2024 Cupra Leon and Formentor set for major upgrades

The facelifted 2024 Cupra Leon hatchback and Cupra Formentor SUV will be revealed in April, heralding a substantial mid-life update for the two related turbo-petrol performance cars that’s designed to take them through to the end of this decade – when they will transition to EVs.

Spy images of both models have been circulating for close to a year now, in turn revealing new EV-inspired styling and key mechanical and technology upgrades.

These upgrades have already been heralded via the updated Volkswagen Golf and Skoda Octavia, targeting the top-tier 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine, the plug-in hybrid powertrain option and multimedia systems.

Expect the high-series VZ model grade to receive a power bump from 180kW to 195kW, while the VZe plug-in hybrid will almost certainly score a new 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine and a significantly bigger lithium-ion battery (19.7kWh), yielding 200kW of power (+20kW), a circa-100km electric range and 50kW DC fast-charging capabilities.

All models will likely receive either a new 10.2-inch or 12.9-inch infotainment system packing IDA voice assistant with AI learning and ChatGPT integration, upgraded Park Assist Plus and Area View 360-degree camera system.

Enhancements are also anticipated for the top-flight VZx, though it’s possible the reveal of the flagship hatch and SUV will be held back until after the debut of the new Volkswagen Golf R, upon which they are based.

“The Leon, I think, is now well-prepared to go to the end of this decade,” Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths told Australia media last week, before confirming the second-generation Leon would almost certainly be electric.

But while Cupra is undoubtedly heading down the battery-electric path as per the rest of the VW Group, Griffiths said all global car-makers had to remain flexible in these changing times and that Cupra will extend internal combustion model lifecycles where necessary, with the help of hybrid technology.

“We have the objective to be emissions-free by 2035 and at the moment the electric car is the only way of getting there [for Cupra],” he said.

“We will extend product lifecycles where it makes sense.

“We always have to look at the regulations, the Euro 7 coming in, and you have to fulfill that, it has to make financial sense, but as long as the demand is there from the customers then we will fulfill that.

“If that means extending the life of our combustion cars … you need hybridisation and we have that available on the [MQB Evo] platform.”

An April global reveal for the updated Leon and Formentor points to a late 2024 or early 2025 Australian release, with many customers hoping the rabid Leon VZx Sportstourer will be included in the local line-up.

Join the conversation at our Facebook page
Or email us at editor@carsales.com.au