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Orders for VW’s new Cupra brand have opened in Australia, ahead of deliveries at nine dealers next month – and price and spec rises due next month.
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Volkswagen-owned Spanish brand Cupra has opened orders for its three-strong model range in Australia, ahead of first deliveries commencing from a range of nine showrooms next month.
Now available to order on the company’s website – a month later than expected – the first Cupra vehicles to become available are the Leon VZ and VZx hot hatchbacks, Formentor V, VZ and VZx medium SUVs, and Ateca VZx SUV.
The first shipments of these cars – which will branded Model Year 2022 (MY22) – are arriving locally now, ahead of first customer deliveries starting next month (August), from a network of nine showrooms across six of Australia’s eight states and territories.
As of writing, Cupra’s website lists just under 700 vehicles available to order, with wait times of between three and 17 weeks. For buyers wanting to option Brembo brakes or an Akrapovic exhaust, “agents will assist with the order,” Cupra Australia says.
But orders for these MY22 cars (available now) will only remain open for about a month (“based on demand”), before Cupra Australia begins accepting orders for the Model Year 2023 range – bringing with it a wider spread of models, new features and higher prices.
The MY23 line-up will add the previously-announced entry-level Leon V hatch, as well as plug-in hybrid ‘VZe’ versions of the Leon and Formentor medium SUV.
Deliveries of the plug-in hybrids are set to commence in October, while the Leon V isn’t due on local shores until early next year.
Alongside the new variants, the 2023 Leon range will be upgraded with a larger 12-inch central touchscreen (replacing 10-inch, below) – but its trick ‘scrolling’ LED rear indicators will be replaced with fixed units, due to the ongoing semiconductor shortage.
Prices will rise by $400 plus on-road costs (or $500 drive-away) on the Leon VZ, and $500 on the VZe and VZx to account for the revised feature list.
As the Leon V launches for MY23, it retains its previously-announced $43,990 plus on-road costs price tag (with a drive-away price still to be confirmed).
All MY23 Ateca and Formentor variants will also be available with tow bar pre-wiring at no additional cost.
Unbraked towing is rated at 750kg across all models, while braked towing is rated at 1500kg for the Formentor VZe, 1700kg for the Formentor V, 1800kg for the Formentor VZx, and 2100kg for the Ateca VZx.
Alongside the price, spec and order announcement, Cupra Australia has confirmed the locations of its first nine Cupra Garages, set to open “soon”.
These showrooms – located in “high-traffic central business district (CBD) and key urban addresses, as well as awareness-driving shopping centre destinations” – are as follows:
• Cupra City Garage Sydney, 68 Pitt Street, Sydney, NSW
• Cupra Artarmon, 387 Pacific Highway Artarmon, NSW
• Cupra Richmond, 388 Swan Street Richmond, Victoria for a brief time, before moving to 376 Swan Street
• Cupra Chadstone, Chadstone Shopping Centre, Victoria (introductory, pop-up location)
• Cupra Gold Coast, Robina Town Centre, Queenland
• Cupra Indooroopilly, Indooroopilly Shopping Centre, Queensland (introductory, pop-up location)
• Cupra Canberra, 120 Melrose Drive Phillip, ACT
• Cupra Adelaide, 41 Main North Road, Medindie at launch, before moving to 11 Waymouth Street, Adelaide (permanent), SA
• Cupra Perth, 1093 Albany Highway Bentley, WA
Each location will include “highly-trained Cupra Masters”, one of which is assigned to each customer throughout the buying process – organising test drives, detailing pricing and financing options, and explaining servicing details for each vehicle.
“We have ensured that the online ordering that commences today is complemented by CUPRA City Garage and agent locations that deliver high-quality interactions and a seamless purchasing process – including transparent driveaway pricing and three-year scheduled servicing included,” said Cupra Australia director Ben Wilks.
2022 Cupra Leon Australian pricing
- Leon V – $43,990 plus on-road costs (drive-away pricing TBA)
- Leon VZ – $52,990 plus on-road costs, up $400 ($57,490 drive-away, up $500)
- Leon VZe – $60,490 plus on-road costs, up $500 (drive-away pricing below)
- Leon VZx – $61,490 plus on-road costs ($65,490 drive-away), up $500
Leon VZe drive-away pricing, up $500: $63,490 in the ACT, $64,490 in Queensland, $65,490 in NSW and SA, $65,990 in Victoria, $66,490 in WA, still to be confirmed in Tasmania and the NT.
2022 Cupra Formentor Australian pricing
- Formentor V – $50,690 plus on-road costs ($54,990 drive-away)
- Formentor VZ – $53,790 plus on-road costs ($58,490 drive-away)
- Formentor VZe – $60,990 plus on-road costs (see below for drive-away prices)
- Formentor VZx – $61,990 plus on-road costs ($66,990 drive-away), up $500
Formentor VZe drive-away pricing: $63,990 in the ACT, $64,990 Queensland, $65,990 in NSW and SA, $66,490 in Victoria, $66,990 in WA, but still to be confirmed for Tasmania and the NT.
Cars have played a central role throughout Alex’s life, from flicking through car magazines as a young age, to growing up around performance vehicles in a car-loving family.
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