2009 Mk2 Leon facelift.

[warren_cox]

Why would they be unhappy? It may well come with some nice 4 pot brakes, more power, bigger intercooler, lighter wheels, better suspension, a diff etc over the Cupra.

It would be useful if they told us the spec of the Cupra and the Cupra R so that people who might be interested could make a decision one way or another, especially with the Focus RS, Golf R20T and forthcoming MeganeSport coming out not to mention the all new Vauxhall Ashtray and its VXR variant.

Makes you wonder if the Cupra will be developed any further as the S3 is likely to stay the same, and if the RS3 goes into production it will get the 2.5 lump from the TT-RS.

The S3 won't be allowed to tread on the toes of the TT-S so will stay at 261PS under the 272 TT-S. I'd be surprised, but pleasantly surprised if they allowed SEAT to uprate the Cupra to Cupra R as then it forces the Audi / VW engineers to have to rework their stock to better spec.

With how far the GTI parts bin has been stretched for the S3/Ed30/Cupra, I'm not so sure the VAG technical guys will be inclined to push the running gear / engine / ancillaries any harder (DMF & fuelling issues already). Also if they LSD'd the Cupra and put new brakes on it means sourcing low volume non standardised parts which goes against the cost saving that VAG are currently trying to manage.

I'd love to see another Cupra R, but to be honest the press are touting a new RS3 and that's still marginal to see light of day. There is next to no news on a Cupra R so I wouldn't bet on one at this stage unless the competition are seen to be selling high volumes of new high end models. If it is only going to sell in small volumes given the hard times SEAT won't see it as worth the investment for niche potential.

 

[Al]

Very true mate, but the release date for the Cupra R above on week 36 is confirmed so its not a matter of "if" now or even "when", rather a matter of "what".

Cupra info should be out fairly soon anyway, so it will be possible to see if it is TSi rather than TFSi also. Differences like intercooler spec etc will be worth noting over the 210bhp FR TSI.

 

[chisel]

Cupra R is not confirmed mate.
In my opinion Seat is not going to produce Cupra and Cupra R. This strategy is not worth.
My information is only confirmed about Cupra from week 22, some iformation about Cupra R are from France. As you know Cupra R might be only the spec for ex. Holland, France , UK. It might be a bit different from Cupra but not as much as some people think (brakes, suspension etc) rather more power.

It is wird that you can't find any spec for Cupra 4 weeks before you can order it. The only reason Seat do it strategy is too promote new FR.

 

[Al]

Cupra R is not confirmed mate.
In my opinion Seat is not going to produce Cupra and Cupra R. This strategy is not worth.
My information is only confirmed about Cupra from week 22, some iformation about Cupra R are from France. As you know Cupra R might be only the spec for ex. Holland, France , UK. It might be a bit different from Cupra but not as much as some people think (brakes, suspension etc) rather more power.

It is wird that you can't find any spec for Cupra 4 weeks before you can order it. The only reason Seat do it strategy is too promote new FR.

Cupra R info is good for the UK too mate

 

[CupraSport]

Cupra R info is good for the UK too mate

So what do we know about the R then?? spec wise I assume it's coming because of the RS. If the new VXR has 270Bhp then I assume this will to, which means stepping on the toes of the S3. Are seat finally being let of the leash I wonder?

 

[Al]

260bhp I believe, but thats gonna be conservative as per all vag engines. Prob expect 275bhp in reality.

 

[chrisboyle999]

260bhp I believe, but thats gonna be conservative as per all vag engines. Prob expect 275bhp in reality.

but we (nearly all) get 260 out of the box anyway. all they will be doing is changing the print in the brochure.

i was in my frieldly local stealers on thursday last and they hadnt heard a dickie bird as of then, and they are usually pretty reliable. i asked to be kept abreast on things as i could seriously be tempted if dsg became an option. i havent heard anything as of yet.

have you heard differently on the jungle drums north of the border?

thinking back, i was told there would be a k2 cupra before 3rd generation leon....

 

[ZBOYD]

Absolutely zilch on the press feeds, and Europe usually make announcements of intent. I've heard that something is on the way, but I would not of expected it to be as imminent as some expect.

Considering they are geared up for the facelift Leon range and the FR for around July/August in the UK.

No specific mention of the Cupra in Europe as yet and I would not expect it to be available at UK facelift launch either. But that's not to say a press announcement in Spain is not imminent with preview details.

I tend to wait and see anyway, when SEAT announce it, and I have pics and specs that's when I get interested.

Barcelona Motorshow is from May 7th, production ready Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra already been tipped. If a facelifted Cupra / Cupra R were to be due, then expect some kind of preview/prototype there.

If nothing surfaces next opportunity for a significant announcement is Frankfurt in September.

