It's been a busy February already for Cupra; just a few days since we were promised a five-cylinder Formentor, a plug-in Formentor e-Hybrid has now been confirmed as well. It means that very soon the line-up will extend from a 1.4-litre, 150hp entry point all the way up to whatever the 2.5-litre flagship will produce, via the 2.0-litre turbo and this new hybrid in addition.
It's the same setup as used in the Cupra Leon, the Golf GTE and the Octavia vRS, with the 150hp 1.4 mated to a 116hp electric motor, itself supplied power by a 13kWh battery pack. Total outputs are 245hp and 295lb ft, sufficient for a 7.0-second sprint to 62mph and 130mph flat out. Cupra claims anything up to 188mpg and 33g/km, plus a pure electric range of more than 30 miles, with a battery recharge time of three hours and 33 minutes via a 3.6kW AC charger. Those fuel economy and CO2 numbers are a little way short of the equivalent Leon's best of 217mpg and 30g/km, though likely as optimistic in the real world.
The newly electrified Formentor model will be offered in VZ1 or VZ2 trim, with orders opening from next week. Both get 19-inch alloy wheels, the 12-inch central touchscreen with Full Link and wireless charging, a digital dash, DCC dampers and the VAQ locking differential. The VZ2 adds to the standard spec with electrically adjustable seats, a heated wheel and Lane Change Assist.
The Formentor e-Hybrid range kicks off at £38,625 for the VZ1, rising to £40,260 for the VZ2. For reference, the hybrid Leon costs from £35,000 as a VZ2, or £36,730 as a VZ3. But if we've learnt anything about the SUV boom, it's that customers are more than willing to pay a premium for the car that they want. The Cupra Leon estate sits between the two in terms of price, but which do you reckon will be more popular out of five-door wagon and SUV coupe? Exactly. Expect the Formentor e-Hybrid on the road for the 21-plate change.
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