JE Design's 330-Horsepower Take on the SEAT Leon Cupra R

Never content with any of the VW Group's offerings, German tuner JE Design has now trotted out a new performance package for the Seat Leon Cupra R.

The stock model rolls out of the Spanish firm's factory with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot producing 265HP and 350Nm of torque. Thanks to performance kit that includes a recalibrated ECU, a sport air filer and a new exhaust system, the tuner increases those numbers to 330HP and 420Nm.

The result is a 0-100km/h (62mph) sprint time of 5.8 seconds and a top speed of 268km/h or 167mph.

Other performance features include a KW adjustable coil-over suspension and lowering springs to improve handling and drop the ride height by up to 40mm, while the new stance is accented by colorful 19-inch alloy wheels wrapped in beefy 235/35 performance tires.

The German tuner also upgrades the Leon Cupra R's exterior with a two-tone bodykit that includes a large rear wing and special graphics that match the color of the wheels.

The same two-tone color theme can also be applied inside on the leather seats and dashboard trim.

Fastest Ever Seat, the 265HP Leon Cupra R, Arrives in Britain

The most powerful and quickest-accelerating production Seat to date, the new 265-horsepower Leon Cupra R, will carry a price tag of £25,205 when the orders books open at the firm's UK dealers on Thursday 1 April.

The Cupra R is powered by a VW Group-sourced 2.0-liter turbocharged four-pot delivering a maximum output of 265HP and a peak torque of 350 Nm at 2,500 rpm that drive the front-wheels through a revised six-speed manual gearbox.

The Spaniards claim that their five-door GTI sprints from zero to 100km/h (62mph) in 6.2 seconds and reach a top speed of 250km/h (155mph), whilst returning 35mpg UK (equal to 29.2 mpg US and 8.7lt/100km) on the combined European cycle with 190 g/km of CO2.

Special features of the Cupra R model include the central exit exhaust pipes within a customized rear diffuser, a larger roof spoiler, gloss black trim, unique 19-inch alloy wheels shod in 235/35 tires, body-hugging bucket-style front sports seats and an exclusive engine cover.

JE Design Turns the Wick Up on the 2010 SEAT Leon FR TSI and TDI

The tuning specialists over at JE Design are planning to debut their 2010 Seat Leon FR at this month's Essen Motor Show in Germany. The performance package includes upgrades for both the TSI gasoline and TDI diesel versions of the Spanish hatchback. In its latest form, the 2.0-liter TSI petrol engine delivers 211HP and 280Nm of torque. With JE Design's engine kit that's priced at €1,499, the TSI's output is lifted to 270HP and 335Nm reducing the Leon FR's zero to 100km/h (62mph) sprint time from 7.1 to 6.2 seconds.

The 170HP 2.0-liter diesel engine's gets a nudge to 204HP and 380Nm of torque. This extra muscle helps cut 0-100km/h acceleration from 8.2 to 7.6 seconds. The price for this kit is €1,339 Euros and also includes VAT, assembly and warranty.

The tuner shop offers a set of lowering springs (€159) to bring the car 35mm closer to the ground while there's also an adjustable coilover suspension (€979) that allows the driver to drop the vehicle's height between 15mm and 40mm. A set of 19-inch multispoke alloy wheels shod in 225/35R 19 rubber priced at €2,930 complete the performance tweaks.

For the exterior, JE Design offers a bevy of upgrades including headlamp covers (€89), LED daytime running lights (€299) and its aerodynamics package that comprises of a front spoiler (€279), side skirts (€299), rear apron (€299) and the centre diffuser attachment (€99) plus a four-pipe muffler system (€899) and a pair of Lamborghini-style scissor doors (€1,499).

Finally, the interior can be modded with a leather treatment for the seats, door linings and the centre armrest (€1,599), a two-stage seat heating function (€379) and even a massage system with twelve programmes for the front seats (€429).

2009 SEAT Leon Cupra Facelift with 240HP to Premiere at Barcelona Show

SEAT has chosen next month's Barcelona International Motor Show (May 9-17) to pull the covers off the facelifted version of the Leon Cupra which is essentially the Spanish firm's VW Golf GTI. Like the rest of the 2009 Leon range that was revealed at the Geneva Show in March, the Cupra has received a series of minor cosmetic upgrades that include a new grille design that sports a smaller badge, larger headlights and new door mirrors. Look closely and you'll also spot a new tailgate design and tail light clusters.

The Cupra in particular also gets a newly styled front bumper with larger air-scoops at each corner and the word 'Cupra' printed on the left side. The sport hatch's looks are rounded off with a new set of 18-inch alloy wheels.

For the interior, aside from the tweaked instrument and center console designs which are common to the rest of the Leon range, the Cupra also features a three-spoke leather steering wheel with aluminum color inserts and a matching gearbox knob along with a set of sport bucket seats for the front passenger and driver. A new option for the 2009MY Leon Cupra is the black leather upholstery with white cross-stitching that you can check out in the photos below.

Underneath the bonnet, the 2009 Leon Cupra gets the same 240HP 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine as found in the previous version. Top speed is clocked at 247 km/h or 154mph, the 0 to 100 km/h (62mph) sprint takes 6.4 seconds while it covers the first 1,000m from standstill in 26.4 seconds. At the same time, average combined fuel consumption is listed at 8.3lt /100 km or 28.3mpg US.

Geneva Preview: 2009 SEAT Leon Facelift with Styling Tweaks and Revised Engines

At next month's Geneva Motor Show SEAT will showcase the facelifted Leon hatchback featuring minor cosmetic revisions and an updated engine range. On the outside the most identifiable traits of the 2009 model concern the newly shaped grille with the smaller SEAT logo, larger headlights and new door mirrors while at the rear, there's a larger window that now covers the whole length of the hatch and restyled tail light clusters which bring to mind the word "Alfa Romeo"... Inside, SEAT's designer have made modifications to the instrument panel, central console and door panel trim and materials.

The Spanish automaker claims that all available engines on the Leon have all been tweaked for better performance and reduced fuel consumption figures and emissions levels. These include the more powerful 2.0 TSI engine that now delivers 211 HP and the arrival of common rail technology to the 170 HP 2.0 TDI engine. Furthermore, all the versions equipped with the DSG automatic sequential gearbox, now also available on the seven-speed 160 hp 1.8 TSI, feature shift paddles on the steering wheel.

Other improvements for the Leon facelift concern the addition of the XDS electronic system that works in conjunction with the ESP as a self-blocking differential, the Hill Hold Control, dual xenon headlights with AFS and daytime driving lights, a new climatiser and new audio equipment, cornering foglights, front and rear parking sensors and an optical parking system displayed on the new navigation system.