouflaged Cupra version distinguishes itself from
the twin exhausts, more aggressive front fascia, bigger wheels and lower ride
height. Fast Leons were always less shouty in their appearance, unlike some
Japanese hot hatches.
What’s really interesting in the case of the
next-gen Cupra Leon is that the Spanish car maker aims to use their new plug-in
hybrid powertrain for propulsion, a move confirmed by Seat’s chief executive
Luca de Meo.
The new electrified powertrain will the same as the
one featured in the Cupra Formentor concept, with a combined output of 242 hp and an all-electric range of up to 50 km. That’s less than
what the current Leon Cupra offers but rumors suggest that the new model will
be offered with more than one engine option.
That means that a ‘normal’ ICE version of the
next-gen Cupra Leon is also expected, featuring VW Group’s turbocharged
2.0-liter four-cylinder petrol engine already in use in the Cupra Ateca, where
it makes 296 hp and 400 Nm of torque. The next-generation Leon will
continue using the same underpinnings with the VW Golf, namely the last version
of the MQB architecture. This will make the new compact hatchback lighter than
before and compatible with the necessary 48-volt electrical system for better
fuel efficiency and less emissions across the range.
