SPY PICS: Facelifted Cupra Leon and Formentor lap up Green Hell

Facelifted versions of the Cupra Leon hatch and Cupra Formentor fastback SUV have been spotted lapping the Nurburgring together, and while there’s unlikely to be many mechanical changes for either performance model, it looks as if the pair will be treated to new front-end designs.

Expected to be revealed later this year, the mild mid-lifecycle update is evidenced by a relative lack of eye-bending camouflage applied to each prototype vehicle, with both vehicles featuring black and white wrap only on their front-ends and a slither at the rear.

But zoom in tight on either model and you’ll see the headlights have been made thinner and incorporate three triangle-shaped LED daytime running lights – similar to the upcoming Cupra Tavascan, Terramar and Raval.

The Formentor’s new lights are matched by a Terramar-inspired front bumper design to replace the current model’s more contoured and angular arrangement, and it seems the Leon will follow suit with a noticeably smaller grille and bigger lower intake.

As is often the way with Volkswagen Group products, the mid-life refresh isn’t expected to bring any major mechanical changes to either model, with both models continuing to share their MQB Evo architecture and running gear with the current Volkswagen Golf line-up.

A couple of interior tweaks and/or tech upgrades to match the sharpened exterior look are feasible, but will more than likely account for the bulk of the changes beyond the aesthetics.

In an Australian context that means you can expect the existing 2.0-litre turbo-petrol and 1.4-litre plug-in hybrid powertrains to continue to offer between 140kW/320Nm and 221kW/400Nm, depending on the variant.

Cupra Australia is also understood to be studying a local business case for the more practical Leon ‘Sportstourer’ body style you can see in some of these images, but if it’s successful we don’t expect the hot wagon to come here until the facelifted Leon arrives – most likely in mid to late 2024 following its global reveal.

The Spanish performance brand has been enjoying strong sales Down Under since its launch last year, delivering 530 Formentors and 99 Leons in the first quarter of 2023.

Given the popularity of the Volkswagen Golf R Wagon and Skoda Octavia RS Wagon in Australia, it would be reasonable to expect an upswing in Leon sales if and when the Sportstourer is introduced here.

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