What is the Leon "FR"?? Stuggling to find specs...

[daisukaAurora]

I'm struggling to find any decent specs on these, I looked on the main site and looks like the "FR" version of the Leon is a MY03? It talks about differences but doesn't go into detail about the power, torque or even the actual engine.

I drove home from work last night and followed a silver 54 plate Leon "FR", now the roads were quiet busy upto a point but on a stretch of relatively empty dual carriage way i was quite surprised, infact my first assumption was its a diesel so I was shocked lol but the lack of black smoke gave it away.

Admittedly I was short shifting and from 4000-5800rpm the R53 Cooper S gives about 125 to 165 BHP and 165 to 145 lb/ft of torque and performance looked quite matched. I lifted off in 5th and dropped back, I don't like flooring it in 5th too often and considering the car will do about 135 in 5th at full chat its not advisable at that time of day lol. The acceleration of the FR was really strong though!

I know the Cupra R is pretty untouchable unless your well into the 200BHP Club but I assumed the FR was a TDI version of the Cupra, equivalent to the Golf PD150 or new GT?

Could someone please enlighten me as to what this car is lol?

Whether he knew I was a full chat or not it must have made him chuckle haha!

 

[LiCkWiD]

Basically, buddy.. in Leon Mk1 spec.. an FR is the later Cupra. Towards the end of the production run, SEAT changed the name of their "Cupra" model to "FR". This is a 1.8T 20v engine with a K03s turbo. 180BHP 173Lbs/Ft Torque. They did this because they wanted to keep their "Cupra" name for their flag-ship Mk 2 Leon waiting in the wings.

Leon Mk 1 Cupra/FR = 180BHP. 1.8T 20v
Leon Mk 1 Cupra R = 210/225BH 1.8T 20v with FMIC, larger turbo, better running gear, Brembos etc.

Leon Mk 2 FR = 200BHP 2.0 TFSI
Leon Mk 2 Cupra = 240BHP. 2.0 TFSI (similar deal as the Mk1 Cupra R... uprated this and that and more powerful parts).

Moral of the story = FR is a 1.8T 20 valve Leon.

I've toyed with a few Cooper S in the past. I wasn't impressed. Did them on acceleration, top-end and even on a long sweeping curve. This is "vs" more than one car over the space of a few months. Just furthers my belief that the only "good" new mini is the Johns Works one.

 

[skahigh]

i was under the impression all mk1 FR's were tdi's.....

http://www.seatcupra.net/forums/showthread.php?t=124052

 

[skahigh]

at what point did they stop making the mk1 Cupra and start making the FR?

 

[LiCkWiD]

http://www.pistonheads.com/sales/274976.htm

Basically, find a 55/05 plate Leon Cupra and it'll be badged as an FR.

I don't remember the actual change over year. It may have been as early as 2004... but, don't quote me on that.

 

[daisukaAurora]

Thanks for that! Glad to see I wasn't done by a suspiciously clean diesel haha

My car has two slight alterations which should see approx about 20 to 25 more hp than standard (163) and a more 10-15 lb/ft torque at each rpm level. Basically due to increased boost from the supercharger.

I totally understand what you say, everyone I know was really skeptical about me buying this car but it's only till you drive one you can decide.

A mini never crossed my mind until I took one for a test drive. The most surprised was a mate who's current car is a 350Z GT or whatever, the fast one apparently.

I dunno what it is, it's definetly not the quickest hot hatch (especially considering todays offerings) even if you bear in mind this car is a 2003/2004 pre-facelift it wasn't the fastest then. It just feels really fast even if your not tanking along. I suppose if the driver isn't giving it the full beans then you'll never know what the car can do comparably and I know the runflats on the Mini don't do it any favours but as far as I can tell I can't fault it on handling

The only slight annoyance is the really long ratio in 2nd, the car will do about 70 in that gear but 3rd, 4th and 5th have really nice close ratios.

Also don't forgot the typical, average mini driver tho :gay:

Cheers for the heads up!

PS. The Works version will rarely make more than 190/195hp on the rollers!

 

[LiCkWiD]

Hah. I do adore the pink camp write emoticon. 10/10 for the use.

Well.... The Works edition doesn't stop at engine performance. There are aesthetic difference I prefer over the standard Cooper-S. But there ya go..

It's not my cup of tea, although I can see the attraction. A wheel at every corner is never a bad thing.. but technically, it's not a hot-hatch, it's a super-mini. SEAT's answer is the Ibiza and the various performance variants such as the Cupra and Cupra R. Try one of those bad boys if you want performance

Anyway.. enjoy the supercharger