SEAT’s first ever high-performance estate bursts onto the scene
SEAT has begun a new chapter with its iconic CUPRA sub-brand through the unveiling of its first ever high-performance estate, the Leon ST CUPRA. Combining effortless performance with style and spaciousness in spades, the latest addition to the Leon stable boasts a load space of up to 1,470 litres and can shift from nought to 62 mph in just 6.0 seconds – only a shade, 0.2 seconds, slower out of the blocks than its five-door sibling.
The Leon CUPRA range already has hordes of admirers, from media all across Europe to those who sample their charms on a daily basis. The new Leon ST CUPRA adds a new dimension. For work and family, for sports and hobbies – with its added versatility, it’s the ideal everyday sports car.
“The new Leon ST CUPRA is the perfect complement to our high-performance model line-up. The combination of refined performance and expressive dynamics with relaxed long-distance comfort and compelling utility make it utterly unique,” says Jürgen Stackmann, President of SEAT S.A. “The Leon ST CUPRA shows the SEAT brand values at their best. We are proud of the technical excellence and quality it conveys.”
In the UK, the ST CUPRA’s 2.0 TSI engine with dual injection and variable camshaft timing will be tuned to 280 PS. The Dynamic Chassis Control (DCC), front differential lock, progressive steering, CUPRA Drive Profile and standard-fit full-LED headlights are further examples of its state-of-the-art technologies.
“The new Leon ST CUPRA is pure SEAT – emotion and performance, design and dynamics deliver driving fun mile after mile. It boasts state-of-the-art technology evident in its great precision, but also in its amazing efficiency,” stresses Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice President for Research and Development. “We have invested a great deal in the fine details to ensure the Leon CUPRA has the same ride and the same athleticism in its estate form – but with plenty of additional utility.”
With the new Leon ST CUPRA, a success story is moving onto the next level. The first generation was launched in 1996 with the Ibiza, followed since by an array of dynamic CUPRA models which have developed to become icons of the SEAT brand. In the latest generation, the Leon three-door is being offered for the first time as a CUPRA – and now the Leon ST is too.
The Drive – high performance as standard
CUPRA stands for power, performance, dynamics – and the new Leon ST CUPRA fulfils each of these promises perfectly. The ST CUPRA 280 with optional DSG transmission, the brand’s top model, catapults from zero to 62 mph in just 6.0 seconds (6.1 seconds with the manual gearbox). Its broad spread of torque, ranging from 1,700 to 5,600 rpm, guarantees impressive pulling power in every situation.
Against this, the new Leon ST CUPRA is astonishingly efficient, with fuel economy of 42.8 (DSG) and 42.2 (manual). This equates to CO2 figures of just 154 and 157 grams per kilometre.
Making it even more intriguing is the availability of the ‘Sub8 Performance Pack’ on ST CUPRA. The optional pack includes larger Brembo brake callipers, specially-designed 19-inch multi-spoke alloy wheels in either black or orange and body-coloured side skirts. For £2,025 including VAT. Semi-slick Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 tyres, as fitted to SEAT’s fastest production car when it became the first front-wheel-drive production car to dip under the then elusive eight-minute Nürburgring Nordschleife circuit lap time, are available for £460.