POLES apart yet both of vital importance to ritzy Spanish brand SEAT.

Hot on the heels of the marque's most economical model yet, the Leon Ecomotive, comes the showroom debut of the most potent Leon yet - the Cupra R.

While the green-themed Ecomotive with its road tax-busting CO rating of 99g/km is all about economy and environmental responsibility the 265PS Cupra R is aimed at more hardcore hot hatch enthusiasts.

This latest Leon is the most powerful SEAT yet offered for sale in the brand's 25-year UK history.

Its power peak is the product of a tuned 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine that's been revised by the engineers at SEAT's technical centre in Martorell to make it more potent, even, than the current 240PS Leon Cupra.

The torque generated is arguably more impressive still, with 350 Nm on offer at 2,500 rpm - a full 50Nm more than the Cupra.

XDS - the company's electronic system which uses enhanced ABS to mimic the operation of a traditional limited slip differential - ESP stability control, TCS traction control and EBA emergency braking assistance are among the new car's standard kit.

It means that the benchmark 0-62mph dash is dispatched in only 6.2 seconds. Top speed is 155mph and Combined economy of 34.9mpg and CO limited to 190g/km make the newcomer among the greenest hot hatches around.

Styling changes see the addition of sporty twin central exit exhaust pipes, an extended high level rear spoiler, R badging and gloss black highlighting.

The new ebony black front seatbacks give rear seat occupants a taste of the Cupra R cabin upgrade, while there's also a prominent R logo incorporated on the seatbacks. There are also 19-inch Potenza wheels, available in silver alloy or white.

Pricing has been confirmed at £25,205 and production is limited to around 500 in a full year.