In an earlier op-ed I lamented how draconian regulations are stifling fun cars in Europe. In just a few years we’ve had to say goodbye to the Subaru BRZ, Toyota GR86, Honda Civic Type R, Porsche Boxster/Cayman and the Miata’s 2.0-liter engine. Looking at the glass half full, there are still some mainstream performance cars left, although these largely come from the Volkswagen Group.
Example: SEAT’s spin-off brand Cupra introduces the most powerful front-wheel drive Leon ever. The compact hatchback has been around since 1999, but never before have so many horses been sent exclusively to the front axle. The Leon VZ TCR is essentially a Spanish version of the VW Golf GTI Edition 50 and packs 321bhp in a FWD hot hatch. Following in the footsteps of its Wolfsburg sibling, the 2.0-liter turbocharged gasoline engine produces 310 lb-ft (420 Nm).
As you’ve probably gathered by now, the limited edition special edition takes its name from its TCR race car counterpart. Because SEAT/Cupra knows its place within the VW Group hierarchy, the Leon VZ TCR is handily a tenth of a second slower to 100 km/h than the hottest Golf GTI ever. It takes 5.6 seconds, and although Cupra doesn’t mention top speed, the VW version reaches an electronically limited 270 km/h.
Compared to a plebian Cupra Leon, the VZ TCR gets wider tires and a strut tower brace, along with lighter, exclusive wheels paired with Akebono brakes with six-piston calipers. We’re told the sound from the four copper exhaust tips has a “deep-seated” note, but there’s one glaring omission worth pointing out: no manual transmission. As with the Golf GTI and the larger Skoda Octavia RS, this car only comes with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Photo by: Cupra
With no interior photos available, we’ll have to take Cupra at its word that the rear seats can be removed to save weight. The rear doors, of course, remain reminiscent of the Toyota GR Corolla Morizo, or, if you prefer sedans, the Jaguar Only 499 units will be built.
All will feature a more aggressive body kit with redesigned front and rear splitters and a new roof spoiler. Cupra also adds an updated rear diffuser, carbon fiber side mirror caps and other aerodynamic tweaks. If that’s too much, a subdued Leon VZ, limited to 1,500 copies, is planned with the improved engine.
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Source: Cupra
Prices are not mentioned, but the VW Golf GTI Edition 50 starts at an eye-watering €54,540 in Germany. That’s almost $64,000 at current exchange rates, but it’s not a fair comparison considering Germans pay 19 percent VAT (value added tax).
Cupra will first launch the Leon VZ in the first quarter of 2026, followed by the punchier VZ TCR towards the end of the year. The VW Group originally planned to bring the brand to the United States by 2030, but the launch has been postponed until after the end of the decade. The strategy revolves around crossovers and SUVs, which means the chance of the Leon hatchback or station wagon reaching America is slim.
In the meantime, Cupra has been given access to Audi’s fantastic inline-five engine for a Formentor VZ5 with 385 hp and 480 Nm.
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