Cupra’s Leon plug-in hybrid hot hatch and estate are now available to order – priced from £34,495 and £35,525 respectively and bringing 245hp and emissions from 30g/km.

The Cupra Leon e-Hybrid is the brand’s first plug-in hybrid

Based on the fourth-gen SEAT Leon, the Cupra Leon e-Hybrid is the brand’s first plug-in hybrid and signals the start of electrification for the spin-off performance brand.

The Leon e-Hybrid pairs up a 150hp 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine together with a 115hp electric motor and 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack. It’s capable of 0-62mph acceleration in 6.7 seconds and returns up to 217.3mpg combined, with 30-31g/km CO2 emissions, both on the WLTP test cycle. It also has an electric-only range (WLTP) of 32 miles, giving it a 10% BiK rating for 2021/21.

There will also be three pure petrol variants of the Cupra Leon that arrive later: a 245hp 2.0 TSI, a 300hp 2.0 TSI and a range-topping 310hp version, exclusive to the estate and with 4Drive all-wheel drive.

Cupra said that opening order books for the PHEV variants prior to the traditional ICE models gives full evidence of its electrification strategy; next year will also see the launch of the plug-in hybrid variant of the Formentor as well as the all-electric el-Born.

Both the e-Hybrid hatch and estate come in a choice of trim levels – VZ2, VZ3 and a First Edition. Entry-level features include 19-inch machined sport black and silver alloy wheels, rear diffusers with twin exhaust pipes on each side. and chrome and copper detailing. The interior gets Cupra embossed racing bucket seats, a leather steering wheel and Cupra sports pedals.

The digital cockpit provides Full Link integration (including wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto), a 10-inch Media System Plus with smart navigation and a seven-speaker audio system.

Deliveries start before the end of the year for plug-in hybrid variants and Q1 for pure-petrol models.