Performance Meets Efficiency with new CUPRA Formentor e-HYBRID

Performance meets efficiency with the new CUPRA Formentor e-HYBRID - a plug-in version of the firm’s flagship SUV.

CUPRA, a sporty, upmarket division of SEAT, describes itself as a ‘challenger brand’, and has been a standalone entity since 2018.

The regular Formentor, a big brother to the smaller CUPRA Ateca SUV, has gone down a storm with lease customers since being unveiled last year.

And CUPRA is likely to enhance its reputation further with this Formentor e-HYBRID, which marries great pace with wallet-friendly fuel costs.

Order books are open now.

There are two different models available - one with power of 204 PS, the other with 245 PS - and which cost from £38,625. It’s important to note here that the traditional petrol-powered base ‘V1’ Formentor is much cheaper at £27,395.

The e-HYBRID mates a 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine with a 116PS (85kW) electric motor and 13kWh lithium-ion battery pack.

With the 245PS Formentor, there’s peak torque of 400Nm, an electric range of up to 36 miles, and an impressive acceleration time of 0-62mph in only 7.0 seconds.

Perhaps the most impressive stat is that CO2 emissions hit a tax-friendly low of 33 g/km while you can expect up to 188 miles to the gallon.

The 204 PS Formentor is a shade slower, but not by much, travelling from 0-62mph in 7.8 seconds and offering a maximum torque of 350Nm.

CUPRA and SEAT President Wayne Griffiths says: “The CUPRA Formentor e-HYBRID represents the essence of the brand and will be key to doubling sales volume compared to 2020. Our goal is for the Formentor to represent 50% of CUPRA sales in 2021, half of which will be plug-in hybrid versions.

“Electric hybrid sales in Europe amounted to 11.9% of total sales in 2020, up from 5.7% in 2019. The market will continue to grow and enable the transition to electrification.”

The other great thing about the e-HYBRID Formentor is that it not only looks the part - CUPRA has really nailed the styling - but there’s a ton of equipment as standard.

You get a Nappa leather interior, a 12 inch touchscreen nav system, ambient cabin lighting, voice control, LED headlights, adaptive cruise control, dynamic road sign display and high beam assist, to name but a few.

And there’s more good news coming from CUPRA.

The firm’s first 100 per cent electric model, the CUPRA el-Born, is also due to arrive later this year, and which is an incredible-looking hot hatch with a 310 mile range between charges.