Snapshot
- 70 per cent of first drop sold
- At least 50km EV-only driving range from both
- More stock on the way
UPDATE: New finance deal offered on Ateca and Leon
Spanish challenger brand Cupra has announced it is offering finance for as low as $148-per-week on its Leon hot hatch and $168 Ateca SUV.
The deal is applicable to MY22 Leon VZs and VZxs and all grades of the MY22 Ateca with rates from 2.99 per cent per annum over five years if taken up before November 30.
This includes guaranteed future value, a trade-in bonus, three years free servicing, five years roadside assist and a five-year warranty.
The story to here
October 5: Formentor and Leon PHEVs hit showrooms
Cupra Australia has sold half of its initial plug-in hybrid allocation, consisting of 98 total vehicles split between Leon and Formentor VZe.
The first drop of plug-in Cupras was made available on Thursday, September 29, and at the time of writing there are 27 examples left through Cupra’s online sales portal and experience centres.
Cupra says that – in typical early-adopter style – the initial sales were skewed to highly-optioned examples.
Both Leon and Formentor VZes use a 1.4-litre turbo-petrol four-cylinder combined with an electric motor for outputs of 180kW/400Nm. The Leon hot hatch starts from $60,490 before on-road costs for front-wheel drive and around 50-60 kilometres of electric-only driving range from its 10.4kWh (usable) battery pack.
With all-wheel drive, the Formentor small SUV is slightly dearer, from $60,990 before on-road costs. Cupra offers drive-away deals, though these vary state-by-state.
Both Cupras are the first product from the VW Group to rock plug-in hybrid powertrains in Australia, though cousin-brand Volkswagen will bring the Touareg R PHEV here, potentially followed by Golf GTE and Tiguan PHEV models.
“The rapid response to the first consignment of CUPRA’s Leon and Formentor VZe PHEVs demonstrates the pent up demand for genuine hybrids”, Cupra Australia director Ben Wilks told Wheels.
“Urban customers especially can drive in full EV mode almost all of the time. Both the Leon and the Formentor have a fully battery driven, zero-emission range of some 50km. That gets quite a few average commutes and school runs in before recharging.
“The added surety of a highly efficient, Euro Six level turbo-petrol engine makes PHEVs an attractive proposition for use beyond metropolitan area where charging is not yet readily available. Even when the battery is run down, it behaves likes a more conventional hybrid, using the combustion engine to replenish battery range”, Wilks said.
More plug-in hybrid Cupras are on their way to Australia ahead of the Born BEV's 2023 release.
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