Photo: SB-Medien
A month after the new Cupra Leon ST was first seen, this performance wagon has been spied at the Nurburgring. Although all signs point to it having less power than before, we're still hoping that multiple setups will be offered, one of which might still play in the 300 hp ballpark.
Even if you don't see the Cupra Leon ST as being different from a Leon Cupra ST, this is still a new product. The first model came out in 2014 with 265 horsepower or 280 with a power pack. About a year later, they added even better wheels and tires raising the output to 290 hp.
The peak of its performance arrived in 2017: 300 hp, optionally available with AWD. But the boss of the Cupra brand said a while back that both the 5-door hatchback and this ST wagon would debut as new cars in 2020 having only 245 hp from an undetailed hybrid system.
However, during the previous sighting back in September, the Cupra ST appeared to have all-wheel-drive and a beefier exhaust system, leading us to believe it is in fact still motivated by a 300 hp 2-liter turbo. A hybrid or indeed any 245 hp engine wouldn't really need AWD to bog it dow. So it's likely that the hybrid drive will be one of several setups, as will be the case with the 2020 Skoda Octavia RS.
Beyond that, the Cupra Leon ST has a lot of things we look for in a performance wagon. Call us superficial, but any compact car with lowered suspension, 20-inch wheels and quad exhaust tips is okay in our book. Also, the front end styling is noticeably different, featuring a new kind of mesh grille and much deeper side intakes.
Around the back, the wrap-around taillights give the Proceed GT a rival in the beauty department, while the diffuser and trunk lid spoiler set the Cupra apart from any conventional model.
The interior should look 90 percent similar to the Cupra Formentor concept of last year, which had the latest VW Group parts like an infotainment tablet, new switches and teeny-tiny shifter for the DSG. Don't be surprised if the Alcantara buckets are colorful.
The peak of its performance arrived in 2017: 300 hp, optionally available with AWD. But the boss of the Cupra brand said a while back that both the 5-door hatchback and this ST wagon would debut as new cars in 2020 having only 245 hp from an undetailed hybrid system.
However, during the previous sighting back in September, the Cupra ST appeared to have all-wheel-drive and a beefier exhaust system, leading us to believe it is in fact still motivated by a 300 hp 2-liter turbo. A hybrid or indeed any 245 hp engine wouldn't really need AWD to bog it dow. So it's likely that the hybrid drive will be one of several setups, as will be the case with the 2020 Skoda Octavia RS.
Beyond that, the Cupra Leon ST has a lot of things we look for in a performance wagon. Call us superficial, but any compact car with lowered suspension, 20-inch wheels and quad exhaust tips is okay in our book. Also, the front end styling is noticeably different, featuring a new kind of mesh grille and much deeper side intakes.
Around the back, the wrap-around taillights give the Proceed GT a rival in the beauty department, while the diffuser and trunk lid spoiler set the Cupra apart from any conventional model.
The interior should look 90 percent similar to the Cupra Formentor concept of last year, which had the latest VW Group parts like an infotainment tablet, new switches and teeny-tiny shifter for the DSG. Don't be surprised if the Alcantara buckets are colorful.
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