New plug-in hybrid offers 100km of electric range

Cupra has unveiled heavy updated versions of its Leon tiny hatch and Formentor compact SUV.
The caller Formentor debuts a plug-in hybrid (PHEV) strategy that tin question connected energy unsocial for up to 100km.

The institution has besides confirmed a caller wagon mentation of the performance-focused Leon arsenic a spiritual successor to the once-loved Golf R wagon from genitor institution Volkswagen.

However, the caller models won’t get successful clip to instrumentality vantage of the government’s fringe benefits taxation (FBT) exemption for radical who lease PHEVs done institution wage sacrifice programs.

The generous FBT exemptions for PHEVs are presently planned to extremity connected April 1, 2025. EVs person until astatine slightest 2027 for the aforesaid benefits.

Cupra says involvement successful its Formentor VZe has surged, prompting it to bid much banal and a constricted variation exemplary of the outgoing version.

However, Cupra concedes its astir compelling PHEV yet – the caller Formentor that volition beryllium capable to DC accelerated complaint astatine up to 50kW for a afloat complaint successful astir fractional an hr — volition conscionable miss retired connected the FBT benefits.

“We’re taking the precise highest specification show engines … they travel connected watercourse a small spot later,” says Cupra Australia marque manager Ben Wilks.

Cupra Australia merchandise and selling main Jeff Shafer says the institution inactive expects keen involvement successful the car.

“Not everyone is successful a presumption wherever a BEV is close for them contiguous and I deliberation plug-in hybrids are a solution for immoderate people.”

The institution besides showed disconnected the caller Leon range, which includes a Sportstourer wagon that is connected the privation database for Australia.

While the wagon isn’t expected to bash large income volumes, Cupra believes it volition fulfill enthusiasts who antecedently gravitated to the Volkswagen Golf R wagon.

“It’s a niche … but it’s a niche that’s absorbing to us,” says Shafer.

The Sportstourer volition beryllium disposable with the caller plug-in hybrid strategy successful the Formentor, arsenic good arsenic a caller 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo petrol motor making 245kW, the astir ever for the fledgling brand.

Speaking astatine the planetary uncover of the 2 caller models successful the brand’s location state of Spain, main enforcement Wayne Griffiths said the institution was inactive focused connected plan and performance, reinforcing that it was “not a premium oregon prestige brand” but “an alternate for the adjacent procreation of car lovers looking for thing different”.

The caller Formentor volition person a caller nose, lights and bumpers arsenic good arsenic an LED airy portion crossed the rear that incorporates an illuminated Cupra logo.

Its raised bonnet and slim precocious grille springiness it a much distinctive face.

The Leon takes a antithetic attack with a little bonnet designed to reenforce its sporty intentions.

It besides gets caller lights and bumpers, including 3D-look rear lights that incorporated Cupra’s trademark triangular look.

And the logo is besides illuminated successful reddish crossed the rear.