SENSE OF IDENTITY
Cupra’s first bespoke model offers promise of a bright future, writes Matt Allan
It’s been four years since the Cupra name was hived off from the main Seat family but the marque still seems to struggle a little with an identity crisis.
It was launched as a standaloneperformancebrand -besidebutnotpartofthemainstream Spanish marque - but, even now, most of its models remain rebadged and retuned versions of Seat models.
The Formentor is different, though. It’s the first bespoke Cupra model and it shows. Whiletheatecaandleonmake do with bigger wheels, lower suspension and some bronze badging to mark them out, the Formentorlooksdifferentfrom anything else from the Spanish stable - and it looks great.
Sold as a coupe-crossover, it is lower and sleeker than the Cupra Ateca and manages not to simply look like a squashed SUV - something others in the segment struggle with.
It looks purposeful and dynamic thanks to the sharklike nose and overall low roofline, with its performance aspirations hinted at by aggressive air intakes, pinched lines over the wheel arches and meaty 19-inch alloys.
The bronze details on the exterior badging are a Cupra hallmark and are mirrored inside, where coloured details such as the air vents and dash trim help in Cupra’s efforts to form its own identity.
The interior, overall, is an impressive set up. A low-slung dashgivesgreatforwardvisibility, aided by the slightly raised ride height, but you don’t feel like you’re sitting up high. The sportsseatsarebrilliantlycomfortable yet supportive and grippy and the overall layout is modern and slick with decent, if not quite premium, materials. There’s plenty of space up front and a surprising amount of room in the rear seats, plus a family-friendly sized boot.
There is a but, however. The infotainment system, housed in a 12.3-inch touchscreen is a disaster. The screen is big and crisp and colourful but it’s sluggish and the interface feels like it was designed by someone who has never driven a car before.it’snotaproblemexclusive to Cupra. The whole VW Group is cursed with the same flawed HMI.
Ignoringthatmessandfocusing on the business of driving, the Formentor feels on more solid ground.
The ride is definitely firmer than your average family SUV but not unliveable and the handling is superb. It feels smaller and lighter than it really is thanks to quick, direct steering andanagilechassis,andisreally fun to punt along some twisting roads. Not just numbly fast in the way that a Golf R is, but actually lively and communicative, which is often a rarity in modern “hot” cars.
It’sarealshame,therefore,that our particular test car’s motor can’t quite match the chassis. The 148bhp petrol is the entry point engine and just doesn’t feel that quick. Acceleration is fine but not spectacular and the seven-speed automatic transmission, even in sport, doesn’t feel particularly fastshifting. Switching to manual modeallowsyoutomoreeasily find a sweet spot but even then the engine doesn’t feel the most flexible or torquey.
In short, it feels like a brilliant chassis crying out for a better engine/gearboxand,thankfully, there are other options. These range from a 187bhp 2.0-litre petrol to 1.4-litre hybrids with 201 or 242bhp and the rangetoppingall-wheel-driveversion which uses the same 306bhp four-potfoundinthegolfrand Audi RS3.
Choosing the lower-level engine means a lower list price. In the case of our second-tier V2 trim that means £33,125 including options, which in this day and age doesn’t seem unreasonable. Every car, even base V1s get three-zone air conditioning, full LED lights, a 10.2inch digital instrument display as well as the 12.3-inch touchscreen, plenty of USB ports, wireless Apple Carplay, wireless phone charging and a suite ofdriverassistancesystems.for an extra £2,000 I’d spec the V2 for the heated steering wheel, leatherpoweradjustablememory seats and the hands-free powered tailgate.
As I tested it, the Formentor feels like a good looking, great handling car held back by its drivetrain and infotainment system. Speccing a more powerful engine will give it the performancetomatchitssporting promise and if you can suck up the media system issues you’re looking at a high-spec, fun-packedalternativetomainstream family SUVS.
Isuzu has announced prices and specifications of the all-new D-max Arctic Truck AT35.
The ultra-rugged version of its award-winning pick-up will be available to order from 3 May, priced from £47,999.
Taking its name from the 35-inch tyres fitted as standard, the AT35 is based on the latest generation of the D-max but the chassis and bodywork have been re-engineered to make it even more capable, including the fitting of a raised Bilstein performance suspension system to lift the truck by 50mm.
Visually, the AT35 boasts extra-wide wheel arches along with extended profile side steps and Arctic Trucks mud flaps.
Inside, the AT35 is based on the D-max V-cross trim, and includes a nineinch multimedia system with Apple Carplay and Android Auto, eightspeaker sound system and full leather upholstery with Arctic Trucks branding. The AT35 also shares the full suite of drive aids, including forward collision warning, traffic sign recognition, intelligent speed limiter and lane departure warning.