Cupra has given its Leon hatchback and wagon an overhaul – and it’s more than just an angry face.
The Leon has been treated to a range of new powertrains, headlined by the most powerful Sportstourer option.
It now offers 245kW of power from its 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, and has picked up the all-wheel drive system from the Volkswagen Golf R.
That means it has what Volkswagen Group brands call a Torque Splitter on the rear axle, capable of sending all the engine’s torque to the outside rear wheel for Drift Mode.
A 150kW engine with all-wheel drive is also available on the Leon wagon in Europe, as is a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol with front-wheel drive and a six-speed manual.
Cupra has previously expressed interest in bringing the Sportstourer to Australia, but it hasn’t been locked in.
The new 245kW AWD powertrain is shared with the updated Formentor SUV, and isn’t on offer in the smaller Leon hatchback.
The most powerful Leon hatch also has a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine, but it makes 221kW of power.
It’s front-wheel drive, and has an electronically controlled front differential to help put all that grunt to the road without torque steer.
Cupra is also offering a range of mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid options in the refreshed Leon.
The eTSI mild-hybrid is a 1.5-litre four-cylinder turbocharged engine making 110kW of power, designed to offer smoother start/stop and better efficiency with an integrated 48V starter-generator.
As with the related Formentor, the Leon is now offered with two plug-in hybrid powertrains. Both mate a 1.5-litre turbocharged engine with an electric motor and a 19.7kWh lithium-ion battery pack, and both offer more than 100km of electric range.
The entry-level model has 150kW of power, while the range-topper has 200kW. Charging of up to 50kW (DC) is on offer, and the peak AC charge speed has been bumped up to 11kW.
Inside, the Leon picks up a 12.9-inch touchscreen infotainment system with backlit touch sliders at its base.
It’s running new software in line with its Volkswagen Group counterparts, designed to make it easier to access key functions on the run.
MORE: Everything Cupra Leon
