CUPRA opens the doors of its new headquarters with the debut of the first CUPRA Leon

Coinciding with its second anniversary, CUPRA has inaugurated the brand’s new headquarters, the CUPRA Garage, located next door to SEAT’s own corporate headquarters.

During the inauguration event, for the first time and on a global scale, the car brand presented the range of the first CUPRA Leon, including new racing cars, and is beginning its journey towards electrification with its first hybrid model.

After closing 2019 with a 71.8% growth over the previous year and nearly 24,700 units sold, CUPRA kicked off 2020 with a full schedule of novelties. In addition to opening the doors of its new home, a 2,400 square metre eco-efficient building whose design evokes a racing paddock, the brand is remodelling its racing car workshop, the CUPRA Racing Factory. CUPRA has invested 5.3 million euros in its new facilities, which feature enough room for a staff of 200 employees.

This year, CUPRA is intent on demonstrating its capabilities in the automotive market by broadening its range and expanding internationally. In addition to the success of the CUPRA Ateca, the brand is going to strengthen its product portfolio with the first CUPRA Leon, in its hatchback and Sportstourer versions, and with the CUPRA Formentor, the first model designed specifically for the brand.

Griffiths also announced that the production model of the CUPRA Formentor will make its first public appearance at this year’s Geneva Motor Show, and is expected to reach the market in the second half of the year.

The first member of the family

CUPRA used the occasion of the official opening of its headquarters to present the new family of the CUPRA Leon, the brand’s best-selling model whose latest generation had posted 44,000 units sold in four years. In order to boost the company, CUPRA presented the hatchback and Sportstourer versions with a wide range of high-performance engines, from the petrol engine to the plug-in hybrid with three options of 245, 300 and 310 hp.

The CUPRA Leon, set for market launch in the last quarter of the year, is considered the ‘King of Leons’. The first CUPRA Leon with the brand’s logo features design, comfort and the latest technology for car enthusiasts who are open to electrification and looking for driving fun and performance.

CUPRA also unveiled the new version of the CUPRA e-Racer, the world’s first all-electric touring racecar. Brand CEO Wayne Griffiths confirmed CUPRA’s participation in the PURE ETCR electric touring car championship, which is getting underway this year, with Mattias Ekström and Jordi Gené on the starting grid.

The engineers of the brand born from the world of racing have developed a new petrol touring car racer, the CUPRA Leon Competición. Ekström and Gené were tasked with unveiling the vehicle and highlighted its improvements in aerodynamic efficiency and the use of lightweight components developed using 3D printing to improve weight distribution.

In addition, CUPRA also presented the new pilot racing suit and the teamwear collection in cobranding with Sabelt, the global leader of racing cars equipment.

Furthermore, in line with its mission to create exclusive, limited product collections that represent the brand’s lifestyle, CUPRA presented a number of prototypes of its new collaborations. The Barcelona-based lighting company Marset developed CHISPA, a portable, rechargeable and cordless lamp designed by Marset for CUPRA. Furthermore, the footwear brand Mikakus presented two prototypes of urban sneakers designed and created for the automotive brand. Moreover, CUPRA showcased an electric, ultralight and foldable bike that was engineered and handcrafted by UNNO, a Barcelona bicycle boutique from Barcelona.