Cupra Australia

Car Domain 09/07/2024

40 8 minutes read

All About Cupra Australia

CUPRA is the ultimate expression of what it’s like to live. Do you value a dazzling performance, a unique style and an expression of yourself? CUPRA is the embodiment.

CUPRA is proud of its motorsport heritage. CUPRA’s powerful petrol engines and impressive handling will make your drive a memorable one.

CUPRA’s style is as important as its substance. CUPRA models are designed to capture the essence and performance of motoring, with a style that is daring to be different.

Table of Contents

CUPRA’s goal is to “bring Barcelona into Australia”. Australia will be the first country to have CUPRA exclusively operate as a performance brand.

CUPRA, driven by innovation, also brings electrification in Australia with exciting plug-in-hybrid (PHEV), and plans to introduce an electric model soon. CUPRA is committed to becoming a fully electric brand by 2030, proving that they are open to change and looks towards the future.

Challenge yourself and embrace the difference. CUPRA is a place for those who have nothing to prove but want to achieve.

CUPRA Australia will launch three models by mid-2022: the CUPRA Formentor SUV crossover, the CUPRA SUV Ateca and the CUPRA hatchback Leon.

CUPRA is available with petrol engines and plug-in electric vehicles (PHEV). CUPRA’s first all-electric vehicle will be launched in May 2023: the CUPRA born.

Origin

Cupra is a high-performance motorsport division of SEAT. It was formerly known as SEAT Sport. The SEAT Ibiza 2.0 16V Cupra Sport was the first to use “Cupra”, short for “Cup Racing. The street-legal version is a modified Ibiza Mk2 kit car that was used for competition. It was created to celebrate SEAT’s 1996 FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup victory, a division of the World Rally Championship.

SEAT has produced hot hatchbacks with the Cupra badge for the past 20 years. The first was the SEAT Leon Cupra in 1999. In the year following, the SEAT Leon Cupra 4 became the first AWD Cupra, as well as the only Cupra with six cylinders. Every SEAT Leon model since then has been accompanied by a Cupra hot hatch version.

In 2017, the then SEAT CEO Luca de Meo hinted that Cupra could become a separate brand. Cupra was available only as the performance version for the Leon at the time. Cupra cars will be sold exclusively in SEAT dealerships with dedicated floor space in Europe.

Alejandro Mesonero Romanos designed the Cupra logo, which was created by intersecting two triangular shapes. Mesonero Romanos explains that the philosophy behind the triangular logo was that triangles are dynamic shapes, have a stable foundation, and point in a specific direction.

What CUPRA means

CUPRA is the pinnacle of engineering brilliance and powerful innovation. We can inject every vehicle with creativity and ingenious craftsmanship.

Our name is a combination of the words ‘Cup Racing’ and ‘Racing.’

Our cars are designed and engineered in Barcelona, Spain where the CUPRA brand originated. We are also members of the Volkswagen Group.

Details of 2022 Cupra Formentor for Australia

February 15th, 2022: As the Australian launch date of Volkswagen Group’s new marque approaches, local details have been revealed. The upcoming Formentor SUV has been highlighted with an emphasis on sports in SUVs’.

The pricing is yet to be revealed, but buyers should expect to start with the 140kW/320Nm Formentor V before moving on to the 180kW/370Nm vZ.

Cupra Formentor E-Hybrid: Review

February 8, 2022: How good is the Cupra Formentor E-Hybrid car? Dan was sent to Europe to sample one of the electric models that are expected to arrive in Australia.

To find out his opinion on the hybrid crossover and if its fully electric mode would suit local drivers, click the link below.

Electric 2023 Cupra Born lands in Australia

December 24th, 2021: Cupra Australia has received an early Christmas gift in the form of the first Born to land on Australian soil.

The all-electric hatchback was spotted at Sydney Airport in a colour that is similar to Nardo Grey, offered by Audi. This colour hides some of the sharper lines.

Cupra will use this example as one of three to test how the Born performs on local roads. This is a way of testing the model before it launches in Australia towards the end of 2022.

When it arrives in Australia, the 2022 Cupra Born EV could cost as much as a Golf GTI

December 7, 2020: The most anticipated model in Cupra’s stable, the Born EV is without a doubt the Born EV. Not least because the Born EV is expected to be the Volkswagen Group’s first electric offering in Australia.

Cupra’s insiders say that the Born will likely be priced at a similar price as a Golf GTI in your area, putting it below the Tesla Model 3 which is the market leader in electric vehicles.

2022 Audi S3 vs Cupra Leon 300: Review

23 September 2021 Our Man Dan went back to the motherland to taste the Cupra Leon 300.

Joe Achilles was on hand to help the two compare Cupra’s offer with the new Audi S3, and then take the MQB-platform performance cars out for a drive.

Cupra will use PHEVs in Australia to ease the transition to electric

September 14th, 2021: Cupra’s hybrid models are designed to ease the transition from petrol to electric vehicles.

The brand will launch with a plug-in range and also bring the Born fully-electric car to Australia. It is the first electric Volkswagen Group vehicle to arrive Down Under.

Cupra announces its plan to challenge the brand of Australian buyers

September 7, 2020: Following the local launch of the brand and the confirmation of the line-up, Cupra Australia’s Ben Wilks spoke with the media about the plans for the brand in Australia.