If SEAT follow their usual roadmap, if they show off a revised Leon Cupra to the world early next month then I doubt the UK will see it before New Year anyway....but you never know.

 

[Al]

The other thing that is possible is that the Cupra could be the first VAG car to have the TSI variant K04 engine. As far as I understand, the S3 and TT-S dont use an updated design engine in the same way as the TSI is present in the K03s Golf GTi, A3 2.0T, 2.0T TT, New Leon FR etc.

 

[carlt69]

When are we going to get the full specs and prices then? As on the seat spain website it doesn't even let you choose the petrol FR??

 

[chisel]

When are we going to get the full specs and prices then? As on the seat spain website it doesn't even let you choose the petrol FR??

I can't understand this situation. For me there are only two possibilites:

1. Cupra will be "the same" as FR with 240 bph from 22 week this year
or
2. Seat prepares special Cupra/Cupra R and will show it on right time

I should know something more from my dealer next week. My dealer is sure that he is going to put the order to Seat Spain for FL Cupra after 20 of april ... we will see ..

 

[ZBOYD]

From our experience of covering SEAT launches over the past few years I often find some dealer estimates and facts to be far wide of the mark. While it's true many dealers are privvy to pre-launch previews of new cars. their launch estimates tend to be obscure at best.

They get to see what we want to see way in advance but we tend to hear from the media when stuff is really expected to hit our shores.

I know the next significant Cupra launch in the UK will be the Ibiza, and that the face-lift Leon's will be arriving in the summer/autumn. However a Leon Cupra has not been tipped to be amongst them as yet.

But let's see what happens at Barcelona in a few weeks, but from past form I don't expect a revised Leon Cupra in the UK this year.

 

[chisel]

From our experience of covering SEAT launches over the past few years I often find some dealer estimates and facts to be far wide of the mark. While it's true many dealers are privvy to pre-launch previews of new cars. their launch estimates tend to be obscure at best.

They get to see what we want to see way in advance but we tend to hear from the media when stuff is really expected to hit our shores.

I know the next significant Cupra launch in the UK will be the Ibiza, and that the face-lift Leon's will be arriving in the summer/autumn. However a Leon Cupra has not been tipped to be amongst them as yet.

But let's see what happens at Barcelona in a few weeks, but from past form I don't expect a revised Leon Cupra in the UK this year.

In the middle of march there was a SEAT meeting in Barcelona. My information is from this meeting, so it is not only "the dealer talk". But you are right, still no details about Cupra. We have to wait and will see ... cheers.

 

[chisel]

In the middle of march there was a SEAT meeting in Barcelona. My information is from this meeting, so it is not only "the dealer talk". But you are right, still no details about Cupra. We have to wait and will see ... cheers.

look at http://****************... everything is clear now
I was right about Cupra ... we wait now for Cupra R

 

[chrisboyle999]

try again with the link mate

 

[markmeus]

http://www.seatcupra.net/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=1094&Itemid=1

It's been on the homepage most of the day.

And theres a thread about it.

You guys mustn't check the new posts often lol.

 

[CupraSport]

I can't understand this situation. For me there are only two possibilites:

1. Cupra will be "the same" as FR with 240 bph from 22 week this year
or
2. Seat prepares special Cupra/Cupra R and will show it on right time

I should know something more from my dealer next week. My dealer is sure that he is going to put the order to Seat Spain for FL Cupra after 20 of april ... we will see ..

I thought the FR was 211hp not 240??

 

[ZBOYD]

I thought the FR was 211hp not 240??

Badly worded. He means the Cupra will look like the FR, rather than sharing it's power output.

 

[ZBOYD]

look at http://****************... everything is clear now
I was right about Cupra ... we wait now for Cupra R

SEAT Media is blocked because some people tended to miss the fact some of the information was embargoed and not for release.

We also drive our own news site. Some of the information posted to SEAT Media is also generic to the Spanish/European market and we try to focus our factual content towards our home market and not confuse people with varying information. Hence by controlling our own news site we can explain that some information may change when the products come to our market.

I was happily surprised this morning to see the Cupra pop up, but I knew the Barcelona Motorshow was imminent (early May) so if there were to be a formal announcement it would of been this week or next.

I don't like spreading mis-information, so until SEAT announce it, I've always tried to employ a healthy scepticism.

The Cupra face-lift kind of makes sense now though, it's not a radical change and nothing will really delay it being produced for a late summer/autumn production schedules.

Whether that includes the UK market is as yet to be seen.

The Cupra R or whatever it turns out to be might still be a while off...or maybe it will pop up tomorrow.

 

[wild willy]

The Cupra R or whatever it turns out to be might still be a while off...or maybe it will pop up tomorrow.

Remind me never to play poker with you Zboyd.