Spanish performance brand Cupra expands in NZ

The Cupra range will include Ateca, Leon five-door and sportstourer and Formentor. Photo: Cupra

SEAT’s performance brand, Cupra, was launched in New Zealand last year with the Ateca SUV, and will soon have some siblings.

In 2018, the Spanish brand SEAT created the Cupra brand as its independent high-performance branch, with both under the Volkswagen Group umbrella.

Cupra has developed a complete range of high-performance vehicles, based on contemporary design and sporty performance. 

There is the Cupra Ateca, the high-performance SUV; Leon five-door and Sportstourer variants; and CUPRA Formentor, the first model exclusively developed by the brand, a city SUV.

James Yates, Cupra’s New Zealand’s General Manager, says  “Cupra’s success has driven it to expand its product range and this is truly exciting. If these three new models replicate the Cupra Ateca’s success, we’ll be seeing a lot of car buyers in New Zealand re-thinking their badge allegiances.”

The Cupra Ateca 2021 will arrive in January, while the all-new Formentor, the Leon 5-door hatch, and the Leon Sportstourer performance wagon are scheduled for arrival in June.

The Formentor will be available in New Zealand with 228kW, and 140kW 4Drive versions with a 150kW eHYBRID (PHEV) expected later in 2021.

Pricing for the Formentor starts at $54,900 to $68,900 with no pricing is currently available for the eHYBRID variant.

TWhen the Leon models arrive in June, the hatch will be priced from $59,900 and the Sportstourer will be $65,900.

The Cupra Ateca 2021, priced at $66,900, arrives on New Zealand shores during January.