THERE'S no ignoring the SEAT Leon FR.
The bright yellow paintwork and throaty burble of the engine - that quickly becomes a roar under acceleration - make it a real head turner.
It's an imposing beast that looks as if it's been working out down the gym.
And you have to be fairly fit to drive it as the uncompromising sports suspension takes no prisoners.
Over anything other than smooth tarmac the ride is likely to shake loose a filling or two.
That said the excellent sports seats are comfortable and figure-hugging, absorbing some of the inevitable bumps while holding everyone firmly in place.
And the sports set-up does give the FR excellent body control through corners, with the car apparently riding on rails and grip never in danger of departing.
The steering is sharper than Lily Savage and gives the driver great feedback for what is happening on the road.
In short, on a decent stretch of road, the Leon is one hell of a drive.
The FR is available with either the 197bhp two-litre turbo engine from Volkswagen's Golf GTI or the two-litre 170bhp diesel power unit I tested.
The uncompromising oil burner blasts the Leon FR from 0-62mph in 8.2 seconds, pinning back its ears to reach a top speed of 135mph.
Yet despite the performance it retains a thriftiness that sees average fuel economy returned at around 47mpg - though obviously this figure suffers if you drive the car on the edge all the time.
The six-speed manual transmission is smoother than David Niven with a neatness and accuracy that make it a pleasure to change gear.
SEAT offers lots of goodies to justify the £17,000-plus price tag, making the Leon extremely competitive against its rivals.
Included in the mix as standard are 17-inch alloy wheels, dual zone climate control, cruise control and a trip computer.
Electric front and rear windows and electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors are also thrown in along with an MP3-compatible CD player. Options offered include satellite navigation and automatic wipers and lights.
The Leon FR is also up to the mark on safety coming complete with traction and stability control, emergency brake assist and six airbags.
The interior of the car is quite sedate considering the blinding paint job. There's plenty of headroom despite the sports styling while legroom is ample for passengers with those in the back well catered for.
There's also plenty of luggage space in the boot - but there is a high load lip that makes loading more difficult than it should be.
A comfortable position behind the wheel is easy to achieve thanks to two-way steering adjustment and a height-adjustable driver's seat.
But the driver's visibility is compromised when turning sharp corners or exiting junctions by thick, sweeping windscreen pillars at the front.
All the controls are typical of SEAT's parent Volkswagen - neat and easy to use - with the dashboard offering a logical layout. Steering wheel controls are also included that make the driver's life even easier.
The Leon FR ticks almost all the boxes for me bar the firm suspension which highlights how poor most of the nation's road surfaces really are.
FAST FACTS
SEAT Leon 2.0 TDI FR 5dr
Price: £17,495
Mechanical: 170bhp, 1,968cc, 4cyl diesel engine driving front wheels via 6spd manual gearbox
Max speed: 135mph
0-62mph: 8.2 secs
Combined mpg: 47.1
Insurance group: 12
CO2 emissions: 161g/km
BiK rating: 22%
Warranty: 3yrs/60,000, 3yrs paint, 12yrs anti-rust