A HOT new plug-in hybrid is on the way from Cupra - the performance brand born out of Spanish car maker SEAT - and it will be on the road by the end of the year.

The Cupra Leon e-Hybrid will be priced from £34,495 and it has genuine sporty performance with a 0 to 60 acceleration time of 6.7 seconds.

It is powered by a 1.4-litre turbo petrol engine mated to an electric motor which together produce 245ps.

Officially it has a fuel return of up to 217.3mpg with emissions down to 30g/km and the Leon e-Hybrid has an electric only range of up to 32 miles.

Cupra says that recharging takes three hours 42 minutes from a wall box or five hours 48 minutes from a standard domestic supply.

It sits on 19-inch alloys, has twin exhausts protruding from a rear diffuser and the body style is trimmed with Cupra's trademark copper detailing.

The plug-in will be available in both hatch and estate body styles and in three trim levels with the line up topping out at £36,225 for the hatch and £37,585 for the estate.

The e-Hybrid will spearhead the new Cupra Leon line up and conventionally powered 245ps versions will follow next year priced from £31,450.

Cupra also has plans for higher performance versions of the Leon with 300 and 310ps powertrains, the latter only in estate form and with all-wheel-drive.

Prices for those petrol-only versions have still to be announced.