The 306bhp Seat Leon Cupra R Is Here To Pick A Fight With A Certain Honda

We’ve always had a soft spot for the Seat Leon Cupra, but against more recent entries to the hot hatch arms race like the new Honda Civic Type R and the all-wheel drive Ford Focus RS, it’s looking a little outgunned. Happily however, there’s a new version here to give the Honda and the Ford what for: the Leon Cupra R.

It comes with a more powerful version of VW Group’s smooth yet punchy EA888 turbo inline-four, now putting out…well, just 10bhp extra, actually. So with 306bhp it’s still down on power compared to the Civic and the Focus, but we’re much more interested in the rest of the package.

The camber of the front wheels has been adjusted, and the adaptive dampers given unspecified modifications. The Brembo brakes are beefier than before, too.

There are new bumpers front and rear (we’re particularly fond of the socking great vents that have sprouted at the back), a bigger boot spoiler, a smattering of carbonfibre details, and various parts finished in ‘copper’. See the exhaust pipes poking out from the revised bumper? That’s part of an all-new system, so it should sound fruitier than before.

Further carbonfibre and copper details can be found on the inside, along with a steering wheel and gearstick surround coated in because racecar Alcantara. On the subject of the gearstick, it’s worth noting the manual version is actually more powerful - buy the DSG automatic, and you’ll have to settle for ‘just’ 296bhp.

It’ll be available to order later this year in Midnight Black, Pyrenees Grey or Matte Grey. If you want one, you may wish to give your local dealer a call sharpish: just 799 will be made.