Seat Leon Cupra 290: driving test and video
Posted on 22-02-2016 to 16:00 pm by Wouter – 47 Comments”
To celebrate that there has been twenty years, Cupra’s are built, will get the Leon Cupra in a capital gain of 3.5%. That ten entire trappelende horses.
[ First look, then read? Watch the video HERE! ]
The Cupra story
We may like a little saw and believed, and to be honest gives Seat us all reason to do so with a rather cowardly vermogensupgrade. On the other hand: cowardly Cupra’s are there, Seat is always flush with the number of pk’s. The first Ibiza Cupra had a 1996 150 hp, just enough to Seat it to forgive these large stickers with the inscription “Cup Racing.”
Later followed the first Leon Cupra, which was a strange duck in the bite turned out to be. It is the only Cupra with a V6 (204 hp) and four-wheel-drive. All of the later Ibiza and Leon Cupra’s have so far viercilinders and front wheel drive. And a lot of horsepower because the first generation took as a Cupra 210 and Cupra R 225 bhp from the well-known 1.8 turboblok. For the second generation had to Audi the S3-block, in ordinary trim, had Leon Cupra 240 hp and Cupra R version is 265 hp. Tuners pull even more horsepower out of this block.
Leon Cupra 290
Two hundred and ninety hp. We can the upgrade of 10 hp laf found, the total power is absolutely fantastic for a hothatch.Especially because the price is still sharp, the CO2-tax walk slowly in the Netherlands (more fun we can not make, sometimes more expensive), but a driedeurs Leon Cupra SC stands for 37.150 euro on the sidewalk. Two doors extra costs 350 pop more and the station is still 1000 euros more.
Apart from the euro/hp ratio, the Leon Cupra is still one property which we are very happy. Since all 290 horses on the front axle let loose, Seat standard a limited slip differential (explanation) is mounted. The diff uses a meerplatenconstructie that hydraulic works and electronically controlled. The advantage of electronic control is that the Leon CUPRA is faster, a larger part of the driving power to the outer wheel can steer. That wheel in bends the most grip, because the weight of the car leaning on it. In extreme cases even up to 100 percent of the power to one wheel will be sent.
So much for the theory, because the practice is even more fun. Despite the excess capacity, the differential lock you in to the Leon Cupra incredibly hard cornering to accelerating. What in other cars too early and too hard, is in the Leon Cupra just right.
You can make it to fur, be on concerned that the Leon also what is faster a larger slider on the front wheels. The rear of the Cupra is almost nailed down, there’s not very much. It would be boring, but because there is so much grip on the front axle is, it is not.
Performance unchanged
Here again, the complaints we had not, so a lot of it doesn’t matter. The 2.0 TSI is still a nice modern block with two-stage injection, variable nokkenastiming and things such as a special coating for the aluminum.
The CUPRA290 has 290 hp and 350 Nm of torque. It provides a Spanish hatchback with DSG gearbox (automatic tray with dual clutch) in 5.7 seconds to 100 sprint. With manual gearbox takes the sprint to 100 exactly 0.1 seconds longer and with both transmissions is the top speed limited to 250 km/h.
There are still believed?
Yes. Sure. The appearance is not very exciting, although that is also an advantage can be explained. Despite 19” alloy, oval einddempers, other bumpers and some spoilers, it screams the Leon Cupra is still not from the rooftops how fast that is.
If you caressingly dashboards keeps and as large as possible map screens, then you better go shopping at Volkswagen or Audi. Are you looking for a little more playful chassis, then the Focus ST (driving test) and Megane RS are better options. In most cases, you should settle for less horsepower, and often still pay more. In short: are you looking for a lot of horsepower for little (or not too much), then you can be tricky to get the Leon Cupra. Movie!
Gallery: Seat Leon Cupra 290
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