Seat reportedly planning new halo coupe to go with all those hatchbacks and minivans
Seat Leon Cupra R – Click above for ginormous high-res image gallery
Considering that Seat is supposed to be Volkswagen's sporty cousin, the Spanish motor division's range is conspicuously bereft of two-door models. Oh, they've got plenty of hatchbacks and MPVs, but the company only has two models with less than five doors. One's a rebadged previous-gen Audi A4, and the other's a Volkswagen Polo with a black mouth.
Building on the strength of their hot-hatch reputation, Seat unveiled the new Leon Cupra R in Frankfurt, packing the VW Scirocco R's 265-horsepower, 2.0-liter turbo four to make it the most powerful road-going Seat ever made, and even matching the world-beating, competition-spec Leon touring car for output. Not too shabby, but still five doors, even if it looks more like two or three. But the latest reports from across the pond indicate that the company is planning a new coupe based on the Leon to serve as something of a halo car for the brand in the same way the Scirocco (also based on the same platform) does for its sister brand.
Of course Seat isn't about to abandon its core market, and is planning a new Alhambra to challenge the Ford Galaxy in the European MPV market. A crossover/hatch based on the Tribu concept to rival the Nissan Qashqai is also in the works, as is a Seat version of the Volkswagen Up! But despite Spain's famously sunny weather, the company isn't planning any convertibles, citing the conspicuously poor market performance drop-tops carry in its domestic market.
In the meantime, Seat's released a huge batch of images of the new Cupra R, which we've posted for your Euro-hot-hatch-loving enjoyment in the gallery below.
Gallery: 2009 Seat Leon Cupra R
[Source: Autocar]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Guillermo Alfonsin 9:37AM (10/20/2009)
"the other's a Volkswagen Polo with a black mouth" Saying this is like saying that an Audi A3 is a SEAT Leon with four rings on the mouth...
The Polo and the Ibiza shares the platform, but from this to that, there is a long, long way. They drive very, VERY differently. The SEAT set up is a long way more agile, mith much more body control on the left-to-right corners.
Regards ;)
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bitstream 9:38AM (10/20/2009)
I'm surprised this hasn't come stateside yet. I could easily see this selling and competing well against the Honda Civic and Scion.
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ACURA23CL 11:42AM (10/20/2009)
@bitstream:
Are you smoking something? I can see why this hasn't come Stateside...It's HIDEOUS!!! It's got nice power, but I don't think anyone in the US would be able get past the aesthetics of that front fascia. It's one the ugliest cars I've ever laid my eyes on.
GOT 8:34AM (10/21/2009)
@Bitstream
Agreed. I thinks its awesome looking!
Paul 10:25AM (10/20/2009)
Euro Hot Hatches galore but none for us... sigh...
http://everyroadtaken.wordpress.com
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Victor 1:51PM (10/20/2009)
you see them ocasionally here in San Diego (along with Audi S3 and other Euro cars we can't get), because even the Mexicans get them.
eric 11:46AM (10/20/2009)
Seat is VW with a Spanish soul, meaning exciting, passionate and some quality flare to go along. However, that quality stops at the high-design for such a price point and doesn't continue with cousin VW's high-grade materials and workmanship. From the Seats I've driven, always with a smile on the winding Spanish roads near Granada, there is a tactile difference between the Seat and VW just like there's a taste difference between a Mahou beer at siesta and a Jever during Oktoberfest. Both just right for the moment intended.
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JimBob 11:43AM (10/20/2009)
Hot wheels, hot engine, ugly car.
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Clippy 12:13PM (10/20/2009)
Why would i want to buy an ugly green deformed blob with even uglier interior, when i can have much nicer and better handling Renault Megane RS 250 for the similar price? Or just pay extra for Scirocco R which, despite its badge, at least looks decently.
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ryan 3:03PM (10/20/2009)
That thing sure does got a purty mouf.
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P.V. 5:15PM (10/20/2009)
I just want an Ibiza Bocanegra.
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Guillermo Alfonsin 1:46AM (10/21/2009)
We have tested it some weeks ago...
http://es.autoblog.com/2009/09/24/prueba-seat-ibiza-cupra-bocanegra-1-3/
;)
P.V. 5:16PM (10/20/2009)
Strictly speaking, that's not true, as I also want a more reliable commenting system.
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Swede 7:56PM (10/20/2009)
NONE SHALL PASS
... remedys onto the commenting system. It shall forever be broken for it is written at the bottom of the page:
AOL