► New Cupra Formentor VZ5 revealed
► Five-cylinder turbo makes 385bhp
► Limited to 4000 units, but comes this time with RHD
Cupra has fed its Formentor some hot tamales again, launching a new-generation VZ5 version with the VW Group’s five-cylinder turbo crowbarred under the bonnet.
The VZ5 edition had originally launched in 2021 with the pre-facelift car, but it was only built in tiny numbers and was exclusively for left-hand drive markets. The new version will launch with right-hand drive – albeit with a still limited run of 4000 units.
The new VZ5 edition is now the flagship Formentor model, with that five-cylinder model developing 385bhp. That shove is sent to all four wheels via a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission and will almost certainly mean a four-ish-second 0-62mph sprint time.
VZ5 models are set apart by badging, more aggressive front and rear splitters and a pair of (real) twin tailpipes trimmed with copper detailing. Inside, VZ5 versions benefit from ‘CupBucket seats’ – sportier and thickly-bolstered chairs that set it apart from normal versions.
Using the five-cylinder engine is interesting – particularly given Audi (at one point) said the engine would be retired after this generation of RS3 had ended. But shifting combustion and electrification plans are seemingly extending the life of these engines longer than originally planned, with rumours swirling of a last hurrah version of the current-generation VW Golf R tipped to use the engine, too.
Either way, Cupra is lapping up use of the engine while it can. The VZ5 version will go into production in early 2026, likely meaning the first deliveries in the summer.
Want to know more about the regular Formentor? Keep scrolling.
Cupra is going all in on a new brand vision that centres around the value of design, signing sporting partnerships and devising clothing ranges to maximise its reach. The new Formentor is going to play a big part in the company’s development for the remainder of this decade, not least to achieve its goal of having a presence in the US by 2030.
The 2024 Formentor facelift includes a new exterior design, an updated interior and fresh engine choices with engineering borrowed from elsewhere in the Volkswagen Group family. Don’t miss our Cupra Formentor review.
Cupra’s kept to its home colours of dark greys and that distinctive copper, but there have been some major changes made in the way the Formentor looks.
Let’s start with the front end – the Formentor has received a shark-nose-like redesign, along with new triangular LED headlights and revised intake slots. The end result is all angles and sharp edges – it’s quite an aggressive front end, with a bigger, heavily slatted grille that rounds off the pugnacious face.
Around the back, the Formentor now presents ‘coast-to-coast’ headlights – connected by a single light bar that now includes an illuminated Cupra badge. In keeping with the design language of the headlights at the front, the taillights also feature three triangular elements, along with an illumination of the car’s name within the lights themselves.
Yes, though perhaps not quite as evidently as the exterior. Much of the Formentor’s dashboard has been amended, including the centre console which has been streamlined in much the same style as in the latest compact and hatchback offerings from Audi and Volkswagen.
Pushing an agenda of sustainability for the brand, the Formentor’s cabin now features fresh interior materials including 73% microfibre cloths around the doors and dashboard along with cow-friendly leathers. To round off the updated cockpit, a new and pretty enormous 12.9-inch infotainment screen is also available along with a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system.
The updated Formentor is sticking with at least some form of internal combustion across the board, though it will be available with a new generation of mild and plug-in hybrid engines. The petrols kick off with a 147bhp TSI from VW’s arsenal, paired with a six-speed manual. A mid-range 2.0-litre option is also available that produces 201bhp while the top-end models get 328bhp along with torque-splitting technology for the benefit of agility and cornering. There’s even a drift mode in sportier models…
The mild-hybrid engines mate a 48-volt lithium-ion battery with the 1.5-litre TSI – DSG gearbox only – while the plug-in hybrid options offer two power outputs – 201bhp or 268bhp. According to Cupra, these plug-in hybrids, which are also mated to the 1.5-litre TSI, can run for up to 62 miles on electric power only.
But don’t forget the chassis.
It’s been enhanced to match the uprated powertrain performance and sportier looks, with freshly tuned spring and damper rates for a relaxed feel when needs be but also the dynamics when you turn things up. They’re complemented by MacPherson struts and a rear multilink system, while all-wheel drive variants are also available. These models feature technology that can straighten the car out by sending additional power to the appropriate wheel if you get out of shape – clever stuff.
Seth is a former staff writer across all our modern motoring titles, including CAR magazine and Parkers. Until he upped sticks to go and ride a motorbike across the Himalayas in summer 2025
With contributions from
Jake Groves News Editor
By Seth Walton and Jake Groves
