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Following a very successful debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new SEAT León Cupra R is NOW on sale. Equipped with a new 265 hp engine, it instantly becomes the brand's most powerful production car to date, earning a special chapter in SEAT's history in the process. Boasting a thoroughbred sporty engine, the new SEAT León Cupra R features exclusive interior and exterior styling touches which reflect its unique character. The SEAT León Cupra R is, simply, an attention-grabber. Its feisty exterior design is mirrored on the inside, too, with a motorsport-inspired look and feel that lets you know this is not just another car.

The extensive, generous equipment list features SEAT's impressive new electronic self-blocking XDS system for excellent handling, as well as a broad array of standard features that provide both top notch safety and exceptional on-board comfort.

SEAT's most powerful car. Undeniably, the focal point of the new SEAT León Cupra R is its 265 hp direct injection 2.0 TSI engine. Its main characteristics are its tremendous power, easy torque transmission and fabulous flexibility.

The SEAT Technical Centre poured significant effort into modifying the engine's electronic management system and increasing the maximum turbo pressure. The result is an added 25 hp compared to the tried and tested 240 hp 2.0 TSI engine found in the SEAT León Cupra.

The intercooler fitted to the new engine delivers its superior performance through greater turbo pressure. As on the 240 hp version, the engine set-up includes a new, high-pressure fuel injection pump to satisfy its greater performance demands, and the ratios on the six-speed gearbox have been specifically adapted. The new SEAT León Cupra R delivers a top speed of 250 km/h (self-limited) and a blistering 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of barely 6.2 seconds. It also covers a standing kilometre in only 25.7 seconds. These competition-class figures are achieved with exceptional fuel efficiency of only 8.1 litres on average to cover 100 km, making it the most efficient vehicle with the lowest level of emissions in its performance category, while fully complying with EU-5 emissions standards. Imposing design.

The new SEAT León Cupra R is based on the spectacular design of the existing Cupra, with subtle additions both inside and out. The exclusive nature of SEAT's new model is most easily identified via the distinctive letter 'R' that's subtly placed on the central grille and at the lower right of the hatch, the right instrument dial and the remote control key. The exclusive Cupra logo graces the front bumper on the lower left, the centre of the hatch, the steering wheel and the seat backrests.

Further distinctive detailing on the SEAT León Cupra R that underlines its racing spirit, besides the spectacular 19 inch wheels are the trademark glossy black door mirrors. The wheel assembly also enables a set of exceptionally generous 345 x 30 mm front disc brakes with 286 x 12 mm at the rear; vital given the need for greater braking capacity in a car that harnesses 265 hp.

The interior features eye-catching competition styled bucket seats in a combination of grey cloth and alcantara upholstery, white LED lighting on the instrument dials, a leather multi-functional steering wheel and aluminium-clad pedals. Black prevails in the sporty passenger compartment, and the view from the driver's seat is designed to minimise distractions with the roof lining, sun visors, door handles and 'A' pillars all clad exclusively in black.

Excellent dynamic performance

The addition of the electronic self-blocking XDS system to the standard equipment on the new Cupra R means this Seat offers much greater driving comfort and safety. The clever new electronic system works together with ESP and functions as a self-blocking mechanism. It improves the car's performance when traction is lost by applying braking power to the wheel that loses grip.

This system provides a similar feeling as driving a car with a conventional self-blocking mechanism, and considerably improves the ability to transmit power to the driven front wheels. Proving its worth, in particular, through bends, XDS stops the inside wheel from slipping and reduces understeer, providing the SEAT León Cupra R with unbeatable handling. The XDS system is the perfect complement to SEAT's efficient Agile Chassis, which has been modified on this version to make it one of the most dynamically impressive cars in its segment.

Top-notch equipment

The SEAT León Cupra R offers a particularly generous line-up of standard equipment. Naturally, of course, there are the usual electronic safety devices, such as XDS, ABS, ESP stability control and TCS traction control + EBA emergency braking. Other standard-fit safety features on the SEAT León Cupra R are front airbags, two side airbags, two head airbags, passenger airbag disconnection, rear window seat Isofix anchoring points and low tyre pressure warning, as well as automatic lights on, rain sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, cruise control, trip computer, cornering fog lights, dual zone climate control and CD radio + MP3 + eight speakers + MDI, among others.

Design

The new SEAT León Cupra R is easily recognisable on the road. The new 'R' version builds on the essentially sporty lines of SEAT León Cupra with a number of distinctive features that round off its upgraded image with a yet more 'racy' look.

