Category Archives: Sports and coupe

CUPRA, Motoring, Performance, Sports and coupe

CUPRA delivers a thrilling drive

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CUPRA Ateca

By Bill McCarthy

The latest version of the excellent Ateca comes dressed in sporty new threads as the CUPRA version. With its 300PS petrol power, it offers stunning performance and delivers an intriguing alternative to its SEAT cousin.

It looks hot and sporty, all creases and angles, shod with dark alloy 19-inch alloys and copper colour Brembo brake callipers and featuring the signature red and copper colour scheme, as the CUPRA premium spin-off from parent SEAT continues to grow.

This Ateca delivers a striking profile, with a redesigned bumper, full LED headlights and quad tailpipes.

Those looks do not deceive as the performance is a bit special. The two-litre engine delivers stunning performance, into the hottest of hot hatch territory, hitting 60mph in just 4.9 seconds.

Inside the car offers high-end trim and upholstery again with the brand’s logo incorporated into the sports seats headrests, with copper and red stitching also prominent.

It looks sporty, but the layout and design are logical and intuitive, with the centrepiece a hi-tech 10-inch digital driver info screen and 9.2-inch central touchscreen which features CUPRA Connect technology.

This provides Full Link smartphone integration for Apple or Android phones as well as infotainment and navigation system.

Starting at around £42k, it is anything but cheap, but it in its segment is competitive with the entry level VZ1 offering an impressive range of standard equipment, such as air conditioning, media touch screen, Bluetooth, and safety kit like tiredness recognition, emergency braking and pedestrian protection systems as well as a full range of airbags

This range-topping, four-wheel drive model adds a seven-speed DSG auto gearbox, heated leather bucket seats, electric tailgate, cruise control, dual-zone climate control, electric tailgate, folding door mirrors, sat nav, DAB digital radio and 360-degree parking camera and a host of active and passive safety systems and alerts, including ABS, traction and stability control.

If it looks like it is designed for performance, it is, but it is still a capable and practical family. vehicle with decent head and legroom. Boot space is excellent with 510 litres available, expanding to 1,604 if you decide to want to bring along the kitchen sink.

Performance is blistering, hitting the 60mph benchmark in what seems the blink of an eye, and mated to a seven-speed DSG auto box, it slips through the gears while there is a satisfying growl from the quad exhausts.

Despite the rampant performance, economy is pretty good, with official figures indicating 46mpg is achievable.

The lowered and stiffened sports suspension means this is no magic carpet ride, but handling is impressive, with bags of grip, while the four-wheel drive offers extra stability when called upon, as does the electronic differential lock system.

It’s not just about the power, to achieve economy of 30mpg plus on a car of this type is equally impressive.

Definitely a firm ride which may not be everyone’s cup of tea, but open it up on twisting country lanes and it delivers a thrilling drive.

Factfile

CUPRA Ateca 2.0 TSI 300PS 4Drive DSG

Price: £48,530

Mechanical: 300PS, two litre four-cylinder turbo petrol engine driving all wheels via a 7-speed automatic gearbox

Max speed: 155mph

0-62mph: 4.9 seconds

Combined mpg: 46  (WLTP combined cycle)

Insurance group: 32E

CO2 emissions: 202g/km

BiK rating: 37%

Warranty: 3yrs/60,000 miles

Hyundai, Sports and coupe, Sports saloon and hatches

Red hot hatchback a joy to drive

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Hyundai 120N

By Bill McCarthy

Many manufacturers, when producing a sporty version of a model, often use a prefix or suffix on the badge, like R or S, GT or GTi. Think of the legendary Golf and Peugeot GTi.

With Hyundai is the is seemingly innocuous N, with the 130N and now the i20N. Look close enough and the N logo features a pattern inspired by a chequered flag, underlining the car’s racetrack capability.

There’s nothing innocuous about the look or the performance of this model, which is based on the 120 Coupe WRC rally car. It is a superb drive, providing the kind of thrilling performance to put a smile on your face.

Powered by a turbo-charged 1.6 litre petrol engine, mated with a slick six-speed gearbox the car delivers brutal performance.

It also features a raft of performance features normally associated with many expensive brands, with launch control, lowered sports-tuned suspension, low profile tyres on smart alloy wheels and coloured brake callipers and other bits of bling.

The front is dominated by a huge grille with a larger air intake for the turbo engine, with a lip spoiler featuring a Red accent which extends to the new side skirt and the rear.

The coupe-like styling and sharp creases and angles, together with the bespoke 18-inch alloys, emphasise the sportiness.

As does the WRC-inspired roof spoiler, while a large single exhaust further emphasis performance.

The interior is classy with good quality finish together with bespoke sports seats and multi-function steering wheel. The black interior has Performance Blue accents throughout and metal sport pedals.

The centrepiece is the 10.3-inch touchscreen which controls major functions like navigation, connectivity for smartphone, infotainment and voice controls.

On the road the car is a pocket rocket with a sweet revving engine providing instant acceleration via the launch control. It hits 60mph in just over six seconds, so take care if you have neck problems.

There are five drive Normal, Eco, Sport, N and N Custom. The drive modes adjust engine, stability control, exhaust sound and steering in order to optimise them for a variety of driving conditions. Also, dedicated N keys on the steering wheel allows the driver to tailor individual driving preferences.

Hyundai said the sibling 130N, unlike a Premier League defender, loves corners. Well, this small model is just as good if not even better as it clings limpet-like around tight bends and yes, corners.

The mechanical limited slip differential enhances grip and delivers maximum power to the road. If you think you can handle it, switch off the stability programme and enjoy the ride.

Additionally, the driver can select the rev-matching button on the steering wheel to increase the revs on the engine when shifting from a higher to a lower gear, while the launch control rockets the car away from a standing start.

You can calm it down to drive normally, but avoid rough roads and potholes if you don’t want your fillings shaken out.

If you are after a soft and comfortable ride, forget it. But the sometime discomfort experienced on lesser roads is worth it for a thrilling drive.

It may be a performance car but it’s also practical and safe. Boot capacity is good with 352 litres available, which can be expanded with the rear seats folded to a maximum of 1,165 litres.

Keenly priced and a riot to drive, and don’t forget the five-year, unlimited mileage warranty.

FAST FACTS

Hyundai i20 T-GD-i N 

Price: £24,995

Mechanical: 204ps, 1,598cc, 4-cyl petrol engine driving front wheels via 6-speed manual gearbox

Max speed: 142mph

0-60mph: 6.1 seconds

Combined mpg: 34.1

Insurance group: 27E

CO2 emissions: 158g/km

BiK rating: 35%

Warranty: 5yrs/unlimited miles