Although the CUPRA brand is still relatively young, the word CUPRA itself is very well established at SEAT. It always meant sharply tuned cars, but until the term became a brand itself. It began to offer affordable engines, SUVs and even an electric car. Many people therefore claimed that it had nothing to do with the original concept. After all, offering an SUV or even an electric car is almost a sacrilege for a sports brand. However, the carmaker has nothing else left, it must occupy the widest possible customer spectrum and maintain fleet emissions. And because it’s obviously doing well, he can then afford to prepare a specialty from time to time, such as the CUPRA Formentor VZ5 model with a five-cylinder.
This is CUPRA with everything
The CUPRA Formentor model probably doesn’t need any more introduction. After all, it’s been a while since Friday. And for a similar time, the carmaker claimed that it would bring a really sharp version to the market. And as she promised, it also happened when the version called VZ5 saw the light. It is a model with a fantastic 2.5-liter five-cylinder engine from Audi, which provides 390 horsepower and 450 Nm of torque.
In addition, this version of Formentor received a lot of carbon accessories, better 375 mm Akebono brakes at the front and, as standard, great CUP shell seats, developed by Sabelt and CUPRA drivers Jordi Gené and Matthias Ekström.
And the VZ5 also has a special “Drift Mode” and a Torque Splitter system that replaces the rear differential. More on that in detail below.
Like Jekyll and Hyde
How to describe Formentor VZ5 in a few words? It’s a two-faced car. As long as you have a comfortable driving mode activated, it is actually just a modern SUV, ideal for taking children to school, for a weekend trip or for shopping. However, the button located on the left side of the steering wheel will switch you to CUPRA or even Race mode, and the car will breathe as if it came to life and as if it stuck corners. The sound is immediately louder, the steering is stiffer and the reaction to the gas is faster.
And speaking of which, yes, part of the soundtrack comes from the speakers in the interior. But then there’s the five-cylinder. And the good news is, you can hear them! And there is a lot to hear and it has that great and very addictive sound. The engine wonderfully complements the exhaust with four tailpipes located in the corners of the partially carbon diffuser. They have a nice baritone, nothing unnecessarily bitten. In addition, he likes to snort the exhaust harder during a sharper ride, and a pleasant and relatively loud bubbling sounds here and there when downshifting. Yes, that’s what CUPRA should sound like.
And I would like to add right away that this is how he should go. Let’s put aside the normal driving modes, as already mentioned, at that moment it’s just a little harder and lower Formentor. However, when using one of the sharper driving modes, the car changes completely. It hardens, the reaction to the throttle and the steering become more precise, and at that moment it is clear that it is not just an ordinary Formentor.
The VZ5 has 4Drive all-wheel drive as well as a Torque Splitter, which CUPRA describes as follows: “Two electro-hydraulically operated clutches allow independent torque control on each wheel, which increases maneuverability and agility.” By the way, just like the five-cylinder under the hood, this system is almost identical to the new one Audi RS 3. But Torque Splitter also has Volkswagen Golf R. Simply put, this system minimizes any tendency to understeer, thus helping to go around the corner faster and more accurately.
And this is most evident in the corners, where the Formentor VZ5 can be absolutely accurate. Just after activating the Cupra driving mode, which also sharpens the sound from the exhaust, the car goes very well behind the throttle and the steering wheel. The driver still watches the stabilization even at that moment, but it does not interfere extremely with the driving, he is such a big brother. I admit that fortunately I did not get into a situation where he would have to intervene in any way. However, it is necessary to take into account the relatively high performance and the fact that with the VZ5 you can easily get to the edge of the car, but also your abilities. But if you keep a respectful distance from her, then you will find that you have a very well-tuned car in your hand, which is legible, manoeuvrable and playful, but at the same time really very fast. After all, VZ5 can accelerate from 0 to 100 km / h in 4.2 seconds!
In order for it to work so well, the sports-tuned chassis, which is 10 millimeters lower than the 310-horsepower version of the Formentor VZ, also helps. The chassis is relatively hard, especially in the city or in broken districts, but when driving fast, he is confident and holds the car well and won’t let it bounce. Akebono brakes, which can be dosed very well, are then hidden under VZ5-only 20 ″ wheels marked Exclusive.
Drift Mode
CUPRA Formentor VZ5 is always an ATV. It got the Drift Mode system, which not only sends 50% of the torque to the rear axle (of which 100% to one rear wheel), but is also designed to deactivate the stabilization system (ESC). Needless to say, he’ll first ask you if you really want to do it, as if he’s suggesting that the fun is over here. Or is it starting? In order for everything to work as it should and the car to drift smoothly, the system is also able to send full power to only one rear wheel.
However, the presence of this system does not mean that everyone can drift smoothly with the car and immediately. Since I had a car rented on regular Spanish roads and not on a closed track, the tried drift mode was not entirely possible. Although the corners on Tibidad encouraged this, they are very popular with local car fans, they were also under police surveillance. And the last thing you want is to argue with a spirited Spanish policeman. But we can promise you that as soon as the Formentor VZ5 arrives for a classic editorial test, we will definitely try the drift mode.
Conclusion
I drove a few hundred kilometers with CUPRA Formentor. Both on the constantly congested roads of Barcelona and on the motorways in the area to the winding hilly roads of Tibidad. And that’s why I claim that the Formentor VZ5 is like two cars in one. On the one hand, a pleasant SUV with lots of safety systems and on the other hand, a sharp razor on a popular district or circuit.
In the course of everyday life, the hardness of broken city streets may bother you. I was also bothered by the sometimes non-functional infotainment touch screen. Sometimes he decided not to react for a few minutes. However, it is a pain for perhaps the entire Volkswagen Group (to which CUPRA belongs), perhaps with the exception of Audi.
CUPRA with the Formentor VZ5 model got its name and its history. And that actually says it all. VZ5 is CUPRA with everything and something extra. He has balls. But he needs a firm hand, especially when the driver pushes him and pushes the accelerator pedal to the floor.
But if an experienced rider gets behind the wheel, he can use his potential to the maximum. He will be able to do a few drifts for pleasure with this SUV and will only hone the ideal track with it a moment later. And the next day he will comfortably take the children to school and to the rings. According to some, universality is bad, but I can’t agree with that. Especially in the Cupry Formentor VZ5, it’s just great. But it has a catch. VZ5 is a limited edition of 7,000 pieces, while for the Czechia there will be only a few. The basic price of Formentor VZ5 starts at CZK 1,789,900. The complete price list is available for download here.
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