The Cupra Formentor 2025 Causes Angry Looks and a Drift Mode

Cupra has given its best-selling car in Australia, the Formentor SUVan overhaul.

Featuring a new shark nose and lighting details on the exterior, a new infotainment system and a new plug-in hybrid powertrain option, it was introduced alongside the Leon hatchback and wagon.

Cupra has already announced that it will be available in early 2025. We will update this story with more specific details when it becomes available.

While the new look is getting attention, it’s not the biggest news here.

Cupra has revised the powertrain for 2025. In Europe, the entry-level model has a 1.5-liter petrol engine and a six-speed manual transmission with 110 kW of power.

Three variants are offered with a 2.0-litre turbo petrol four-cylinder engine producing 150 kW with all-wheel drive in the entry-level model, 195 kW with front-wheel drive in the mid-range model and 245 kW with all-wheel drive in the top model.

This top-of-the-range engine is also available with a version of the torque splitter rear differential in the Volkswagen Golf R and Audi RS3.

That opens the door to features like Drift Mode, which sends all of the engine’s torque to the outside rear wheel so this four-wheel-drive SUV can rip donuts to its heart’s content.

It will also be available with a 1.5-litre mild-hybrid petrol engine, a 2.0-litre diesel and two plug-in hybrid models. Both combine a 1.5-liter turbo petrol engine with an electric motor and a 19.7 kWh lithium-ion battery, providing a range of more than 100 km in electric mode.

The entry-level model has an output of 150 kW, the more expensive model has an output of 200 kW. DC charging up to 50 kW is offered, while 11 kW AC is also available.

In Australia, the Formentor is currently available with a choice of 140kW (V), 180kW (VZ) and 228kW (VZx) petrol engines, as well as a plug-in hybrid VZe.

Behind the steering wheel, the Formentor has been equipped with a new 12.9-inch infotainment system with backlit touch sliders.

In line with its counterparts from the Volkswagen Group, new software is running that is intended to make it easier to access important functions on the go.

There is also an optional Sennheiser sound system with 12 speakers.

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