The new Cupra Leon is about to enter the European market, ready to take the fight against a wide range of hot hatches that includes the Honda Civic Type R, the closely-related VW Golf GTE, and more. Just like the model it replaces, the new Cupra Leon will be offered in two body styles, a five-door hatchback, and the Sportstourer wagon.
Based on the same MLB Evo platform as the
VW Golf GTI, the new Cupra Leon features a progressive steering system, adaptive
dampers (DCC) than can be precisely tuned to your preference via the new slider
selector, optional Brembo brakes, and an electronically locking differential on
FWD models. For the first time in the history of the model, customers will get
to choose between four powertrain options, all of them paired to a seven-speed
DSG; sadly a manual transmission isn’t available.
The interior of the new Cupra Leon
features standard bucket seats, a Cupra-branded leather steering wheel with the
drive-mode selector and the engine-start button, a 10.25-inch digital
instrument cluster and a 10-inch infotainment system with 3D online navigation,
wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, and an advanced voice and gesture
control.
The highlight of the 2021 Cupra Leon range
is of course the new 242 HP plug-in hybrid powertrain, which combines a 147 HP
1.4-liter TSI with a 113 HP electric motor and a 13kWh lithium-ion battery
pack. Cupra claims a 0-100 km/h in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 225 km/h. The new Cupra Leon e-Hybrid also offers an EV range of 55-60 km per the WLTP, while the battery can be recharged in as little
as 3.5 hours using a Wallbox.
The other three powertrain options use the
familiar 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine that’s offered in various states of
tune; the base version of the TSI-powered Cupra Leon offers 242 HP and 370 Nm of torque while those looking for some extra grunt can opt
for the model with the 296 HP and 400 Nm of torque. Both
of the aforementioned TSI models send their power to the front wheels.
The most powerful variant of the 2.0-liter
TSI can be found exclusively in the Sportstourer model equipped with
all-wheel-drive, making 306 HP and 400 Nm.
