ABT turns the CUPRA Formentor VZ5 up to 635HP in new 30-car special edition
ABT Sportsline has revealed a new limited-run take on the CUPRA Formentor VZ5, and it is as subtle as you would expect from a 635HP tuned SUV coupe.
Called the ABT CUPRA Formentor VZ5 635, the new model has been created to mark the German tuner’s 130th anniversary and will be limited to just 30 examples. That number is deliberate, with ABT saying it is both a nod to the anniversary and a way of underlining just how exclusive this version is.
At the centre of it all is the familiar 2.5-litre five-cylinder turbo engine, which remains one of the most characterful powerplants fitted to any modern CUPRA. ABT has pushed output up to around 635HP, or 467kW, with top speed rising to 300km/h.
“The Formentor is already a strong car straight from the factory. That’s exactly why it was the right base for us. What our team in Kempten has created from it makes me genuinely proud. In terms of driving dynamics, the VZ5 635 is in a class of its own.”
Daniel Abt, CCO ABT Sportsline and CUPRA Brand Ambassador
More power, more cooling, more drama
To get there, ABT has fitted its Power R upgrade along with what it calls the IWI system. That stands for Indirect Water/Ethanol Injection, a setup designed to improve cooling and help the engine maintain strong performance under sustained load.
In simple terms, it allows cooler, denser air into the combustion process, helping the engine deliver more power more consistently. The package is backed up by an ABT turbocharger and intercooler, turning the already rapid Formentor VZ5 into something far more serious again.
The system’s fluid level is monitored by a sensor and can be viewed through the myABT app.
Chassis upgrades to match
ABT has not just focused on the engine either. The Formentor VZ5 635 also gets a specially developed coilover suspension setup, tuned with performance driving in mind and with particular attention paid to use on the Nürburgring Nordschleife.
Compression and rebound damping can both be adjusted, allowing owners to tailor the setup depending on how they want to use the car. ABT says the suspension remains usable day to day, but the overall setup is clearly aimed more towards sharper driving than comfort-first cruising.
Sport anti-roll bars are also included to help keep the extra performance in check.
More aggressive looks inside and out
Visually, the changes are just as obvious. The VZ5 635 gets a full ABT aerodynamic package, including front air intake trims, rear apron add-ons and a gloss black rear wing. The overall effect is more aggressive than standard, but still recognisably based on the Formentor’s existing shape.
Inside, the changes are more subtle, with ABT-branded touches including a start-stop button cover, special floor mats and air vent trim marked with each car’s individual “1 of 30” numbering.
Officially sold through CUPRA dealers
Interestingly, these cars will not just be handled through ABT directly. Distribution will be through the official CUPRA dealer network in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
That makes this feel a little more integrated than the usual aftermarket tuning package and gives the whole thing a more factory-backed flavour, even if it is still very much an ABT creation.
Formentor VZ5 owners probably do not need telling this, but 635HP in something this size is a serious amount of performance. For those who always felt the VZ5 had more to give, this is ABT making that point very clearly.
Sadly, these aren’t coming to the UK, but our German, Swiss and Austrian members are in for a treat. Will you be ordering one? Let us know!
