Volkswagen’s Spain-based SEAT division has lifted the veil off of the Leon Cupra and Leon Cupra 280, two compact hot hatches designed to slot at the top of the automaker’s lineup.
The regular Cupra is only offered as a three-door hatchback while the Cupra 280 can be ordered with either three or five doors. Both models stand out from the existing Leon hatch thanks to large air intakes, LED headlights, red brake calipers, two oval tail pipes and an imitation air diffuser integrated into the rear bumper. Buyers can choose from a wide array of large, Cupra-specific alloy wheels to complete the sporty look.
Cupra 280 models push the envelope further by adding 19-inch alloys and a host of aerodynamic add-ons including a roof-mounted spoiler, the Cupra emblem painted on the calipers and black mirror caps.
The performance-inspired look continues inside with aluminum pedals, sport seats finished in Alcantara, a three-spoke multi-function steering wheel and a driver-oriented center console. The instrument cluster consists of two easy-to-read analog gauges and a configurable thin-film transistor (TFT) screen.
The Leon Cupra is powered by a Volkswagen-sourced 2.0-liter TSI four-cylinder engine that sends 265 horsepower and 258 lb-ft. of torque to the front wheels via a six-speed manual transmission. The car can sprint from zero to 100 kmph in 5.9 seconds and reach a top speed of 250 kmph.
The more expensive Leon Cupra 280 uses a 280-horsepower version of the aforementioned TSI, making it the most powerful regular-production SEAT ever built. Offered with either a six-speed manual or a dual-clutch DSG gearbox, the Cupra 280 reaches 100 kmph from a stop in 5.7 seconds and tops out at 250 kmph.
The Leon Cupra relies on a standard start/stop system to return up to 56 kmpg in a mixed European cycle.
A dynamic chassis control (DCC) system similar to the one found in the seventh-gen Volkswagen GTI lets the driver adjust the suspension settings, and the electronic stability control (ESC) can be deactivated in two stages. All Cupra models come standard with a progressive steering system.
On sale now, the 2014 SEAT Leon Cupra carries a base price of £25,690 (roughly $42,000) in the United Kingdom.