2024 Cupra Formentor: new look coming for popular crossover

An even sharper-looking Cupra Formentor will arrive in Australia late in 2024.

The design-led Spanish brand is moving to give its models a more instantly recognisable face with triangular lighting themes, and the Formentor is set to see such adjustments in the second half of next year, alongside updated versions of the Leon hatchback and the Born electric car.

The 2024 Formentor was snapped previously at a Cupra preview event and featured on sites such as Cochespias.

Daniel DeGasperi, Product and PR communications manager for Volkswagen Group Australia, confirmed the news at the IAA Mobility 2023 Munich motor show, where Cupra unveiled its eye-catching new DarkRebel concept model.

“We’ll update Formentor and Leon and Born to the new-look face that has already been previewed, very briefly, last year,” said Mr DeGasperi. “No exact times on all of that – but probably in the second half of next year.”

He said there is nothing further to communicate on the potential changes for the models as yet, but there could be some minor spec tweaks and adjustments for each of the cars – and there is a possibility that Australia will see the introduction of a wagon version of the Leon, the Sportstourer, as well.

“We’re very happy with the Formentor line-up, it has done very well for us,” he said. That means the existing petrol-powered V, VZ, VZx models and the VZe plug-in hybrid will continue.

Below: The Formentor in its current form

All of the ICE versions of Formentor have 2.0-litre four-cylinder turbo-petrol engines, with differing states of tune.

The all-wheel-drive base model V has 140kW and 320Nm, while the front-drive VZ has the GTI-spec 180kW and 370Nm powertrain, and the 2.0L turbo VZx gets Golf-R-derived grunt with 228kW and 400Nm, and all-wheel drive.

The VZe plug-in hybrid uses a 1.4-litre petrol engine teamed to a battery pack and electric motor, with a six-speed DSG and front-wheel drive getting the grunt to the ground.

Australia (and other right-hand drive markets) will continue to miss out on the flagship Formentor VZ5, which employs a five-cylinder turbo-petrol model producing 287kW of power and 480Nm of torque, and capable of a 0-100km/h sprint in just 4.2 seconds.

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More details on the Formentor, Born and Leon updates will be announced in the coming months.

WhichCar is driving the Cupra Leon Sportstourer in the coming weeks. Stay tuned for our coverage of both the VZe plug-in hybrid and VZx performance hero model.