Cupra has unveiled the new Leon hatchback and wagon, 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 aluminium 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-litre TSI petrol engine that will be available in three different outputs. In base form, the engine produces 242bhp and 370 Nm of torque. Customers can also opt for a mid-level variant which has 296 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. The most powerful version is exclusive to the wagon and it has 306 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. The first two engines are paired with a dual-clutch transmission which sends power to the front wheels via an electronic limited slip differential. The range-topping estate, on the other hand, has all-wheel drive.
Cupra didn’t go into specifics but confirmed one of these versions would be able to accelerate from 0-62 mph in 4.8 seconds. The model will also be able to hit an electronically-limited top speed of 155 mph. Of course, the big news is the addition of a new plug-in hybrid variant. It features a 1.4-litre 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 bhp and 400 Nm of torque. While the plug-in hybrid isn’t the most powerful variant, the model can travel up to 37 miles 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 centre of gravity as it sits 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.
Keyword: All new 2020 Cupra Leon hatchback and estate are here