SEAT Leon Reveal Two ‘HOT’ Hatches

Both cars use the VW Group’s turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine, which develops 261bhp in the standard Cupra and 276bhp in the Cupra 280.

The Cupra models are available in either three-door SC bodyshell or the five-door hatchback and with a six-speed manual or six-speed dual-clutch DSG gearbox.

All models are cheaper, more powerful and better equipped than the equivalent Volkswagen Golf GTI.

Both models have blistering performance figures…

Both can accelerate from 0-62mph in less than 6 sec, with the fastest version, the Cupra 280 DSG, able to do it in 5.7sec. Top speed is limited to 155mph, and maximum torque is 258lb ft. Even with all this performance the car returns more than 40mpg on the EU Combined cycle.

The styling is crisp and ‘edgy’ with traditional SEAT styling hints. Using a lot of VW technology these Cupra offer a real alternative to the VW Golf