The Seat Leon Cupra R is now available on sale in showrooms, with its turbocharged 2.0-litre TSI engine with 265 hp. The sports hatch is Seat’s most powerful car to date, and should certainly prove competitive in this segment.

The Leon Cupra R has a top speed of 250 km/hr and can reach 100 km/hr in 6.2 seconds. It has 350 Nm to couple with the 265 hp, and a six-speed manual gearbox. It’s fuel consumption and emissions are competitive at 8.1 l/100 km and 190 g/km respectively.

Other features include an XDS self-blocking differential, new 19-inch wheels and a sexy sports interior. It has an extensive list of optional extras including leather seats and white alloy wheels. Check out the gallery for a closer look.

Seat Leon Cupra R

Continue reading: Seat Leon Cupra R released

After the debut of the Golf R at Frankfurt, the Volkswagen Polo range will soon expand to include the GTI, GTD and R versions. The Polo GTI will be the first to debut with a 1.4-litre TSI engine at 170 hp. It’s the same unit as that of the Seat Ibiza Cupra, although it won’t be as powerful.

The Polo R will appear on the market later and will also be equipped with the 1.4 TSI but with a powerstep to 190 hp. A Seat Ibiza twin version should also be produced, called the Cupra R, with 10 hp more.

Finally according to Autocar, a Polo GTD could be in the works, providing the sporty looks and performance of a GTI, but with the lower fuel consumption and emissions of a diesel model. At the moment it’s purely hypothetical as the success of the 1.6-litre TDI will be used as a benchmark for any future Polo GTD.

Source | Autocar and Es.autoblog

Continue reading: Volkswagen Polo GTI, GTD and Polo R: Seat Cupra R to follow

JE Design has tuned the Seat Leon Cupra to produce 285 hp and 385 Nm. Those figures are up from 240 hp and 300 Nm for the TSFI engine, and mean the Cupra can reach 100 km/hr in 5.9 seconds. Top speed has also increased from 247 km/hr to 261 km/hr.

The JE Design Leon Cupra has achieved a more aggressive exterior with redesigned aerodynamics, huge front air intakes on the spoiler, new side and rear skirts, and a centre diffuser insert. The rear wing completes the package.

The Leon Cupra has been lowered overall by 49 mm and fitted with new 19-inch wheels with black rims. A coilover suspension has been fitted along with twin, rear exhaust pipes. The whole kit and caboodle would get pricey though, with the wheel set alone costing 2,930 euros. See what you think in the gallery below.

Continue reading: Seat Leon Cupra tuned by JE Design

The Motor Show in Bologna, starting on December 3, will host a series of important news from the Volkswagen Group, with the presentation of the new Golf Plus, that will see its international debut at the show.

Next to her we will see the Golf and the Golf GTI that were presented at the Paris show in October.

Audi, however, will be showing the world its A1 Sportback Concept, the S4 sedan and S4 Avant, also seen at the Paris show, and the new Q5. For the opening Sunday of the show, the company has organised an event featuring Emanuele Pirro, Dindo Capello and the R10 TDI, winner of the last three editions of the 24-hour Le Mans.

Continue reading: Bologna 2008 Volkswagen line-up

Confirmation of the production of the Seat Bocanegra Concept revealed at Ginevra has arrived. The prototype seen at the show previews the aspects of the next three-door Ibiza, expected for November with the name Sportcoupè: but especially it will have the black nose reflecting the mean look of the Cupra, 2009, which as a showcar makes itself noticed for its chrome finish.

The good news is that the Cupra will maintain most aspects of the Bocanegra such as the front air vent design. Designer Luc Donckerwolke, ex-Lamborghini, has declared that given the success won for the prototype, it would be unthinkable to change the series’ version.

The Cupra will be equipped with a 1.4 TFSI at 180 hp and the new DSG seven gears and together with the new Toledo will be the most important news in 2009. The Toledo will be based on the old Audi A4 series but dressed up in Seat style.

Continue reading: Seat Ibiza: three doors in November and the Cupra in 2009