Seat has unveiled its most powerful model ever ahead of the Frankfurt Motor show. Behold: the Seat Leon Cupra R. You’re looking at 306bhp through the front wheels via a six-speed manual gearbox, or a lesser powered, 296bhp available with a DSG transmission.

Yup, it’s the car that leapfrogs the Cupra 300 in the power stakes; a car we recently found to be a “well-rounded hot hatch”, but lacking “panache in its delivery”. Perhaps the R can remedy that.

So, along with the additional few horses, the R also gets a few choice camber modifications on the front axle, along with adaptive suspension. There’s also a new exhaust system and the addition of Brembo brakes.

Carbon fibre makes an appearance, as you’d expect, with trinkets on the front and rear spoilers, side skirts and rear diffuser as well as copper wing mirrors and rims. Inside, the Cupra has also had the copper and carbon-fibre treatment, and a steering wheel specially upholstered in Alcantara, of which there are three colours to choose from; black, grey and the exclusive matte grey.

Seat is building just 799 of these limited edition Cupra Rs. We’ll get more performance stats following its unveil at next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show, but for now, why not tell us if this makes it onto your hot hatch shortlist…

Words: Callum Alexander