We have known since the postcodes were changed over 20 years ago: five is better than four. They recognized that at Seat too, which is why they talked the sister Audi away from the famous five-cylinder for the first time. In the Cupra Formentor, he now marks the sporty spearhead of the Spaniards.
It has an inimitable sound and a terrific story: Hardly any engine is so closely associated with the sporty side of Audi as the five-cylinder. No wonder that Bayern jealously watched over his commitment and so far withheld him from the large corporate family. But after being installed in the RS3, TTRS and RSQ3, the 2,5-liter is still a stranger and will make its foreign debut in the Cupra Formentor in autumn. As the first independent model of the sporty Seat subsidiary, already a figurehead for the Spaniards, the smart SUV coupé will then become the dream car of stylish high-speed drivers. However, this dream should also have its price - even if Cupra has not yet put it into precise figures. But if the previous top model is already available at 46.390 euros, a five will come first - at least. Because if things go stupid or you have a few extra demands, it could quickly turn into a six.
Power that can be heard
But there is also plenty of power. Although Seat maintains a small respectful distance compared to the strongest expansion stage at Audi and grants the donor a ten hp lead, the Spaniards lure with solid 390 hp - more than ever in a model from Barcelona and on top of that almost a third more than in the previous top model, which is noted in the data sheet with 310 hp. The turbo not only develops a spectacular sound that finds its way outside via four copper-colored tailpipes, but also a lot of power: With 480 Nm it tears at the 20-inch wheels, which are thanks to the Cupra, the all-wheel drive, Surprisingly stably interlocking with the asphalt, while a new 18-inch braking system has enough bite to put an end to the frenzy at any time.
Cupra restricts the run-out of the top model to the same 250 km / h as the previous top model, while the five-cylinder at Audi now achieve up to 290 things. But with a sprint value of 4,2 seconds it takes the VZ5 the little eternity of seven tenths from the most powerful four-cylinder, and with its completely new set-up it drives the corners of the mouth significantly higher.
Drift mode
For this, Cupra has not only lowered the Formentor a further centimeter and programmed the 15 levels of the adaptive dampers to be tighter, the seven-level double clutch also shifts faster, the exhaust sounds throatier and the steering forces the driver to use a little more force. Unless he changes - of course only on a closed route - on the rotary knob in the steering wheel to the likewise new drift mode: Then the stability control is deactivated, the differential transfers all power to the rear outer wheel and instead of using your hands you steer the Formentor with your foot until he slides across the ideal line with screeching tires.
Nothing for speed limits
But you don't have to go to extremes to get your pulse racing. A winding country road is enough for that. While you like to choke yourself on the knife between your teeth on the highway and feel more frustration than pleasure with so much unused power, especially with a categorical limit of 120 km / h in all of Catalonia, the Cupra feels about round in the lonely bends around Montserrat in its element. After just a few meters, a fire is already blazing in the driver like you hardly know in any other group model. Two short sprints, two tight hairpin bends, and then you take over the direction for the DSG and always grab the paddles behind the steering wheel when yellow LED flashes flash through the animated cockpit beyond the 7.000 tours. Left, right, left, brake, turn in, accelerate, and again and again shortly before taking off over a hilltop - a rollercoaster ride is nothing against it. The country road becomes a pleasure mile and every trip becomes a flamenco that is hot, heartfelt and very sinful.
Of course, the VZ5 is primarily committed to pleasure and not reason. But the guilty conscience of the Spaniards is likely to be kept within narrow limits - even if the consumption is likely to go into double digits on the test bench. Firstly, the edition of the sporty top model is limited to 7.000 copies, and secondly, the purely electric Born is coming soon, which will compensate for the CO2 emissions of the hot spur.