Seat Leon FR CAR review

I'm confused, does the FR replace the old Leon flagship, the Cupra?

Nope, that's still to come. The FR fills the gap between the standard, 147bhp Leon and the 237bhp Cupra due here early next year. So the FR is a direct rival for the forthcoming Honda Civic Type-R and Volkswagen's Golf GTI, from which it steals its engine and running gear incidentally.

Oh, a badge-engineered Golf GTI. I'm off

Hang on a minute. The FR gives you all the thrills of a Golf GTI, but with a massive saving. While the five-door Golf costs £20,860, the Leon (also with five-doors) comes in at £16,995. That includes 17-inch wheels, climate control, traction control and thumping CD stereo system. The FR also gets a bodykit that adds real sex appeal, compared with the normal Leon. From the front, it's pure hot hatch, with deep air dams framing that sharp nose. The rear is just as effective with a large black strip intersected by gaping chrome tailpipes. Subtle it ain't.