The front end grabs your attention. An exclusive honeycomb mesh central grille with a black surround and the letter 'R' on the right are the car's most obvious trademarks. As on the Cupra versions, too, the sophisticated air vents beneath the grille enhance its sporty appeal. Another tell-tale Cupra feature seldom found on other cars are the pronounced shoulders that house the headlights. A black character stripe runs the length of the front bumper and the word 'Cupra' stands out on the left. Finally, there is a larger trapezoid-shaped cooling grille, with cornering fog lights built in at the sides.

From the side, the car's exclusive 19-inch Cosmos Silver 'Potenza' wheel rims (optionally available in white) are shod with ultra-low profile 235/35 tyres, and the five double-spoke rims reveal enormous red brake callipers. The disc sizes and four-pot callipers provide the immediate braking response obviously required by a car in this class. The side view includes gloss black door mirrors, which lend the car a personal touch and echoes the mirror treatment of the entire SEAT Cupra Range. The rear of the car also clearly identifies the SEAT León Cupra R. As at the front, a more blunt bumper with a prominent black moulding enhances the car's racy looks. A polished steel oval exhaust pipe, the model name in the centre of the hatch and the letter 'R' at the lower right of the hatch (also seen on the key control and engine block) complete the check-list.

Sporty interior

Inside this extreme new SEAT, great pains have been taken to ensure that the passenger compartment detailing reflects the car's sporty exterior. Extensive use of black and grey helps conjure up the sporty atmosphere of a race car cockpit.

The first thing you see when opening the doors of the new León Cupra R are the competition-styled bucket seats with a combination of grey cloth and alcantara upholstery, integrated headrests and the Cupra logo on the backrests. These comfortable seats provide great lateral support in tight bends and, as on the Cupra version, an attractive new option is available: black leather upholstery with white cross-stitching, highly reminiscent of '70s competition cars.

There is a three-spoke multi-functional leather steering wheel with aluminium colour inserts and the Cupra logo at the bottom, plus a matching gearknob with a newly designed gear diagram. The competition-style wheel is flattened at the bottom, with ergonomic grips at either side. The instrument panel is lit with self-regulating white LEDs, and the letter 'R' can be found at the bottom right of the left-hand speedometer dial. The centre console houses the warning switches, in black, the ESP disconnection and a new row of buttons which includes the parking sensor disconnection. Design modifications have also been made to the climate control and the new satellite navigation system, which blend in perfectly on the SEAT León Cupra R.

Finally, no self-respecting Cupra R vehicle would be complete without a set of racing aluminium pedals and footrest to round off a comfortable driving position.

Engine

The SEAT León Cupra R is equipped with a turbo-charged 265 hp (195 kW) 2.0 TSI engine, making this car the most potent production SEAT to date. The engine settings have been carefully calculated to deliver its 265 hp output, brilliant performance, moderate fuel consumption and EU-5 emissions compliance. The most powerful in the range. The new engine on the SEAT León Cupra R is a development of the familiar 2.0 TSI. Its 265 hp comes from a different engine management set-up, as well as greater turbo pressure compared to the 240 hp engine: 1.9 bar at maximum output and 2.2 bar at maximum torque compared to the 1.8 bar of the 240 hp 2.0 TSI. On both the 240 and 265 hp versions, the 2.0 TSI engine features a new, high-pressure fuel-injection pump and modified catalyst in order to comply with EU-5 emissions standards; the intercooler connection pipe is also different on both models - the 265 hp version including a higher-performance intercooler. As a result, the 265 hp engine helps the SEAT León Cupra R to a top speed of 250 km/h (self-limited), 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in only 6.2 seconds and 0 to 1,000 metre acceleration in only 25.7 seconds. 350 Nm of torque is generated between 2,500 and 5,000 rpm, guaranteeing brilliant in-gear acceleration - 5.7 seconds from 80 to 120 km/h in 5th and 7.1 seconds in 6th. The SEAT León Cupra R's TSI technology also means a much lower fuel consumption than might be expected of a 265 hp high performance hatch; only 8.1 litres on average for every 100 km.

The SEAT León Cupra R also features usefully lower emissions levels than many of its rivals, as its 190 g/km on average make it the most efficient car in its segment with this power output.

Finally, the new SEAT León Cupra R is available in nine body colours - Candy White, Emoción Red, Crono Yellow, Black Magic, Speed Blue and Luna Grey, Track Grey, Tribu and Dacota Red.