The upcoming CUPRA León is already running at the Nürburgring to prepare its unveiling

Many models are expected throughout 2020, and one of them is, without a doubt, the new SEAT León. A few weeks ago, a spectator’s camera caught a test mule of the Spanish compact running around the Nürburgring. As tradition dictates, the arrival of a new León brings with it its respective sporty variants, which until now have been named Cupra. Indeed, CUPRA will now be the name of these more radical versions that were previously under the SEAT umbrella, as the CUPRA León running without restraint on the asphalt of the Green Hell demonstrates.

And although the infamous camouflage tries to hide the final look of the sporty compact from our eager curiosity, we can make out a more rebellious and spicy vehicle. Undoubtedly, these two characteristics are latent in CUPRA models, a brand that is about to experience significant growth thanks to the León and the Formentor.

The CUPRA León will likely be the first to appear, allowing the Spanish firm to welcome one of the models that has given the most success over the years to its predecessor. Thanks to a more aggressive design and a much more promising mechanical layout, the homegrown compact will quickly take a very good position in this crowded and competitive segment.

The first thing that catches our attention is a more imposing front end thanks to a bumper featuring two prominent air intakes. The rear produces the same impression, where a slight but promising spoiler sits alongside a double cylindrical exhaust outlet, designed to shape the sound of the CUPRA León.

The mechanical section is shrouded in mystery, since neither CUPRA nor Volkswagen have made any statements about the engine that will power this car and the future Golf R, with which it will share its heart. However, we can expect the well-known 2.0 TSI to continue to be used, a turbocharged four-cylinder engine that on this occasion would be supported by a mild-hybrid system, which could result in a final output close to 350 CV.

https://youtu.be/y1uckkOunWM

Either way, we suspect that it won’t be until the next Geneva Motor Show that CUPRA reveals more information about the upcoming León. With this in mind, we expect the sporty variant of the Spanish compact to be fully ready and set to hit the road between the end of next year and the beginning of 2021.