- Leon VZ hatch will join Sportstourer in NZ lineup.
- Most powerful front-drive Leon ever.
- Two models arrive in September this year.
Cupra New Zealand is bringing back the Leon VZ hatchback. To date, it has only offered the current-model high-performance Leon in Sportstourer form.
“The return of the Leon VZ Hatch highlights our commitment to delivering vehicles that prioritise driving emotion and individuality,” says Clinton Baird, national sales manager Cupra NZ. “We know there is still strong enthusiasm for performance hatchbacks, and this is a great example of how Cupra continues to do things differently, bringing exciting, design-led and performance vehicles into the market.”
The Leon VZ hatch is driven by a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 239kW/420Nm - the same output as the European VZ TCR tribute model and Volkswagen Golf Edition 50.
That's still 6kW down on the Sportstourer, but the key difference is really the driven wheels: the wagon is AWD, while the the new hatch is FWD.
The VZ hatch has 7-speed DSG transmission and electronic VAQ front differential lock with Adaptive Chassis Control. It can hit 100km/h in 5.4 seconds and has a delimited top speed of 270 kilometres per hour.
The new model arrives in two editions. The Leon VZ hatch Pantera Edition is priced from $79,990 and features 19-inch matte black alloys, black side skirts, a black rear spoiler, bucket seats finished in Moon Slate leather, a Sennheiser sound system and a panoramic sunroof.
The Leon VZ hatch Stealth Edition is priced from $81,990 and adds matte paint finish.
Both models will be launched in NZ at the end of September.