Cupra has unveiled the new Leon hatchback
and wagon, ahead of their debut at next month’s Geneva Motor Show. Looking
slightly more aggressive than their Seat counterparts, the Cupra Leons are
distinguished by a unique front fascia that features a revised grille and
sportier air intakes.
The subtle styling changes continue
further back as the hotter Leon has aerodynamic side skirts and special alloy
wheels with available bronze accents. The model also has a stylish diffuser and
a four-tailpipe sports exhaust system on higher-end variants.
The minor tweaks continue in the cabin as
drivers will find a Cupra-branded flat-bottom steering wheel, bronze accents
and bronze contrast stitching. The model also has sport seats, illuminated door
sill plates and dark aluminum trim.
Other highlights include an ambient lighting system and sportier pedals.
Besides the special interior touches, the model features a 10.25-inch digital
instrument cluster and a 10-inch infotainment system. The latter boasts natural voice control as
well as Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay support.
Under the hood, there’s a 2.0-liter TSI
petrol engine that will be available in three different outputs. In base form, the engine produces 242 hp and 370 Nm of torque.
Customers can also opt for a mid-level variant which has 296 hp and 400 Nm of torque.
The most powerful version is exclusive to the wagon and it has 306 hp and 400 Nm of torque.
The first two engines are connected to a
dual-clutch transmission which sends power to the front wheels via an
electronic limited slip differential.
The range-topping estate has all-wheel drive. Cupra
didn’t go into specifics, but confirmed one of these versions will be able to
accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 4.8 seconds. The model will also be able to hit an
electronically-limited top speed of 250 km/h. Of course, the big news
is the addition a new plug-in hybrid variant.
It features a 1.4-liter TSI petrol engine, an electric motor and a 13
kWh lithium-ion battery pack. This setup
enables the car to produce a combined output of 242 hp and 400 Nm of torque.
While the plug-in hybrid isn’t the most
powerful variant, the model can travel up to 60 km on electricity
alone in the WLTP cycle. When the
battery is depleted, it can be charged in as little as 3.5 hours using a 3.6kW
AC Wall box or six hours using a 230V socket.
Besides the hotter powertrains, the Cupra
Leon features a sport suspension, Brembo brakes and an adaptive chassis control
system. The model also has four drive
modes – Comfort, Sport, Cupra and Individual – as well as a lower center of
gravity as it sits 0.8-1.0 inches (20-25 mm) lower than the Seat Leon.
The Cupra Leon will be launched later this
year and the company is already accepting pre-orders.