Throughout my trip I kept being asked what brand it was. Each time I answered with a big smile, it was the Cupra brand. And for those who were confused and told me that it was a Seat, I always answered the same thing, it was a Cupra Formentor identified as the sporty derivative brand of Seat. So, if you thought all Cupras were just rebadged Seats, this huddled SUV-coupe just stomped all over your arguments. The Formentor seduces as much by its look as by its mechanical character. This overall harmony makes it a unique vehicle.
Throughout my trip I kept being asked what brand it was. Each time I answered with a big smile, it was the Cupra brand. And for those who were confused and told me that it was a Seat, I always answered the same thing, it was a Cupra Formentor identified as the sporty derivative brand of Seat. So, if you thought all Cupras were just rebadged Seats, this huddled SUV-coupe just stomped all over your arguments. The Formentor seduces as much by its look as by its mechanical character. This overall harmony makes it a unique vehicle.
Obviously, this is not a completely custom machine built from scratch. Beneath its wrinkled skin, the Formentor is based on the same raw ingredients as the Seat Ateca or VW Golf: the same basic chassis, the same gearboxes and the latest touch-screen infotainment center from the all-new and rather excellent Leon hatchback. The Formentor is the fourth Cupra model, alongside the Leon, Leon ST and of course the Ateca.
The route goes fast
For a long time, I wanted to travel through Normandy and Brittany by car. Although only a few hours away, I never had the opportunity to make this trip. It took a confinement and a Cupra Formentor to get me to travel through this very special region… Continue reading
However, to give the Formentor a more masculine look, it’s longer and lower than the standard Ateca. In this category, looks sell, and that will help the Cupra find its place. The Formentor was born to offer uncompromising dynamism. And its look leaves no room for doubt: a menacing look, a long muscular nose, a sloping roof and four functional exhaust outlets. A high-end look, reinforced by the brand’s characteristic styling codes when you opt for a matte finish and copper-colored wheels like the model I’m testing.
Currently, you have a choice of two engines shared with the Cupra Leon hot hatchback. That means a 306-hp, 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder driving all four wheels (a powertrain familiar from the VW Golf R and Audi S3) or a new plug-in hybrid configuration that combines a 1.4-liter turbo engine with an electric motor to develop 242 hp. The eHybrid version is capable of 31 miles on electric power alone. There will be six versions: I tested the top-of-the-line model with the 310-hp engine – surely the most Cupra of all Formentors. The engine range consists of TSI 150 and 190 hp as well as a TDI 150 hp and a 204 hp plug-in hybrid version. The “VZ” (for Veloz) version is available with 245 and 310 hp TSI and a 245 hp plug-in hybrid.
The brand’s own atmosphere is reflected on board. Blue leather contrasting with copper stitching, a sports steering wheel with integrated paddles, and sporty, well-cushioned seats are not austere, and the Formentor also shows its exclusivity through its equipment, including a huge 12-inch multimedia screen. Another interesting detail is the deactivation button for the electronic aids, which is prominently placed just above the DSG7 gearbox lever.
With its sliding roof and large sunroof, there is no lack of space in the rear seats and the headroom remains generous. With 420 liters, the trunk volume is just right and sufficient for a family vacation.
On the road, the performance is there! The TSI sends out its 400 Nm of maximum torque without ever running out of breath and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds despite the 1,644 kg of the machine. Traction is never lacking and the trajectories remain perfectly clean on the wet roads of Normandy. To make the whole thing more supple, you just have to push the slider of the controlled damping to its 15th notch. Stiffened to the max, the chassis becomes more reactive and the Formentor rolls up more easily without having to play with the load transfers. Without pretension, it has the means to make drivers experience a real sensation!
Oh, and that name? Formentor” is actually a picturesque peninsula in Majorca – a nod to Cupra’s Spanish roots. Remember this when your friends ask you what your car is called, because oddly enough, the word “Formentor” doesn’t appear anywhere on the car or inside.
More Information: cupraofficial.com