BARCELONA: Until now, Spanish automaker SEAT only gave its Cupra subsidiary enough leash to make souped-up versions of existing SEAT models. But now, for the first time, Cupra is now getting its first original car.
The Formentor SUV coupe — originally planned to be unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show before it was cancelled due to coronavirus fears — is set to go on sale in the last quarter of 2020, Cupra has announced.
While it does have a completely individual silhouette, the crossover is still a close relative of the VW-SEAT family, bearing strong technical similarities to the SEAT Ateca and the Tiguan from SEAT parent company Volkswagen.
Measuring 4.45 metres in length, the Formentor slots into the compact class of SUV. Despite a sloping rear end and a somewhat flatter roof, the car promises enough space to comfortably fit five adults with an additional 450 litres of storage space, SEAT says.
In terms of drive, Cupra is based on the recently debuted Leon and gives customers the choice between a 2.0-litre TSI engine with 310 horsepower and four-wheel drive or a plug-in hybrid.
According to the manufacturer, the plug-in version has a 1.4-litre petrol engine with 150hp supported by a 115-hp electric motor and a battery with 13 kW/h, which should enable a purely electric driving range of around 50km.
Cupra puts total system output at 245hp, but has not yet provided any further performance or efficiency figures for either engine.
Keyword: Formentor: SEAT's Cupra subsidiary gets its own car