Cupra wants to sell electric cars in the United States, but next year it will start racing there with a gasoline-powered Leon…

It started as a rumor in 2022 and was confirmed in 2023. Now, we will see the first incursion of CUPRA in the United States and it will do so with the CUPRA Léon VZ. Of course, it will not be the same León that is sold south of the Río Grande, but with the racing version with which the Spanish brand will race in IMSA TCR starting in 2025.

The participation of Lion Cup VZ TCR in the American supertourism championship IMSA seeks to create an image in the United States, before starting to sell electric cars from 2028.

A first foray to create an image

Cupra plans to enter the US market as an electric car brand. And it will do so with “a car that is suitable for the US and also electric,” Wayne Griffiths, the CEO of Cupra, explained last year.

Therefore it will not be with any of the models that it now has in its portfolio, as it adds that “it will be a next generation of electric cars that will be based on Volkswagen’s SSP platform.”

Of course, seeing the direction that the electric car market is taking on both sides of the Atlantic, the range of electric cars could be joined by a PHEV plug-in hybrid model. There is nothing written.

On the other hand, the presence of a gasoline model in the competition is not incompatible with wanting to sell electric cars. On the one hand, it is a first foray for the public to get to know the brand.

Besides, Mexico It is an important market for CUPRA where it enjoys a lot of prestige and its presence in a North American competition could further strengthen its brand image.

In terms of racing participation, Cupra joins IMSA with the León VZ TCR, becoming the 19th manufacturer to participate in the series in the process. The car began competing in other championships in May and has participated in 42 races since then. He has had successes from the beginning, such as first and second place in the European TCR and first place in two endurance races.

“We are always looking for new challenges that challenge us to be better, and the IMSA Michelin Pilot Challenge is undoubtedly one of them,” said Xavi Serra, head of Cupra Racing, in a statement. “We are very excited to participate in our first competition in the US before our market launch at the end of the decade.”