The SEAT Leon CUPRA R was a very special version of the first-generation Leon. With a power output of 210 HP and developed and produced by SEAT Sport, it was the most powerful SEAT ever and the basis for the first Leon Supercopa in 2002.

The origin of SEAT's CUPRA R models dates back to late 2000. After a successful stint in the World Rally Championship, in September of that year SEAT decided to give SEAT Sport a change of direction. The brand's racing department thus embarked on a new phase as a manufacturer of exclusive high-performance cars, known as CUPRA R ("Racing").

The first one was the SEAT Ibiza CUPRA R, with 180 HP. The second one, the Leon CUPRA R, was unveiled as a prototype at the 2001 Barcelona Motor Show and went on sale in April 2002. With a power output of 210 HP, it became SEAT's most powerful SEAT ever, beating the six-cylinder, all-wheel drive, 204 HP Leon CUPRA 4 (albeit only just).

Developed and produced by SEAT Sport at its facilities next to the Martorell factory, in collaboration with the SEAT Technical Centre, the Leon CUPRA R was powered by the same 1.8 turbocharged 4-cylinder engine with 5 valves per cylinder as the 180 HP 1.8 20V version, but boosted to 210 HP. It was front-wheel drive, with a 6-speed gearbox and electronic traction control (TCS) and stability (ESP) systems. Interestingly, it cost about the same as the Leon CUPRA 4, but had a much sportier character than the Leon CUPRA 4. In 2003, the Leon CUPRA R power output went up to 225 HP.

SEAT Sport's hand was most noticeable in the chassis tuning, which featured SEAT's new "agile chassis" concept, with well-balanced suspension settings and precise, direct steering for exceptional stability. And also on the brakes, with large 323 mm ventilated discs at the front, with spectacular 4-piston Brembo calipers, painted red, on huge 18-inch, 5-twin-spoke wheels.

Inside, the interior featured white dials on the dashboard, red upholstery detailing and stitching, aluminium pedals and the unique anatomical Recaro seats (optional), with the letter 'R' embroidered on the backrest. The production volume of the Leon CUPRA R was around 1,000 units per year.

Available only with the five-door body, the exterior of the Leon CUPRA R had similar aerodynamic features to the Leon CUPRA 4, but the front bumper was even more aggressive, with larger air intakes.

The Leon CUPRA R was also the basis for the first SEAT Leon Supercopa, a powerful customer-race car derived from the CUPRA R and boosted to 250 HP. With the Leon Supercopa, SEAT organised a one-make touring car championship in Spain as early as 2002, the Leon Supercopa. In 2003, the championship landed in Great Britain, under the name SEAT CUPRA Championship. The first British champion, Rob Huff, went on to become world touring car champion in 2012.

SEAT Sport's period as a specialised manufacturer of high-performance vehicles ended with SEAT's return to top-level competition, now in the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC), in 2005, coinciding with the unveiling of the second-generation Leon. In 2009 a new Leon CUPRA R was launched, but developed at the Martorell Technical Centre.

With the third generation of the Leon came the last CUPRA R in a limited series, one with the 5-door body in 2017 and another with the estate ST body in 2019. The latter was SEAT's last CUPRA model, as CUPRA had been launched as an independent brand in February 2018.

The unit in the SEAT HISTÓRICOS’ Collection is one of the very first of the Leon CUPRA R ever built, having got its number plate in February 2002.