CUPRA Ateca is the first (surprising) model from SEAT’s new Cupra brand

The Cupra Ateca is the first new model from SEAT’s Cupra brand, delivering 295bhp under the skin of the regular Ateca SUV to deliver a mainstream performance Crossover.

SEAT has only just hived off its Cupra performance badge to create a new standalone performance arm for the Spanish maker, and it’s already revealing its first model – the Cupra Ateca.

You might reasonably have expected Cupra’s first offering to be be a hot hatch, but SEAT think the Cupra Ateca offers something no competitor offers. And they might be right.

The Cupra Ateca comes with the Leon’s 296bhp 2.0 litre turbo under the bonnet, a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox and four wheel-drive, enough to scoot what was SEAT’s family-friendly Ateca to 62mph in 5.4 seconds and on to 154mph.

In terms of how it looks, it’s not shouting too loud, but it does come with bigger intakes, quad tail pipes, a rear spoiler, new grille and diffusers.

There’s a choice of sic colours –  Energy Blue, Velvet Red, Brilliant Silver, Rodium Grey, Magic Black and Nevada White – and 19″ Diamond Cut alloys too.

The Cupra Ateca comes well-equipped too, with stop-start, wireless phone charging, 360 camera, 8″ touchscreen Sat Nav, dynamic chassis control with adaptive suspension, digital cockpit and park assist.

It’s an interesting offering from what is essentially a mainstream maker, and the only cars we can think of which are competition fall in to the distinctly ‘Premium’ category – like the Porsche Macan – which are a chunk more expensive than Cupra’s new hot SUV.

What comes next from Cupra remains to be seen, but having started with the unexpected hot SUV we guess all SEAT’s models – as well as, perhaps, standalone Cupras – are on the cards.