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2017 SEAT Leon Cupra Facelift Spied Testing With Minimal Camo

SEAT only had the Ateca X-Perience to show at the Paris Motor Show, but it did say 2017 will be packed with debuts. The one we have our eyes on is the mid-life facelift of the Leon.
2017 SEAT Leon Cupra Facelift Spied Testing With Minimal Camo 5 photos
Photo: YouTube screenshot
2017 SEAT Leon Cupra Facelift Spied Testing With Minimal Camo2017 SEAT Leon Cupra Facelift Spied Testing With Minimal Camo2017 SEAT Leon Cupra Facelift Spied Testing With Minimal Camo2017 SEAT Leon Cupra Facelift Spied Testing With Minimal Camo
The Leon is by far the most popular of all the SEAT models, selling about 150,000 units a year. Most of its appeal comes from being sportier than the VW Golf, not to mention slightly cheaper. And no Leon is more appealing than the Cupra.

Today, we have a few spy photos we've procured from a Spanish website called Decoches. From a distance, the Cupra looks exactly as it does right now, but that's because they are using camouflage to hide the side air intakes on the bumper.

Another thing we noticed is that the grille says FR, but the 20-inch wheels, large exhaust pipes and red brake calipers with "Cupra" written on them give it away.

We know that it will debut in 2017, but everything else is a mystery. Will it finally be allowed to reach 300 horsepower? Considering we are currently at 290, that hardly sounds like a stretch of the imagination. But you never know what VW bosses want.

Next year, the fast Leon will face some all-mightly competition from the new Honda Civic Type R. We really are reaching the limit of what's possible with front-wheel drive. Sure, the front can put the power down, but when it's wet, the current Type R loses all feel though the steering wheel.

One possible alteration to the powertrain would be a new DSG gearbox. God knows Volkswagen's hot hatchbacks have been stuck at six gears since 2004's GTI.

If you want to know what's under the little patch of camouflage, I've left a photo of the new bumper at the beginning of the photo gallery. That and updated headlights are going to be the only major exterior changes we see.

Inside, the Leon is likely to get a new infotainment system and ambient lighting. However, we think it's highly unlikely that the 12.3-inch digital dashboard screen will be available.
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About the author: Mihnea Radu
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Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
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