The beautiful strong Spaniard

Another Seat SUV, oh no - that's not true. Because although the new Formentor clearly bears the Seat brand face and recently also the corresponding rear with the continuous light strip, it is a Cupra, which also reveals the bronze-colored logo in the striking radiator grille. Whether this marketing gimmick brings advantages or disadvantages remains to be seen. At least the new brand should ensure a certain exclusivity. At the moment, the Seat dealerships also sell Cupra, although there are separate areas on the premises, and the so-called Cupra “masters” take care of customer requests. And there is something else associated with the new brand name: At least for the time being there will be little performance.

Cupra Formentor: Powerful package under the hood

The Formentor also starts with two potent drives. The basis is a 180 kW / 245 hp plug-in hybrid, which thanks to its 13 kWh battery will drive around 50 kilometers purely electrically. The system performance comes about when the technicians couple a 1,4 liter petrol engine with four cylinders (110 kW / 150 kW) to an 85 kW / 115 PS electric machine, the moment of which flows in the direction of the seven-speed dual clutch transmission. Seat does not name prices yet, but we expect an entry of around 35.000 euros.

Cupra Formentor: More than 300 hp

The car enthusiasts with petrol in their blood, on the other hand, may swear by the classic powertrain without e-help - in this case consisting of the 2,0-liter four-cylinder with 228 KW / 310 PS, known from the previous performance models of the Volkswagen Group. Only that the sporty Formentor look now fits like a glove to the powerful engine. Optical delicacies such as the striking four-pipe exhaust system and the distinctive diffuser in the area of ​​the rear bumper also adorn other branded models, but the coupé-like silhouette harmonizes a bit better with the desired character of this Spaniard, who incidentally only rolls as a four-wheel drive. Here the base price is likely to be below 40.000 euros.

Cupra Formentor: very own design

Speaking of the SUV, the fact that the Formentor is said to belong to this segment, which has meanwhile been reviled quite frequently, is actually not evident. Although the Cupra, which is based on the latest version of the modular transverse modular system, stands a little higher at 1,51 meters than some sister models of the compact class (which certainly does not harm the comfort of boarding), but a skillfully designed line design leaves the vehicle graceful, indeed look dainty.

Cupra Formentor: Many details for the eye

Attentive observers discover the many design details that are kept in the bronze-colored house tone. This starts on the outside with the front brake calipers, goes over the edges of the ventilation nozzles and ends with the bronze instead of the red area of ​​the rev counter simulated in the virtual analog cockpit. Which brings us to the topic of infotainment. The large central monitor is immediately noticeable after the comfortable entry. With the help of a newly designed menu navigation including gesture control, various settings can be made. In addition, there is now space for a multi-part assignment on the screen - for example for the simultaneous guidance of the navigation system, climate control and music selection.

Cupra Formentor: It starts at the end of the year!

What is not operated via the menu can be dealt with either using classic pushbuttons or touch-sensitive surfaces. It may take some getting used to, but it works well for temperature control in the air conditioning system, for example. Simply put your finger on and slide until the desired temperature is reached. This principle of operation also opens the spacious glass roof - the haptic solution might have been better here. But there is still a little time for improvement, because deliveries do not begin until the end of the year. Until then, prospective customers have to be content with anticipation.