I have a question for you sir.
Why have SEAT insisted on keeping the FR and
Cupra so similar with regard to looks?
I am trying to imagine if the new Focus RS would have had the same fanfare if it looked like the ST but with all the changes hidden like the
Cupra has over the FR which incidentally is a lot less than the RS has over the ST.
ST
RS
It is very disappointing that the FR is 10bhp closer to the
Cupra now and still looks the same IMO.
Also, with this facelift, have SEAT finally disposed of those awful Aero bumpers to the skip or can we expect to see them again too?
Hi djhorace - I hope my answers below might
help a little bit:
- There are indeed some visual differences between the Focus ST and Focus RS, but then again the ST ranges from £19,840 to £21,840, whereas the RS will be closer to £25k. In contrast, the current FR TSI manual currently costs £18,835 and the
Cupra £19,485. The
K1 comes in at £20,485. That £4-£5k is a huge difference, allowing quite a different specification
- As you suggest, the power outputs at 211 PS and 240 PS are much closer than the 225 PS and 300 PS of the two Focus models. For that reason, the Ford and SEAT can't be compared that directly
- It's easy for us to forget in the hot-hatch mad UK, but generally these types of cars are not big sellers worldwide. The UK is the largest market in the world for Leon
Cupra and indeed for many of its hot hatch rivals. Therefore, the cost of investment at R&D level is often difficult to justify, especially in the current climate. Look at Ford again - it has suggested there will be no Fiesta ST, let alone a Fiesta RS. At SEAT, we are offering the
Ibiza FR AND
Cupra
- There is always the possibility of an even quicker Leon
Cupra model, but nothing has been confirmed or suggested at the moment. If a more powerful version were to arrive, there is a greater likelihood of more differentiation
- The kit completely divides opinion, which is absolutely fine. Some love it (thank you markmeus!), some think it's too much for them. That's the whole point of offering the choice of
Cupra and
Cupra K1 - one for those that like things a bit more subtle, the other for those who want to make a brash statement. I think it's fair to say that with the Focus RS you don't have the option!
- We have yet to finalise in the UK the situation with kits for the revised Leon. I'll keep you posted, both here and on Twitter
Sorry it's a long reply!
Cheers
Mike