2021 Cupra Formentor Debuts: Up To 306 HP, Plug-In Hybrid Available

The first model designed specifically for the Seat's spinoff Cupra brand is here. The Formentor would have appeared in public this week at the Geneva Motor Show, but Coronavirus put a kibosh on those plans. For now at least, we'll have to embrace the sporty crossover's shape through a modest collection of photos, and there's no denying it's an edgy machine.

The Formentor is actually named for the rocky cape on the Spanish island of Mallorca. Cupra says those rocks also served as inspiration for the Cupra's shape, which is certainly chiseled with sharp body lines near the beltline and over the rear fenders. The sloping roof and hatch have a Porsche flavor about them, though the sharp-edged taillights connected by a center LED strip are rather distinctive. More edges are found up front with the headlights and blades set low and wide on the bottom of the fascia.

The edgy theme continues inside, with trapezoid climate vents and a 12-inch center touchscreen dominate the dash. The driver monitors vehicle parameters with a digital cluster behind the wheel, while occupants in the first and second row are nestled into a snug greenhouse trimmed in either dark blue or black material with aluminum and copper accents. With a wheelbase of 105.1 inches (2,680 millimeters) the Formentor is decidedly a compact two-row people mover, with 15.9 cubic feet (450 liters) of cargo space behind the rear seat.

On the tech front, the Formentor offers basic connectivity as one would expect, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto through the touchscreen. It carries a few driver-assist systems, namely adaptive cruise control that can monitor road signs and adjust speeds accordingly, and blind-spot monitoring. It has an offshoot of blind-spot monitoring called Exit Assist, which can alert driver and passengers of nearby vehicles or pedestrians before opening the doors.

With its performance pedigree, we suspect most people will be interested in Formentor's underpinnings. Two powertrain options are available, starting with a 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder gasoline mill developing 306 horsepower (228 kilowatts). A plug-in hybrid model uses a 1.4-liter turbocharged gas engine with 148 hp (110 kW) connected to a single 114 hp (85 kW) electric motor. Combined, the plug-in hybrid offers 241 hp (180 kW) and can travel 31 miles on electric-only power. Regardless of the mill, the Formentor distributes power to an all-wheel-drive system through a seven-speed DCT.

In its announcement, Cupra says the Formentor will reach dealerships in the last quarter of 2020. Pricing information isn't available yet, nor is specific availability for different regions of the world.