4-wheel drive on a Cupra / Mk2 Leon

[Invisible]

Just responded to another thread about Hybrid Turbos or BTs on a Cupra and my view is it's all about useable power and personally feel stage 2+ is the max worth doing on a front wheel drive Cupra.

I find it difficult to get useable power (mainly lost through wheelspin or poor handling through corners or at speed etc) at stage 1 so 2+ and beyond has got to be very difficult.

I have many handling mods sitting in my garage and some still to order to try and alleviate this problem but it got me thinking what is the art of the possible to turn the Cupra into a 4-wheel drive machine?

Clearly this would be expensive but when you add up the cash spent on BTs and supporting mods could this be done for the same money?

Share you thoughts please.

Id be interesed in knowing the art of the possible.
- What car would the 4-wheel drive system come from (I've heard the S3 but is this really a true 4-wheel drive system?)
- Any other cars 4-wheel drive system that could potentially 'bolt-on' be used? (I'm guessing it would have to be from the VAG range)
- Problems to resolve if attempted. I am assuming setting up the computers would be a challenge for one!
Personally I love the idea of a Cupra with 4-wheel drive that sticks to the road like sick to a blanket

Could this really be a possibility

 

[mardon]

Wasn't there an AWD Leon available in Europe?

 

[Invisible]

Wasn't there an AWD Leon available in Europe?

Interesting, so might be a direct swap out there somewhere or was that on the MK1 only?

 

[seatcupramad23]

yh they do 4wd leon in europe n very popular in mexico, s3 can b a proper 4wd drive if u change the haldex controller to upradted one some can send up to 65% of power to rear which is about the same as rs4, all depends how much money u wana spend on it mate, personally 300bhp in front wheel drive is a waste no matter wat front lsd u put on it it just aint the same as a rwd or 4wd car like a evo4-8 i'd say

 

[fenman]

There is also Altea Freetrack in Europe which comes with 2.0 TFSI 211ps and 4wd, as far as I know it is based on the Leon platform.

 

[DanGB]

The AWD leon was mk1 only (left hand drive)

 

[Invisible]

Isn't the Golf R 4WD but 70kg heavier than the cupra R.

I think 5th ear did a shot out with these two and the golf R was quicker

I like the idea of the S3 4wd system with Haldex removed and setup properly to me be more like RS4, that would be amazing.

Sadly, I guess we look at big budgets for this but certainly would be unique

I wonder if a true 4wd Cupra is in the pipeline with SEAT I could be tempted to trade up if so.

"Haldex has announced a deal worth 530M USD to provide VW with a new AWD system for their new platform due in 2012"

 

[Al]

S3/R20T fills this void dude.

 

[DanGB]

and you'd get a much nicer car with it

 

[vt-marty]

a mate of mine has a long running habit of sticking mk2 golf rallye tunnels and boot floors into 2wd mk2 golfs and corrado's. he couples them up to mk4 R32 or mk1 TT rear suspension systems.
runs tuned VR6 engines thro them so they shift well on track.

all done at home DIY style.

its do-able but he starts with older cars worth little money ....do you really wanna rip the floor out of a £10k plus leon?!?!

people used to suggest 4wd in DC2 integra's when i was in that gang...its doable but ruins the nature of the car and ultimatley would be simpler to buy a faster 4wd from the off.
out of the box an S3 is a very capable and practical car.

 

[vt-marty]

ps dealers are selling 2nd hand S3's for £16k so a lot of car for the money.

 

[noktoto]

I think 5th ear did a shot out with these two and the golf R was quicker

But AFAIR Tiff preferred Cupra handling.

 

[Leigh15]

Both these cars plus the S3, Golf R32 etc etc are all Haldex based system - not real 4wd.

As mentioned above, you can get the Haldex mapped, but it's more cost.

The 'real' Audi Quattro system (S3,TT aren't really quattro although they use the name) only works with longitudinally mounted engines

 

[vt-marty]

Both these cars plus the S3, Golf R32 etc etc are all Haldex based system - not real 4wd.

As mentioned above, you can get the Haldex mapped, but it's more cost.

The 'real' Audi Quattro system (S3,TT aren't really quattro although they use the name) only works with longitudinally mounted engines

yeah your right, its a bit of a stinker that audi have coined the quattro name and used it on a predominantly FWD car with small use of RWD on occasions....still i can honestly say it works well...atleast the haldex on my volvo XC90 did in the snow last year.
and the brother in laws bora V6 4motion has done him a treat for years. he loves getting it 4-wheels drifting on roundabouts.

the haldex may not be purists quattro buts its still a worthy 4wd system

 

[MJ]

quattro is long dead replaced by either TORSEN (engine mounted longitudinally) or HALDEX (engine mounted transversely) yet they still insist on using the name even though, and as previously mentioned its not full time true 4wd like the original audi quattro system.

 

[fenman]

quattro is long dead replaced by either TORSEN (engine mounted longitudinally) or HALDEX (engine mounted transversely) yet they still insist on using the name even though, and as previously mentioned its not full time true 4wd like the original audi quattro system.

The original quattro was only used in early to mid 80s, and had three diffs, with central and rear manually locking so it was probably a little tricky to use. Torsen (torque sensing) diff has been in all Audi Quattros with longitudal engine since then, and that is the technology synonymous with Quattro for most people i think.

 

[MJ]

Exactly mate, torsen is a full on 4wd system and also shares the same characteristics as it's predecessor and can also have 1/3 working diffs. I only found out about it last week. Apparently the q7s use a different system again instead of torsen!

 

[Poverty]

I quite like my haldex, although sometimes you can feel the power shift from the front to the back and vice versa. 4 wheel drifts are fun like previously mentioned.

Did think about doing a haldex conversion then BT on my k1, but by the time I would have done all the necessary bits a TTRS wasnt much more money, and would be just as powerful as a BT 2.0TFSI at stage 2 with the added benefit of even better low down torque than the 2.0TFSI at stage 2 plus.

What I would like to convey is though guys, the stage 2 plus cupra was a more involving car to drive than a stock TTRS. In the wet and the twisties the cupra wont know which way the TT went, but there is just something about the cupra I just miss. The K1 was a beast, the TT is more relaxed, calm, handles a hell of alot better and is easier to drive quickly but still is not as much fun.

S3 stage 2 plus vs Cupra stage 2 plus and I would say cupra all day long even though in the winter its a frustrating drive.

 

[beeko85]

id love to do it myself if i had the cash to throw at things like that, but i dont, so id be sensible and trade in for an s3, but i totaly get it, a cupra that could get the power down like that would be insane

 

[Fl@pper]

wasn't there a golf not 2 weeks back running medium boost and 1/4 mile at high 9's front wheel drive ? till had more in it too iirc so FWD isn't the issue

although day to day use is a different story to a drag strip of course but the main principle stand's and that's a decent setup for the power/useage intended

I'd rather drive a 200bhp well setup chassis tuned car than a 600bhp dog that's as good as standard even if it is too the shops or work and back