SEAT has teased its all-new Cupra Leon, the eagerly awaited performance version of the recently revealed Leon. It’s due to be revealed fully in the next few days, and will rival other mid-sized hot hatchbacks such as the Ford Focus ST and Volkswagen Golf GTI when it goes on sale later this year.

Unlike most of its hot hatch rivals, the new Cupra Leon will be launched initially with a plug-in hybrid powertrain, although we suspect a more potent petrol-only version will follow.

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Specific details about the plug-in powertrain have yet to be officially substantiated, but we suspect that it will mimic the Golf GTE’s combination of a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine and an electric motor. In the new GTE, power is rated at a combined 242bhp, a figure we suspect will be shared with this new Cupra.

In the Golf, the combined power figure is sent to the front wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, with no manual or all-wheel-drive options available. Also revealed in this teaser image is our first look at the Cupra Leon’s more assertive aesthetic, defined by much larger front intakes and framed in subtle brightwork.

This teaser follows countless spy images of development Cupra Leons, where we’ve also noted the larger Brembo-branded brake package, bigger 19-inch wheels and tyres and a more aggressive rear bumper.

We suspect the interior will also pick up a sporty upgrade with chunkier bucket seats, bespoke graphics on the digital instrument cluster and new trim around the dash and centre console.

The new plug-in Cupra will be available in both hatchback and estate versions, but we’ll have to wait for more information on the possible petrol-only version, and a hopeful reboot of the excellent Cupra R estate we’re currently running on our evo Fast Fleet.