Dr. Herbert Diess (CEO Volkswagen Group) tests the new CUPRA Leon

[Syphon]

The Volkswagen Group’s media team have released a video of the new CUPRA Leon (Phev) pre-production model being driven by the group’s CEO, Dr. Herbert Diess, presumably for the first time.



This is the first time we have heard the car from the inside. It sounds quite throaty but bearing in mind this is the PHEV it is likely to be the sound actuator (fake engine sound) we are hearing.



Interestingly he comments that the steering needs tightening up and in CUPRA mode the car should downshift more often, also that the brakes could be more aggressive. Finally, he says the seats could do with more lateral support. It will be interesting to see if the CUPRA team take this feedback on board this late in the final stages of development.



He also says it is sharper, more precise, agile than the Golf GTI.



At the end of the video he gives his feedback to Wayne Griffiths, CUPRA’s CEO, you can imagine it’s a key moment for him with the boss marking his homework! He tells...

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[Kirky]

Interesting that the group CEO is saying it's sharper, more precise and agile than the Golf GTI. I'm guessing this means it's priced above a Golf GTi as they are very key areas to a hot hatch.
Any car that gets a childish giggle when you floor it gets my thumbs up. That's the best part of owning a hot hatch, letting that inner child loose.

 

[AndrewJB]

They always need more Ruckus... I've told this to Waynes face as well.

Limit run of 25 CUPRA Leon R, with roll cages etc thats what we want.

 

[Rusty2k]

Shame he didn't have anything to say about the all-digital controls. Quite how that setup made it through design validation and into mass production is beyond me.

 

[Rusty2k]

They always need more Ruckus... I've told this to Waynes face as well.

Limit run of 25 CUPRA Leon R, with roll cages etc thats what we want.

Dunno, I think in numbers that small they'd all be sold to VIPs and people with connections rather than genuine enthusiasts.

It could be available as an option though.. a track focussed version... sort of like an everyman's GT2 RS. I think that might garner some interest... again though, they'd need to fix the touchscreen interface first.

 

[AndrewJB]

Touchscreen is fine IMHO just a change that people need to ve get used to. Its no different than having a Tesla.

I've been driving around with it for days and seems fine.

 

[Nathan penney]

It must be very easy to drive?
looks like he manages to put a face mask on, then take it off and on again several times through that video.

 

[A nice cupra T]

not sure wonder they kept the MK3 Cupra font for the badge? The new MK4 Leon is quite arty/swanky (Which I like though some mind find it a bit fussy).

Also I think because the New cupra logo is copper I'd wanna have the Cupra letters in copper too (OCD about colour -coordination)

 

[AndrewJB]

Swurly lettering doesn't really go with "performance"

 

[markm49uk]

Not a chance this will be launched this year. Next spring at earliest.

 

[Syphon]

Not a chance this will be launched this year. Next spring at earliest.

PHEV is coming first, and target is currently from late October (of course COVID could put a kybosh on that).

Scott

 

[markm49uk]

No chance. They are still in concept car mode.

 

[AndrewJB]

Not really they are running them around on the roads in Spain testing. Uncovered as well. Concept mode they would still be camouflaged up.

Would imagine theres quite a few made now ready to ship for press days. SEAT UK are expecting press fleet in Oct.

I remember spotting the MK3 Cupra testing when I was out in Barca in 2014. Tried to cover it up as a FR, first thing I did was look under it for a prop shaft to squash the 4WD rumours haha.

 

[markm49uk]

PHEV is coming first, and target is currently from late October (of course COVID could put a kybosh on that).

Scott

It is now October. Any news on the new Cupra?

 

[Syphon]

It is now October. Any news on the new Cupra?

No update, but expect media reviews this month, should find out more in the next few weeks.