SEAT Leon Cupra R test drive since 2009 hatchback
Yellow lightning 2
This is what the story came out: I went to Cupra for two months, you can say I related to this lighter, personally arranging me in all respects, and then I saw a photo of the model after recent restyling (at the end of the material). And immediately with particular force he wanted to leave the old version at his disposal. Not because the new one disappointed with appearance, it looks quite. But because some seemingly very insignificant details changed its appearance. She became different, but I like this one. I will not go into the description of the exterior, because I have already done this (see AI No. 6, 2009). I can only say that Cupra voluntarily or involuntarily compared with all other hot hatchbacks of C-class. And in the end, he was forced to admit to himself that this Spanish beauty captivated me to the greatest extent. Because (followed by a purely subjective assessment) in it everything is composed in the most harmonious way of appearance with character, character with potential, well, and so on. Although I still compiled a long list of refinement.
However, back to the asphalt.
Law and order
On the 18-inch discs of the 240-horsepower Cupra, the beautiful summer tires Pirelli P Zero (225/40) finally appeared, and the car opened in all its glory. Well, I went
I’m not just standing here, the joy of the traffic police inspector, who stopped me for the speed of speed, knew no bounds. You have a record holder today: 120 excellent result!.
But I managed to notice him almost on time and dropped his speed.
It’s guilty, I say, after ordinary words and in general, I’m going further.
Of course, I lost time through my own fault, and the brakes have nothing to do with them just everything in perfect order. Only at first the pedal can seem overly acute, but in good movement mode you understand that dosing the effort is not difficult, and the slowdown is confident.
It is better, of course, not to violate at all, but it doesn’t happen, and it’s too boring. Especially on Cupra. I am a slow-moving with seedlings, because of which I partially hit the radar, overtook in the fifth gear (for acceleration from 80 to 120, according to the manufacturer, it takes 6.4 seconds). The fourth would be even faster, but the manipulation of the IAA lever seemed unnecessary in this case. And good, otherwise the inspector would smile even wider, and this is just ugly.
But still how Cupra is going! How he sings. The main thing is that in the tank there is a good 98th only on it you feel the full return of a 2.0-liter gasoline engine with direct injection and turbocharged. He responds to the commands instantly, with a barely noticeable delay in only one case, if the gas pedal is abruptly on the floor, and on the tachometer only 2500 rpm. Although the maximum moment is available at 2200 rpm, you feel the real pickup after three thousand. And all because, unlike competitors and brothers, the engine management program was rewritten in Seat Motorsport. That is why acceleration is sharp, which he should be by car with a turbine. And it grows with an increase in revolutions, reaching a maximum (and giving maximum pleasure), when the tachometer arrow is about 6000-6500 rpm. That's when, if you love the drive, you should switch to the next program.
There are no problems with quick switching. Although I want even a shorter stroke of the lever of a 6-speed manual manner. But no attacks on the wheels at the moment when you throw a clutch, and the entire potential of the motor falls on the front drive wheels, as if they were ready in advance for this. More precisely, they, like the rest of the mechanics, were prepared for active driving those same masters from Motorsport.
Eh, there would be more sound! Yes, a large oval growls from behind, but does not roar, as if sparing the rumor of the rest of the fellow citizens. And in moments of switching, you can hear a subtle whistle coming from the turbocharging system, this is pulled by excess air, and I like it too! However, a light tuning, and Cupra will be able to exhale the faint -hearted and stray dogs. On the other hand, there are rules prohibiting the operation of a car that makes too loud sounds. Everything requires a sense of proportion.
In general, Cupra is tuned for fast riding. Acute steering with excellent feedback, very hard pendants everything is as it should. It will be useful to note that, despite the presence of ESP, this is a car, a driver is very demanding. But if you get used to his habits, carefully work an accelerator and a steering wheel, then the turns can be written very fun. At least sideways, with a strong drift of the rear axle. To do this, a handbrake is not needed even on dry asphalt to make the car go like in a rally you can steering and gas. It is also worth considering that the ESP system does not turn off and allows only small liberties, in a critical situation it will work quickly and clearly. Mirrors, teapots and discs
The right row, speed is about 60 km/h. Ahead is a sharp and narrow turn, where two cars pass almost close to each other. I brake smoothly, but the one that is on the left seems to be going to cut. Let me leave a place with him. It turned out that I did not calculate. The reindeer herder Beldyev sharply gave the steering wheel to the right, and a couple of meters before the place where it was necessary to start turning the steering wheel. There are two options: either in it, or the brake and to the right, in the hope that there is still a distance to the curb. He was not enough. Two 18-inch cast discs were scratched and, most unpleasant, the geometry of the suspension was broken.
Well, called the traffic police and issued all the necessary documents. The company of the Russian insurance center said that according to the rules of insurance, damage to disks is not an insured event, but there are mechanical defects, and I should undergo an independent examination. Having killed a lot of time for this, I sent a computer printout to the insurer, from which it followed that the pendants of both right wheels were injured, it was required to replace the front right switch. Nevertheless, it was refused to compensate for damage with the wording: damage is a constructive defect in this car of increased danger, no payments are supposed. It turns out that it was more profitable to avoid a collision, but still hit the reindeer herder on a nine who cut me in the most outrageous way. Then the insurance company would not have gone anywhere. The conclusion is simple: to carefully study the contract, and if you get into such a situation, you can not waste time and money, but simply come to terms with the upcoming expenses. As a result, all defects were eliminated, the discs were painted and polished. And it was worth overwhelming the thresholds? ..
In conclusion, I note two points that are understandable only with prolonged operation. Firstly, the noise insulation of the wheeled arches saved slightly. When summer tires appeared instead of winter tires with spikes, it became noticeably quieter in the cabin, but the characteristic rustle is still present. On the other hand, I can’t attribute this to the minuses of the car with such dynamics often orient yourself precisely by the sound on the speedometer, it is not always possible to look. And, secondly, the body aerodynamics are such that smoking at the wheel on the move is quickly unlearned by the entire ash blows into the salon. And the ashtray and cigarette lighter are an option.
But these are such trifles
Meanwhile
Updated lightning
The debut of the restyled Seat Leon Cupra took place recently, at a car dealership in Barcelona. The appearance changed slightly other forms for blowing for a blowing under the front grille of the radiator, a Cupra logo in the left side of a slightly modified bumper, and new cast discs of the former 18-inch diameter.
Inside, the new manual of the manual transmission and a lamb, a slightly detached instrument panel, a microclimate control unit on the central console, which is now finished with aluminum. And as an option, leather seats are now available with an original stitching cross Cross.
From a technical point of view, one change: engineers added the XDS system electronic locking of the front differential. Although without it with the realization of the potential, at least on dry surfaces, no problems are observed.
Andrey Osipov
