The SEAT Leon Cupra is back! This is good news for those of us with fond memories of hot Leons of old, the combination of VW underpinnings, a little more flair and a little less money always appealing. Having already given us extensive insight into the new Leon Cupra in an

earlier preview

SEAT has now revealed more details and official pics of the car, which you can see here.

Three-door SC and five-door available

We already knew the new Leon Cupra would be available in three-door SC and regular five-door formats and with a choice of two power outputs. Base cars will have 265hp, the hotter version 280hp rather than the 285hp initially reported. And we also knew all Cupras would have three-way adjustable DCC dampers as standard while the Performance Pack discussed initially instead manifests itself as a package of features to distinguish Cupra 280 models from the standard version. These include grey finished 19-inch wheels, black mirror caps, an 'Aerodynamic Pack' (ie, a spoiler), branded brake calipers and gloss black trim elements in the cabin.

There were also hints of a very, very impressive 'ring lap time that will prick up the ears of current hot hatch record holders Renault and future wannabes Honda, which has publically stated that honour as a development target of the forthcoming Civic Type R.

So what else has been revealed? Well, we've got pricing for starters. The range starts at £25,690 for the three-door SC Cupra, the 280hp version of the same costing £26,940. The five-door is only available in Cupra 280 form and costs £27,240. DSG is available on the 280hp versions only and adds £1,285 to the price. As mentioned, all Cupras get three-way adjustable dampers (badged DCC), the VAQ Haldex-based active locking differential, a 'progressive steering system', LED headlights, DAB and the SEAT Media System Plus. That diff alone is a significant feature, our earlier story before its introduction on the Golf suggesting that it's worth 8.5 seconds on a 'ring lap while ourexperience on the road suggests it imparts a significant on- and beyond the limit balance to the GTI that VW customers have to opt in - and pay extra - to enjoy.

Five doors all 280hp; diff and dampers standard

Bringing us neatly to bang for buck. A three-door Golf GTI manual starts at £26,125 so is £435 more than the Cupra SC from the off. It's also 40hp down, though torque on all GTIs and Cupra models is the same 258lb ft suggesting horsepower figures are, to a degree, malleable to suit marketing needs. Regardless, to match the Cupra's standard DCC would add £815 to the Golf and for the diff a further £995. Having spent £27,935 your Golf would be 10hp closer to the Cupra (GTI Performance with the diff adding a bit more power) but still half a second slower to 62mph than the SEAT's 5.9.

So, it's significantly faster and cheaper than a Golf GTI and includes much of what you'd pay extra for on that car as standard. As such it pitches the Cupra - and SEAT - back to where it should always have been in the eyes of folk like us, namely as the sportier, more focused member of the VW family. That keen pricing even looks troublesome to the car it matches most closely in spirit, the recently facelifted Megane 265. Starting at £25,990, you'd need to add the £1,350 Cup chassis and diff pack to the Megane to put it on equal terms with the base Cupra SC and the SEAT would still be £1,650 cheaper with the diff, the adaptive dampers and all the rest of the standard kit. Even the Cupra SC 280 enjoys a £400 price advantage over the Megane, plus the option of DSG if that's your cup of tea.

We know the Megane is exceptional. But with a price advantage like that the Cupra is already off to a flying start. Official confirmation of stealing Renault's 'ring lap record would be rubbing salt on the wound.