VW Golf GTI's Spanish twin facing the axe

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Spanish brand Cupra may be preparing to call last drinks on its version of the Volkswagen Golf GTI.

The Cupra Leon VZ hot hatch is the mechanical twin to the Golf GTI, sharing a 180kW 2.0-litre turbo engine, seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and front-wheel drive layout.

But it is looking unlikely to carry across into the facelifted Leon range due next year, thanks to the popularity of the more powerful 221kW VZx flagship variant.

MORE: 2023 Cupra Leon VZ review

“We’ll have to talk about the final line-up [later], but I think most likely we need to rationalise the range a little bit to accommodate the new mild hybrid, and any plug-in hybrids that we consider as well,” Cupra Australia director Ben Wilks told Drive this week.

Asked if the VZ has been as popular as expected, Wilks said: “I think a topic for the VZ has been the popularity of the VZx – that’s been probably the opportunity for customers there.”

Just 4 per cent of Cupra Leon sales in the first three months of 2024 were VZ variants – or just four vehicles.

The VZx is tied with the entry-level 140kW V as the most popular variant in the range – accounting for 33 per cent of deliveries each over that period – followed closely by the VZe plug-in hybrid (30 per cent).

Similarly, just one per cent of Cupra Formentor sales over the same period were VZs, sharing the Leon VZ’s mechanicals – compared to 58 per cent for the VZe, and 31 per cent for the VZx – so it too could be dropped when the Formentor’s own facelift arrives next year.

The updated Formentor is available in Europe with an upgraded 195kW 2.0-litre turbo-petrol engine – shared with the facelifted 2025 Golf GTI – as a replacement for the 180kW version, but this is not available on the Leon.

Due to join the Leon range for the facelift is an entry-level 1.5-litre turbo-petrol engine, developing 110kW with the aid of 48-volt mild-hybrid technology.

It will be the least powerful car sold by the brand in Australia, but Wilks said customers do not only buy Cupra cars for powerful engines.

MORE: 2025 Cupra Formentor and Leon facelifts unveiled

“What defines the Cupra buyer actually is an intent for a vehicle that offers design credentials as well as driving quality. And driving quality isn’t just about flat-out power.

“What we’ve seen from customers and from the media alike is, even with our more entry-level or lower-spec engines, there’s actually a lot of driving enjoyment coming from those cars. So really well-balanced cars, [with] really great steering, great handling.

“And so I think there’s definitely a recipe that can work there … There’s a lot of fun and enjoyment to be had from the feedback in all of our cars, whether it’s ICE [pure petrol-powered], whether it’s mild hybrid entry engines or battery [electric/PHEV].”

It remains to be seen what implication the new 1.5-litre engine might have on the current Leon V variant, which uses a 140kW 2.0-litre engine – which is also absent from European price lists for the updated Leon line-up.

The post VW Golf GTI’s Spanish twin facing the axe appeared first on Drive.