The CUPRA León range is extended with the arrival of the VZ CUP finish. A new level that accentuates the sporty temperament of the Martorell compact, providing it with new wheels, seats and aesthetic details as well as improving the standard equipment.
In recent months the CUPRA Leon It has received some new features in its range and I have had the opportunity to get behind the wheel and check how the changes have made it fit. Specifically, I put under the magnifying glass the Leon e-Hybrid 245 CV, the most powerful plug-in hybrid variant in the range.
On this occasion the test unit has the new VZ CUP finish, launched this year and that expresses the sportier image of the Spanish compact. The CUPRA name comes from “CUP RAcing” and that “CUP” name is once again very present in this level of equipment that pays homage to competition models.
Available in both 5-door hatchback and Sportstourer estate, the VZ CUP finish seeks to underline the most dynamic qualities of the Leon with exclusive improvements from the aesthetic point of view. As in many facets of life, the small details make the difference.
The novelties show some side skirts and exclusive housings for the exterior mirrors. The Leon also adds a carbon fiber rear spoiler, an element present only in the five-door hatchback, which, in addition to aesthetics, improves air flow by reducing turbulence at the rear of the vehicle. Also with this finish. The Matrix Led headlights and the electric sunroof are standard..
Of this unique Leon VZ CUP, the equipment that I like the most about this new finish are the magnificent 19-inch Performance Sport Black&Copper alloy wheels. Featuring a multi-spoke design and a Black and Copper color scheme, these exclusive wheels fit like a glove and are sure to make a statement. The TSI versions are equipped with semi-slick Bridgestone Potenza Race tires, equipment that does not reach the PHEV.
The passenger compartment is sophisticated and features slightly more careful materials than its SEAT counterpart. No, the CUPRA León does not seek to compete directly in terms of quality with the segment’s traditional premium models, but it does create a sufficient differentiation with respect to the SEAT León without raising manufacturing costs much.
The heated sports steering wheel that houses satellite buttons both for starting the engine and for selecting the driving mode stands out. The available equipment exposes a digital instrumentation with a 10.25-inch screen, multimedia system with 10-inch screen and connectivity with Android Auto and Apple Carplay, keyless entry and start, wireless charging base for smartphones or three-zone climate control.
The great scoop of the VZ CUP finish for the interior are the spectacular CUPBucket sports seats inherited nothing less than the blunt 390 hp Formentor VZ5, the most radical model in the CUPRA range. They are beautiful, comfortable, very enveloping and also sit in a slightly lower position than normal seats to offer a sportier ride.
They are pretty on the front and pretty on the back since on the back they have a carbon fiber coating. The available upholstery proposes leather in Black or Petrol Blue, shades that are also replicated on the dashboard accompanied by Copper stitching.
The León has always stood out for being a versatile model and under the CUPRA signature it maintains that quality, providing plenty of room for four passengers and enough for five. Too bad that in the plug-in hybrid version the trunk remains in just 270 liters, a volume that reduces practicality. Whoever needs a PHEV with more versatility of use should look at the Sportstourer body that I have tested because it expands the capacity to 470 liters.
At the wheel of the CUPRA León plug-in hybrid
The VZ CUP trim level can be linked to the petrol engines 2.0 TSI 300 hp (5p and Sportstourer) and 2.0 TSI 310 hp DSG 4Drive (Sportstourer only) and plug-in hybrid 1.4 TSI e-Hybrid 245 hp (5p and Sportstourer). As I mentioned before, the version with the Zero environmental label and family body has passed through my hands, which is perhaps the most rational and versatile.
With the most powerful plug-in hybrid system in the León range, the 245 hp, and the Sportstourer bodywork, it is a very suggestive combination. Mix two seemingly opposite worlds: on the one hand, they provide the high performance expected of a sports car and, on the other hand, they allow, if desired, driving without spending a single drop of fuel.
The CUPRA León e-Hybrid intentionally plays at being Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. When he assumes this second role, Martorell’s model is shown as an efficient and ecological compact on a day-to-day basis, very docile and with a Zero environmental label so as not to find limits in the center of large cities.
The PHEV system of the Spanish compact combines a 150 hp 1.4 TSI four-cylinder petrol engine, an 85 kW (116 hp) electric motor, a six-speed dual-clutch DSG automatic transmission and a 10.8 kWh lithium-ion battery of net capacity (12.8 gross kWh).
With this scheme, between 57 and 59 km of 100% electric autonomy are achieved according to WLTP approval depending on the equipment mounted, although in practice we will be about 50 km in real conditions. When the battery is completely depleted, fuel consumption is around 6 l/100 km doing varied routes.
Electrical management allows the driver to decide whether to always move in 100% electric mode or in a hybrid mode so that it is the vehicle itself that automatically determines whether to use the electric motor, thermal motor or both at the same time depending on the circumstances. Also proposes the option to maintain a certain level of battery charge or even recover battery by using the gasoline engine.
The on-board charger supports a maximum recharge in AC 3.7 kW, a power that may be somewhat scarce compared to other plug-in hybrids that reach 7.4 kW. In this way, for a full charge (0-100%) it will be necessary to allocate more than 3 hours and a half in total.
Safety equipment is very abundant and has seven airbags (including a central airbag), adaptive cruise control, Front Assist with pedestrian recognition, involuntary lane departure assistant, blind spot detector, rear traffic alert, traffic jam assistant, traffic sign recognition system traffic, … nothing is missing.
Thanks to Comfort, Sport, Cupra and Individual driving modesWhen he puts on Dr. Jekyll’s robe, the CUPRA Leon PHEV transforms. Then the high performance derived from the simultaneous operation of the electric motor and the combustion motor that they develop together come to light. 245 hp.
Thanks to the electrification, the response is immediate and the instant torque delivery, which translates into intense acceleration that allows the stopwatch to be stopped at 7.0 seconds when going from 0 to 100 km/h. It must be recognized that the 300 hp CUPRA León 2.0 TSI runs more but is not as explosive or linear.
Another substantial novelty that welcomes the VZ Cup is the incorporation of series of the brembo brakes, which improve the stopping capacity and increase the resistance to fatigue. The Italian specialist’s calipers are four-piston and are combined with larger ventilated and perforated discs (370 x 32 mm) than the standard ones (340 x 30 mm).
Regarding the time of its launch, the CUPRA León e-Hybrid has received an interesting touch-up in its chassis by having a new suspension adjustment that reduces ground clearance by 25 millimeters. It is not a trivial change because thanks to it the aerodynamics improves, the center of gravity is lower and the poise in curves increases. The compact is noble and always shows predictable reactions, even at high tempos.
The set is very compelling and inspiring. Sports vehicles are usually fancy cars, but this CUPRA León e-Hybrid can be justified as a sensible purchase. In addition, the VZ CUP finish adds a touch of exclusivity that suits you and makes this compact even more special. This combination is available from 52,710 eurosalthough the CUPRA León e-Hybrid 245 VZ CUP with Sportstourer bodywork increases this rate by an additional 1,000 euros.