While some have said Cupra’s products will be little more than rebadged Volkswagen/Audi/Skoda models, Wilks sought to clarify the company’s position – aiming to sell its cars to driving

First drive: 2021 Cupra Formentor

June 24th, 2021: Phil McNamara is one of the first journalists to have experienced Cupra’s Formentor. It was also one of several models that were expected to be heading to Australia.

McNamara reviews the Cupra brand’s first bespoke model, the 1.5-litre Formentor V1.

Cupra Australia: Your model-by-model performance car guide

25 June 2021: Warm hatches and hot hatches. Quick all-wheel drive compact SUVs. And a few plug-in hybrids.

The Volkswagen Group Cupra performance vehicle brand will arrive in Australia in 2022 with nine variants and three vehicles.

The Leon hatchback, Ateca small SUV, and Formentor cross-over will compete with Skoda’s sRS models, and Volkswagen’s GTI and R versions to attract the attention of drivers.

Our detailed news article about the launch is available here. However, we also provide a guide of the Cupra models that were confirmed, expected, and those that didn’t make it.

Cupra Leon 2022 models announced for Australia

February 8, 2020: Cupra confirms the local specifications of its Leon.

The four grades of the Leon V will be powered by different engines. The entry-level variant, Leon V, is expected to cost around $40,000. Meanwhile, the top-of-the-range VZx, with its four-pot turbo, has a power output of 221kW/400Nm, which is the same as that found in the Volkswagen Golf R, but only on the front wheels.

Cupra Australia is planning to launch the Leon and other models in its Australian range by July 2022.

Cupra Leon Hatch 2022

At launch, the Leon hatchback is priced just below $40,000.

The 2020 Seat Leon is the basis for this car. It’s also similar to the Volkswagen Golf.

The base Cupra Leon is less performance-oriented, but it shares the same 2.0-litre, four-cylinder, 140kW/320Nm engine as the Seat Leon that’s sold in other countries. This model will likely be designated as a ‘VZ1 trim-grade’.

A 180kW mid-range Leon, which shares the same engine as VW’s Golf GTI could be a cheaper alternative. The price of the latest GTI is up significantly, starting at $53,100. This leaves a large gap between the mid- to high-40k range.

A more affordable alternative to the Golf R is also likely with the 221kW Leon, which could carry Cupra’s highest-specification ‘VZ3’ badge. The Golf R uses the same engine as the previous model, but it is front-wheel-drive rather than all-wheel-drive. This means that the Golf R 2022 will not have some of its technology like rear torque vectoring and Drift mode.

Cupra will offer a plug-in hybrid (PHEV), exclusive to Cupra, which is not currently available in Australia through sister brands Audi Skoda Volkswagen.

The 180kW Leon e-Hybrid, expected to be the flagship of the hatchback range, combines a 1.4-litre petrol turbo engine with an electric motor of 85kW and a 13kWh battery. According to Europe’s WLTP testing cycle, the petrol/electric Leon has an electric range of 52km with a combined fuel consumption of up to 1.4L/100km.

The claimed time for 0-100km/h is 6.7 seconds.

The 180kW Leon and the Golf GTI share a time of 6.4 seconds. The 221kW Leon has a time of 5.7 seconds. This is still slower than the 4.7sec Golf R due to be released in early 2022.

Volkswagen Group Australia may have chosen to avoid the fastest Leon because it wanted to protect the Golf R wagon, which is hugely popular in Australia, as well as the hatchback version.

The Leon Sportstourer all-wheel drive features a turbo engine with 228kW and a claimed time of 0-100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The Leon hatchback is 4.4m longer than the Golf it’s based on. The Interior is almost identical to that of the eighth-generation Golf’s cabin, with its digital infotainment system and instrument displays.

The Leon’s boot is slightly larger than that of the Golf, at 380 litres compared to 374 litres. Due to the battery located under the floor, the e-Hybrid has a smaller luggage capacity of 270 litres.

Due to its wide range, petrol-only versions could compete with the Hyundai i30N-Line, i30N, Ford Focus ST and BMW’s 128ti hot-hatch.

Cupra Ateca SUV 2022

Seat’s Ateca compact SUV (438mm) was launched in 2016, and two years later it became the first Seat that also carried the Cupra name. It is distinguished for its design and performance.

In mid-2020, a facelifted model will be released.

There is only one drivetrain available, but it’s fast.

Cupra Ateca’s turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine with 221kW/400Nm, dual-clutch automatic transmission and all-wheel-drive allows it to reach 100km/h in 4.9 seconds.

The Ateca is not known to be available in a variety of trim levels or a single specification. The highest grade, ‘VZ3,’ comes with extra features like Brembo performance brakes that are optional on lower grades. It also has Copper Alloy wheels (19 inches) and heated seats. Standard on VZ2 and higher is Petrol Blue leather upholstery.

The Ateca has a 485-litre boot and can tow 2100kg without brakes.

The mainstream performance SUV is still rare, but the Hyundai Kona will be a natural competitor for the Cupra Ateca – even if the vehicle only has front-wheel drive. Volkswagen will introduce the T-RocR in late 2022. It is a twin of the Ateca, using the same drivetrain with identical performance.