Four variants and one common trim level headline local performance SUV line-up
It’s a case of another week, another Cupra model line-up announcement as Volkswagen Group Australia prepares to launch the Spanish-founded, German-owned brand Down Under in mid-2022.
Today’s announcement concerns the 2022 Cupra Forementor mid-size SUV-coupe range, four variants of which will be offered from launch in July.
These comprise the V 4Drive, VZ, VZe and VZx; perfectly mirroring the smaller Cupra Leon hatch portfolio revealed last week– save for the inclusion of all-wheel drive.
Like the Leon range, which will be joined by a single high-spec Ateco small SUV varian in the local Cupra line-up, all Australian-delivered Forementors will share a common specification level with the main differences being their power outputs and some subtle visual cues.
Standard equipment highlights across the range include a 12-inch infotainment interface, 10.25-inch digital cockpit, Apple CarPlay/Android Auto, wireless phone charging, bucket seats, three-zone climate control, keyless entry and start, heated leather steering wheel, an auto-dimming rear-view mirror, light and rain sensor and dynamic chassis control.
Front and rear lighting is taken care of exclusively by LEDs, while standard safety features consist of autonomous emergency braking with pedestrian and cyclist detection, plus lane assist, park assist, side assist with exit assist, driver fatigue monitor, emergency assist, adaptive cruise control, exit assist, traffic jam assist and pre-crash warning.
The entry-level Forementor V 4Drive variant will pair a 140kW/320Nm turbocharged 2.0-litre petrol engine with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive.
Rolling stock comes in the form of black and silver 18-inch alloys.
Upping the outputs to 180kW/370Nm but ditching the all-paw system, the Forementor VZ will reply on an electronic limited-slip front differential (e-LSD) to put its power to the ground and quietly up the visual ante with bigger 19-inch hoops.
The eco-friendliest variant of the line-up, the Forementor VZe is the black sheep of the range in that it relies on a turbocharged 1.4-litre plug-in hybrid powertrain for propulsion with the system feeding all of its 180kW/400Nm to the front wheels via a six-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Unlike its non-electrified counterpart, however, the PHEV doesn’t feature an e-LSD.
At the top of the rage, the flagship Forementor VZx is the undisputed performance king with 228kW/400Nm on tap from its force-fed 2.0-litre AWD powertrain, but it also elevates the standard equipment game with a couple of key inclusions not offered on the other variants.
These include a hands-free power tailgate, blue leather upholstery, power adjustment and memory function for the driver’s seat, heated front seats, ‘supersports’ leather steering wheel and a nine-speaker Beats sound system.
Befitting of its aggressive mechanicals, the VZx can be identified by its quad exhaust tips and its black and copper 19-inch alloy wheels, however, a Brembo brake kit is optionally available as well.
According to Cupra Australia head of product and planning Jeff Shafer, the Forementor is the most Cupra-looking model of the entire Australian line-up.
“As with the Leon and Ateca, the highest feasible level of standard specification has been our objective,” he said.
Local pricing for the Formentor, like the rest of the Cupra model portfolio, will be revealed closer to launch.
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Keyword: Australian Cupra Forementor range details confirmed