(Mon 20 Apr 09)

SEAT has revealed details about high-performance versions of the León and Ibiza, which will make their debuts at the Barcelona Show in May and will go on sale here later in the year.

The first to arrive, in July, will be the León Cupra which - like the similarly-named car it replaces - uses a 237bhp version of the Volkswagen Group's 2.0 TSI turbo petrol engine. Top speed is 153mph, 0-62mph takes 6.4 seconds, and the list of standard equipment includes sports suspension, 18" wheels, race-style seats, revised front and rear styling and the electronic XDS system which isn't actually a limited slip differential but acts like it is.

The Ibiza FR uses XDS too, along with the 148bhp 1.4 petrol engine which uses both a supercharger and a turbocharger, and seven-speed DSG transmission. It gets sports suspension, of course, along with 17" wheels and enough styling revisions to make it clear that this is no ordinary Ibiza. UK sales are scheduled to start in September.

Prices of both models will be announced nearer their launch dates.

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