SEAT Leon

New Leon earns stripes

Most powerful Leon ever breaks cover.

Auto Express Car Reviews

By Ross Pinnock

25th April 2008

Copa load of this ‘super’ Leon – it’s the most powerful car SEAT has ever made!

Under the striped bonnet lies a highly tuned version of the 2.0-litre TFSI engine from the standard Cupra, which pumps out 281bhp. As a result, the Copa completes the sprint from 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, and goes on to a top speed of 157mph.

To cope with this pace, engineers have revised the Leon’s suspension and uprated the brakes. So as well as being faster than the standard Cupra, the Copa should handle better.

SEAT has developed the model to mark the seventh year of its one-make race series, the Supercopa, which supports the DTM German touring car championship.

And with its bold stripes and aggressive bodykit, it looks like a racer for the road. A pair of leather bucket seats features inside, while the unique paintwork is echoed on the centre console with two vertical white racing stripes in direct contrast to the black-on-white exterior. Other details include Copa-badged floor mats and alloy pedals on the inside, with black-painted 18-inch alloys and twin tailpipes outside.

The upgrades don’t come cheap, though – the limited edition costs £31,000 in Switzerland, where the Copa is on sale. It’s likely to be cheaper if SEAT decides to bring it here.