Cupra Leon underwent a facelift full of triangles and squares. It has up to 333 horses

The modernized leon got a new nose, better infotainment and, for the Sportstourer station wagon, also a “bloated” two-liter with more than three hundred horsepower with a torque splitter from the Audi RS3.

Alongside the modernized Formentor, the Spanish automaker Cupra also revealed a rejuvenated Leon in hatchback and station wagon versions. The biggest changes catch your eye at first glance – it’s a completely new radiator grille and a front bumper designed to resemble a shark’s nose, with giant grilles and new headlights on the sides.

While the grilles have roughly square openings, in the lamps we see a signature in the form of three triangles forming the vertices of a larger triangle. In the front, diodes with LED Matrix technology will work, probably for an additional fee. The design of the rear lights has changed in a similar way, but the illuminated Cupra logo has been added to them. Two new matte lacquers, bronze and gray, have also been added to the offer.

Cupra Leon

The interior has a newly designed center console and is supposed to give a higher quality impression. It emphasizes sustainable materials – the seats can be upholstered with either microfiber fabric containing 73% recycled content or ecologically treated leather. Modeled after the modernized Volkswagen Golf VIII. generation leon also got a new, 12.9″ central display with backlit volume and temperature controls, but the design inside will certainly be different, just like before. A Sennheiser audio system with 12 speakers will be available.

No drive mode has disappeared from under the hood during the modernization, TSI petrol engines, eTSI mild hybrids, eHybrid plug-in hybrids and TDI diesel engines will be available. Like the Formentor, the Leon also gets a boosted two-liter gasoline engine with a power of 245 kW (333 hp) for the top version of the station wagon – but not the hatchback – with a rear distribution box named “torque splitter”.

It replaces the differential with multi-plate clutches that send the right amount of torque to each wheel separately. From the experience of the Audi RS3 or Volkswagen Golf R, we already know how well this toy can work.

The automaker also boasted that the plug-in hybrid in the car is a new generation. It will be available in versions with 150 or 200 kW (204 or 272 hp) of combined power. At the same time, it allows you to travel up to 100 km on a single charge, and finally, it can be charged with direct current with a power of up to 50 kW.

“Cupra Formentor and Leon are the engines of the brand’s success as it expands around the world. This approach has been incredibly successful, we have delivered almost 600,000 cars to customers since the brand was founded in 2018.” said Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths.

Cupra Leon

If you are waiting for the modernization of the civilian Seat Leon, from which the Cupra Leon was born years ago, you are certainly not alone. However, the Seat brand seems to be sleeping lately and fans can only hope that it is not a coma before death.