Cupra: Details of Australian range to be announced on February 8

Details of Cupra’s local model range will be announced on February 8, with the European performance brand the latest to enter the Australian new-car market.

Cupra has already promised the Leon hot hatch, Ateca SUV, and Formentor SUV for Australian buyers, as well as the fully-electric Born hatchback.

With evaluation vehicles already on Australian soil, the Cupra Born will be the first dedicated battery-electric model from the Volkswagen Group to be sold locally when it arrives in the fourth quarter of 2022.

The Cupra Leon – Spanish cousin to the Volkswagen Golf GTI – saw the VZ Cup unveiled for Germany this week, and may provide a glimpse into what Australian customers can expect next month.

Powered by a 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine sending 221kW and 400Nm to the front wheels through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, the VZ Cup trim adds 19-inch alloy wheels with copper accents, dark aluminium side skirts, and a carbon rear spoiler.

Cupra quotes a 0-100km/h sprint time of 5.7 seconds in this specification.

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A plug-in hybrid powertrain will also be available in the Cupra Leon, using a 1.4-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine mated to an 85kW electric motor to produce a total of 180kW and 400Nm, with an electric driving range of up to 65 kilometres thanks to its 12.9kWh battery.

There’s no word yet on whether the Leon ‘Sportstorer’ wagon will eventually be offered in Australia, but some markets benefit from the engine turned up to 228kW/400Nm, with the 0-100km/h time dropping to 4.9 seconds thanks to the addition of all-wheel drive.

The Cupra Formentor is a sporty mid-size SUV powered by a 2.0-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder, available with either 140kW/320Nm or 228kW/400Nm and all-wheel drive. Both engine options use a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic transmission, with 0-100km/h times quoted as 7.1 and 4.9 seconds respectively.

Also a mid-size SUV, but with a more traditional squared-off rear-end, the Cupra Ateca will also use the 2.0-litre powertrain with the seven-speed and all-wheel drive, but with 221kW and 400Nm for a sub five-second 0-100km/h sprint time.

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Finally, the battery-powered Cupra Born hot hatch will offer up to 548km of driving range from an optional 77kwh long-range battery, powering a 150kW/310Nm electric motor on the rear axle. A 58kWh battery is also expected, with up to 424km of range quoted on overseas models.

A spokesperson for Cupra Australia said recently the Born could be priced similarly to the Volkswagen Golf GTI, which is available from $54,490 before on-road costs.

Expect details of Cupra’s Australian line-up on February 8, and be sure to follow Wheels on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with the latest news and reviews.