SEAT’s performance brand, Cupra, will be hosting the world premiere of the all-new Leon hot hatch today, at 18:30 CET (12:30 p.m. EST).
The sporty lineup of compact models will greet the world at the inauguration of the Cupra Garage, in Martorell, Spain, and the event will be live streamed over the web. You can find the feed at the bottom of the page.
Debuting alongside the new Leon Competicion and e-Racer racing cars, the 2020 Cupra Leon hot hatch will be the first of its kind to ditch the SEAT badge in favor of the Cupra logo. Other upgrades over the regular Leon will include the addition of a sporty body kit with a mean front end, twin oval exhaust pipes and model-specific wheels, in addition to a tuned chassis and beefier brakes.
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Cupra Leon ST test prototype (photo credit S. Baldauf/SB-Medien for CarScoops)
Power will come from a plug-in hybrid shared with the new top-spec SEAT Leon, although likely tuned to produce 245 PS (242 HP / 180 kW), up from 204 PS (201 HP / 150 kW) in the SEAT-badged model. It’s expected to need around 6.5 seconds to accelerate from zero to 100 km/h (0-62 mph) and, for the first time, the hot hatch will offer an all-electric driving range estimated at around 55 km (35 miles). The same powertrain will be offered on the Cupra Leon ST estate variant.
But wait, there’s more. A range-topping Cupra Leon R is tipped to be in the works, likely sharing the power unit with the upcoming Volkswagen Golf R. The 2.0-liter four-pot is understood to churn out around 333 PS (328 HP) in the German hot hatchback. The Golf R will continue to pack an AWD system and the Leon R should get it as well.
Rumor has it that a diesel version is in the pipeline too, perhaps in the same vein as the Golf GTD. However, we’d better wait for Cupra to uncover this mystery. Subsequent to the online premiere, the new Cupra Leon will have its public world premiere at the 2020 Geneva Motor Show on March 3.