SEAT'S Leon Cupra has always been regarded as a flying machine and the latest version, the Cupra 300, which goes on sale early next year, will be the Spanish car maker's most powerful road car to date.

Harking back to its roots with the 2000 launch of the Leon Cupra with all-wheel-drive, the new Leon Cupra 300 will also come with a similar set-up, with 4Drive traction on the ST version, allied to a double-clutch automatic gearbox.

It comes with an uprated 2.0 TSI turbo engine pumping out 300bhp which is 10bhp more powerful than before and its maximum torque has increased from 350Nm to 380Nm from 1,800 to 5,500 rpm.

The result is a powerful response all the way up to hitting the rev limiter.

To get the most out of such a powerful machine, the Cupra 300 also comes with dynamic chassis control, a progressive steering system and electronic self-locking differential as standard.

The car is also fitted with a multi-mode drive control system that SEAT calls the Cupra Drive Profile which has four modes to choose from - comfort, sport, individual and logically, Cupra mode, which is its ltimate hot hatch performance setting.

The Cupra 300 packed with the latest driving aids, infotainment and safety gear including traffic jam assist, lane assist, adaptive cruise control and pedestrian protection, plus, electric parking brake and keyless entry.

There is also an integrated media system, an infotainment system with eight-inch screen and it includes what Seat calls a connectivity hub that comprises a smartphone wireless charger and a GSM antenna amplifier for areas with low signal coverage.

Prices and performance details have yet to be announced although the current hot Leon, the Cupra 290 costs from £28,495.