The Cupra Formentor VZ5 will arrive here in limited numbers, featuring a turbocharged five-cylinder engine and a lofty price tag.
The souped-up small SUV will be priced at $94,990 before on-road costs, or a national drive-away price of $101,990.
Fewer than 100 Formentor VZ5s will come to Australia in the initial allocation, with Cupra dealers currently gathering orders to secure customer-specific build slots for the hot SUV’s production run.
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This production run is scheduled to run from May to December 2026, with Australian deliveries expected between December 2026 and March 2027.
Cupra says it will continue working with global teams to secure additional volume “should early customer demand exceed expectations”.
The VZ5 is powered by a turbocharged 2.5-litre five-cylinder petrol engine producing 287kW of power and 480Nm of torque, mated with a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission and an all-wheel drive system.
The five-pot engine is borrowed from Audi, where it’s employed in the RS3 and outgoing RSQ3, but Cupra says it has been “recalibrated to deliver an even more emotive, character-rich driving experience”.
Performance equipment includes an electro-hydraulic torque vectoring rear differential, ‘DCC’ adaptive dampers, and six-piston Akebono front brake calipers.
VZ5-specific equipment includes:
- 20-inch black and copper alloy wheels
- Flared wheel-arches
- Carbon-fibre front splitter with engraved logo
- Rear bumper with carbon-fibre insert
- Copper-tipped quad exhausts
- Sabelt CUP Bucket front seats
- Enceladus Grey Sequal and Dinamica upholstery
- Carbon-fibre backing
The VZ5 will also feature a standard Sennheiser sound system and panoramic sunroof, with the only options being paint finishes.
It’ll be offered in one standard, one premium and three matte finishes, with premium paint costing $790 and matte paint costing $3300.
The VZ5 otherwise builds upon the updated design and components included with the Formentor’s mid-life facelift, which had previously been confirmed for a local launch at the end of the first quarter of 2026.
New exterior design elements include the Cupra brand’s new ‘Shark Nose’ corporate face, which also incorporates a new tri-triangular LED signature that’s reflected both front and rear.
At the rear the full-width light bar now includes an illuminated logo on the tailgate.
Cupra’s priciest models at present are the mid-size Terramar VZe plug-in hybrid SUV at $77,990 before on-road costs and the mid-size Tavascan VZ electric SUV at $74,490 before on-road costs.
While pricing for the wider Formentor range has yet to be announced for 2026, the pre-update range topped out at $65,790 before on-roads.