Currently reading: 261bhp Seat Leon Cupra R
New £21K Seat is most powerful ever

Seat has unveiled its new 261bhp Leon Cupra R at the Frankfurt motor show. The new range-topping Leon is fitted with the same engine that will appear in the Scirocco R, a modified version of the EA113 2.0-litre direct injection from the previous Golf GTI.

However the Cupra R is expected to undercut the top Scirocco by at least £5000, retailing at around £21,000 in the UK.

See the Leon Cupra R picture gallery

This makes the Cupra R not only the most potent production Seat ever but also as powerful as the title-winning SEAT Leon TDI World Touring Car.

The front-wheel-drive Leon is now capable of hitting 62mph in 6.1sec and a top speed of 155mph. Combined fuel consumption is just under 35mpg.

Filling the arches are 19in double-spoke alloy wheels with 235/35 tyres.

Inside, the Cupra logo features on the leather steering wheel and competition-style bucket seats, while the ‘R’ appears on the LED-lit dials.

The Cupra R is highly likely to make it to the UK market but this has yet to be confirmed.

Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest Seat reviews, news and video

Join the debate

Comments
21
Add a comment…
moe360 20 August 2009

Re: 261bhp Seat Leon Cupra R

EoinM wrote:
I was driving a Golf Mk 5 last week and was genuinely happy to be back in my own Leon. I had always been led to believe I was driving a very much inferior product but turns out I was way off the mark. The Mk 6 does however more the game on a bit.
I would just like to say that the Golf MK5 was rubbish (apart from the Higher spec TDI models and GTI). It felt very cheap for a VW, had a very average interior, the front headlamps were awful and the overall car had a cheapness that you don t expect from a VW product. When the mk5 came out I was put off by Golfs, however the MK6 does as you say move the game on. Its the car the MK5 should have been 5 years to late. VW seems to have learnt there lesson with the mk6

RedlineS3 20 August 2009

Re: 261bhp Seat Leon Cupra R

Lee23404 wrote:
What, like this one? That's nearly £3k worth of bodykit apparently.

Yup, that's what I'm talking about.

And I'm sure there'll be a nice big profit margin in there for Seat.

EoinM 20 August 2009

Re: 261bhp Seat Leon Cupra R

They haven't bothered to change that for the facelift unfortunately. Can be had much cheaper than £3k if you look around though.

I don't think the Golf is worth the premium over it, nice and all as it is. The Interior is obviously cheaper to the touch and the ride is definitely over firm at times but they are a small price to pay for the savings, looks and a little individuality.

I was driving a Golf Mk 5 last week and was genuinely happy to be back in my own Leon. I had always been led to believe I was driving a very much inferior product but turns out I was way off the mark. The Mk 6 does however more the game on a bit.