CUPRA Formentor VZ5 Custom by ABT Has Audi RS ‘Forbidden Fruit’ and Cool Badges

By Ben McKimm - News

Updated: 25 August, 2026

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Table of contents

Table of contents

• ABT Sportsline Styling Package and Carbon Fibre Detailing
• Torque Vectoring and How the VZ5 Outclasses the Discontinued Audi RS Q3
• Australian Pricing Breakdown, Options and Market Timing

Readtime: 6 min

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• CUPRA revealed the limited Formentor VZ5 Custom by ABT Edition.
• 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder engine produces 287 kW (385 hp).
• ABT Sportsline added bespoke side skirts, spoilers, and gloss black wheels.
• Mechanical hardware includes a torque-vectoring rear differential and Akebono brakes.
• Australian pricing starts at AUD$101,990 before on-road costs.

Performance crossover fans and enthusiasts who mourned the demise of the compact five-cylinder Audi RS Q3 have a new benchmark to consider. CUPRA Australia has confirmed pricing and specification details for the 2027 Formentor VZ5 Custom CUPRA by ABT Edition, bringing a limited-production flagship equipped with a 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder petrol engine to market.

Priced at AUD$101,990 before on-road costs or AUD$109,990 driveaway, the Spanish performance SUV delivers 287 kW (385 hp / 390 PS) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft) of torque to all four wheels with one of the world’s great automotive soundtracks to back it up.

While the now-discontinued RS Q3 relied on a traditional Haldex all-wheel-drive system, the VZ5 platform adopts the torque-vectoring rear differential from the current 8Y-generation Audi RS 3. That means two independent electro-hydraulic clutch packs split drive across the rear axle, sending 100 per cent of the available 50 per cent torque to either wheel, overdriving it and removing significant understeer. The Formentor VZ5 also adopts six-piston Akebono front brake calipers and Sabelt Cup carbon-fibre-backed bucket seats.

“The Formentor VZ5 already occupies a unique position within the CUPRA range, combining the unmistakable character of the five-cylinder engine with the design and driving dynamics that define our brand,” said CUPRA Australia Head of Product, Jeff Shafer.

“The new VZ5 Custom CUPRA by ABT Edition builds on those foundations with a carefully considered package that enhances the vehicle’s visual presence while respecting everything enthusiasts already love about the VZ5. ABT has earned an outstanding reputation among performance enthusiasts around the world, and we’re delighted to bring this collaboration to Australian customers in a way that feels authentic to both.”

Australian buyers can place orders through national dealer outlets, with initial customer deliveries scheduled between April and June 2027. This special edition arrives shortly after an initial allocation of fewer than 100 units of the standard 2026 CUPRA Formentor VZ5 lands locally between December 2026 and March 2027.

ABT Sportsline Styling Package and Carbon Fibre Detailing

The exterior package from ABT Sportsline incorporates custom body components designed to add to the visual stance of the already good-looking VZ5. This includes revised lower side door mouldings and extended side skirts, paired with a larger rear spoiler positioned to manage airflow over the tailgate.

Carbon fibre inserts are integrated into the front and rear bumpers, supplementing dark chrome exterior badging and black quad exhaust finishers.

Rolling hardware consists of exclusive 20-inch gloss black alloy wheels wrapped in performance rubber. Tucked behind the front wheels are 6-piston Akebono brake calipers clamped over large ventilated performance discs. Subtle ABT badging accents the outer shell without disturbing the factory body lines. Cabin appointments include Sabelt CUP carbon-fibre backed bucket seats up front, upholstered in Enceladus Grey Seaqual and Dinamica materials, alongside a standard panoramic sunroof, a Sennheiser audio system, and custom ABT floor mats.

Torque Vectoring and How the VZ5 Outclasses the Discontinued Audi RS Q3

By combining Audi’s 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine and the modern MQB EVO platform tech, the Formentor VZ5 delivers key performance features that the discontinued Audi RS Q3 never received during its production lifecycle.

That makes it a particularly interesting proposition, as while the older RS Q3 relied on a conventional Haldex centre differential with a single clutch pack, leaving it incapable of actively splitting drive between the left and right rear wheels, the Formentor VZ5 adopts the electro-hydraulic rear torque-vectoring setup straight from the current 8Y-generation Audi RS 3. It uses twin clutch packs to send up to 100 per cent of rear torque to the outer wheel under heavy cornering loads.

The VZ5 also upgrades cockpit and braking hardware beyond what the factory RS Q3 ever offered. Carbon-fibre shell bucket seats, an option omitted from all but the final edition RS Q3 Edition 10 Years, as well as six-piston Akebono front calipers that are better than those offered on the RS Q3. Engine output stands at 287 kW (385 hp / 390 PS) and 480 Nm (354 lb-ft), offering a noticeable performance jump over four-cylinder alternatives like the 228 kW (306 HP) Formentor VZx, but still lagging slightly behind the latest generation RS models.

Australian Pricing Breakdown, Options and Market Timing

The CUPRA Formentor VZ5 Custom CUPRA by ABT Edition is priced from AUD$101,990 before on-road costs, translating to AUD$109,990 driveaway nationwide.

This reflects an AUD$8,000 premium over the standard VZ5, which lists at AUD$94,990 before on-roads. Options remain minimal, with Premium Paint adding AUD$790 and Matte Paint available for AUD$3,300.

Ownership services include CUPRA Australia’s five-year unlimited-kilometre warranty, five years of complimentary roadside assistance, and access to the CUPRA Tribe network. Orders are now open, with customer deliveries scheduled to begin in the second quarter of 2027 between April and June.

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