Cupra teases facelifted Formentor, Leon and Born, set for release by 2024

Significant future facelift revealed surprisingly early for three of the four cars Cupra will soon launch in Australia

Heavily facelifted versions of Spanish performance brand Cupra’s Formentor midsize SUV, Leon small car and Born electric vehicle will be released over the next two years.

The visual updates for the existing Cupra models were teased before the media this week at the reveal of three all-new models for the brand that are set to launch in 2024 and 2025.

Cupra has shown off facelifted versions of its entire range

Cupra’s just-announced Terramar and Tavascan midsize SUVs, plus the entry-level Urban Rebel hatchback, are outfitted with a shared new look based around a ‘shark nose’ and implementing triple-triangle LED running lights in the headlamp cluster.

By the time the facelifted and all-new models arrive, Cupra hopes to be selling in the vicinity of 500,000 cars annually, according to brand chief executive Wayne Griffiths.

Each of the three all-new Cupra models, all revealed at least two years ahead of their European market release, also score an update to Cupra’s characteristic full-width rear LED light bar, which now also lights brand badging on the tailgate.

The all-electric Born hatch has received some key design tweaks. Image credit: Autonotizen

A brief tease of the forthcoming facelifts confirmed Cupra’s intention to bring today’s Leon hatchback and wagon, Formentor midsize SUV and Born electric hatch into line with the new Urban Rebel, Tavascan and Terramar.

The Leon and Formentor are due to launch in Australia in July of this year in existing form. It is unusual in the automotive industry for facelifts to be teased in effective production form years ahead of their debut.

Notably absent from the teased, facelifted lineup was the Cupra Ateca small SUV that will also be released in Australia in the middle of this year.

The Ateca was introduced in Europe by Cupra’s former parent brand Seat in 2016, meaning it is likely to be discontinued in 2023 or 2024 if it follows the regular seven- or eight-year model cycle common to Volkswagen Group products.

The fierce Formentor wears a similar frontal design. Image credit: Autonotizen

Meanwhile, customer deliveries of the Cupra Born electric car will commence in Australia in January 2023 ahead of that car’s facelift following perhaps 12-18 months later.

Pricing and specifications have not yet been announced for the Born EV in Australia. The Ateca SUV will be sold in a single VZx specification for $65,990 driveaway, while the larger Formentor will range from $54,990 to $66,490 (both driveaway). The Leon small car has been priced from $43,990 before on-road costs to $64,990 driveaway.

Also visible in this week’s tease was a facelifted version of the Cupra Leon SP station wagon that is under consideration for an Australian release in future.