Manhart has worked on many vehicles from the vast Volkswagen Group portfolio but it has never done anything to a Cupra model. With the Cupra Formentor VZ5 joining the tuning company’s lineup, this is about to change. The performance SUV’s first two images are available, and the preliminary information points to it being a very powerful vehicle.
With just a set of 20-inch Concave One wheels and an all-black exterior finish, Manhart keeps the exterior simple. The tuning experts only add a decal set with a signature design that is applied to the wheels, bumpers, side skirts, hood, and roof. There are no aerodynamic enhancements, though this may not be the Cupra SUV’s final design. The design changes are complemented by a large Manhart lettering on the windscreen.
However, things are very different behind the scenes. A 2.5-liter inline-five turbocharged engine with 385 horsepower (287 kilowatts) and 354 pound-feet (480 Newton-meters) of torque is found in the Formentor VZ5 there. The RS Q3 and its Sportback both use the same engine, though the TSI mill produces slightly more power. The engine produces 490 horsepower (360 kW) and 465 lb-ft (630 Nm) of twist after Manhart’s Stage 1 upgrade.
The company’s MHtronik powerbox and an altered exhaust system with valve control and a dual-pipe design at each side, which replaces the factory oval exhaust layout, are responsible for the power increase. No information has been released regarding any changes to the transmission, so the seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive system from Cupra should be coupled with the engine.
However, Manhart claims that a Stage 2 upgrade with a new intercooler, air intake, and an even more potent ECU remap is also being considered. Although we are unsure of the numbers the company is aiming for, we believe something in the range of 600 horsepower (447 kW) is feasible. We’ll undoubtedly keep an eye out for any updates on that subject.