Seat? What the hell is a Seat? Unless you're a huge Volkswagen fan, that's probably what you're thinking right now. Well, the answer is simple. It's a Volkswagen. No, wait, it's an Audi. Actually, this car, the Leon Cupra 4, is a little bit of both.
The Spanish carmaker, which is part of the large Volkswagen/Audi group, had quite a parts bin for the picking when it decided to build the Leon Cupra 4-the four-door hot hatch you see here. With a vast array of engine and driveline combinations available from VW/Audi, Seat product planners assembled a unique mix not available in any U.S.-model Volkswagen or Audi.
Starting with VW's 24-valve, VR6 powerplant, which produces 204 hp in the Leon (The two-valve VR6 makes 174 hp in the U.S.-market Jetta), Seat began the process of building the fastest car in the company's history. Putting that power down is the Haldex-supplied, all-wheel- drive drivetrain, which is the same as that used in Audi's TT. The Haldex drivetrain mounts the engine transverse in the engine bay, unlike VW's Four-Motion drivetrain in the Passat, which positions the engine longitudinally. This electronically controlled system splits torque so quickly and effectively that it's nearly impossible to break a wheel loose while cornering-even in the wet. More on that in a minute.
Let's not ignore the Seat's most appealing character traits. This is a sharp car, both inside and out. The attention to detail and driver-focused nature of the interior left us wondering why Volkswagen doesn't pay closer attention to Seat in these areas. The seats are among the best OE seats we've experienced. The firm, comfortable and deeply bolstered Recaros belong in cars that are coming to our country. The rear seats receive a unique treatment with deep buckets as well. The three-spoke steering wheel is terrific in hand and is styled in unison with the rest of the interior. White-faced gauges pile on the go-fast looks.
The Leon's exterior styling really left us with dropped jaws. In general, the four-door hatchback shape doesn't lend itself to svelte lines and an aggressive stance. The Leon's body, however, takes well to larger wheels and tires, along with the subtle rear spoiler. Plus, it's a four door. And a hatch. Only a wagon could be better. What's more practical that an all-wheel-drive, four-door hatchback? The only thing that even comes close in the United States is the Subaru WRX wagon.
Those big wheels we mentioned? How about 17x7-inch alloys wrapped in 225/45-17s? A gorgeous and effective combination. We drove the car on Pirelli P Zero tires, which worked wonders with the Seat's all-wheel-drive system. In fact, driving the Leon in the rain on tight, off-camber roads was a real eye-opener. Normally, we're not big fans of electronics making decisions when it comes to vehicle dynamics (Nissan's Skyline being one glaring exception). However, in the Leon, with the ESP (Electronic Stability Programme) turned off, amazing velocities can be achieved in the wet. The system proved too aggressive for hard driving, but switch it off and the Seat's chassis dynamics quickly show through.
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