SPANISH performance brand Cupra has officially entered the Australian market with a selection of sporty models priced from $43,990 through to $61,990 plus on-road costs.
Volkswagen subsidiary Seat created the Cupra brand in 2018 as its independent high-performance branch, the products of which will now be sold through a network of nine dealerships called Cupra Garages in most Australian capital cities, as well as the Gold Coast and the ACT.
Most Cupra Garages open August 1, with some operating from interim premises.
According to Cupra, “Garage locations include high-traffic central business district (CBD) and key urban addresses, as well as awareness-driving shopping centre destinations that will proactively welcome Australians to the brand.”
The company is using an online order model as one of its main sales channels.
"We have ensured that online ordering is complemented by Cupra City Garage and agent locations that deliver high-quality interactions and a seamless purchasing process – including transparent driveaway pricing and three-year scheduled servicing included," the company states.
By early next year, a total of nine Cupra variants will be available with four trim and driveline combinations each of Leon small five door hatch and Formentor coupe-SUV, plus one version of the Ateca medium SUV.
Cupra is using four specification levels: V, VZ, VZX and VZe for Leon and Formentor and only top-spec VZX for Ateca.
All except the “e” hybrid models have 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder engines in varying states of tune.
In entry level “V” models, the engine is good for 140kW/320Nm output, rising to 180kW/370m for VZ mid-spec versions and topping out at a hefty 228kW/400Nm in top-of-the-range VZX.
The hybrid cars utilise a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four generating 110kW/250Nm coupled to an 85kW electric traction motor for a combined output of 180kW/400Nm.
All variants except the six-speed “e” cars feature a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission, while all-wheel drive is fitted to base model Formentor V and VZX Formentor and Ateca. The others are front-wheel drive.
First shipments of the Cupra range are now arriving in Australia, with first deliveries commencing in August. Test drives of VZe hybrid models will be available from August.
All variants are well-specified and are delivered with towing pre-wiring at no extra cost across the MY23 Ateca and Formentor range.
Though a sporty car brand, Cupra makes a point of towing capacity with all variants supporting an unbraked towing capacity of 750kg. Braked towing capacities are 2100kg for the Ateca VZX and 1700kg for the Formentor V, 1600kg for the VZ, 1500kg for the VZe and 1800kg for the VZX.
All models are covered by a five-year, unlimited-kilometre warranty and three-year scheduled servicing.
High performance Brembo brakes are optionally available.
The dealership locations at launch are:
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Cupra City Garage Sydney, 68 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW
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Cupra Artarmon, 387 Pacific Highway Artarmon, NSW
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Cupra Richmond, 388 (interim) then 376 (permanent) Swan Street Richmond, VIC
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Cupra Chadstone, Chadstone Shopping Centre, VIC (interim)
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Cupra Gold Coast, Robina Town Centre, QLD
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Cupra Indooroopilly, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, QLD (interim)
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Cupra Canberra, 120 Melrose Drive Phillip, ACT
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Cupra Adelaide, 41 Main North Road Medindie (interim) then 11 Waymouth Street Adelaide (permanent), SA
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Cupra Perth, 1093 Albany Highway Bentley, WA
2022 Cupra Ateca pricing*:
|
Variant
|
RRP
|
|
VZx (a)
|
$60,990
|
2022 Cupra Formentor pricing*:
|
Variant
|
RRP
|
|
V (a)
|
$50,690
|
|
VZ (a)
|
$53,790
|
|
VZe (a)
|
$60,990
|
|
VZx (a)
|
$61,490
|
2022 Cupra Leon pricing*:
|
Variant
|
RRP
|
|
V (a)
|
$43,990
|
|
VZ (a)
|
$52,590
|
|
VZe (a)
|
$59,990
|
|
VZx (a)
|
$60,990
|
*Excludes on-road costs
