1-2-4-5-3: the heartbeat of the CUPRA Formentor VZ5

1-2-4-5-3.

Don’t worry, someone hasn’t forgotten how to count. 1-2-4-5-3 is a sequence. The iconic firing order of the 2.5-litre five-cylinder engine buried under the bonnet of the CUPRA Formentor VZ5. But it’s more than just an arrangement of piston movements. It’s a rhythm, a heartbeat, a distinctive pulse and soundtrack that form the attitude of the car. And the VZ5 has attitude. 

It’s CUPRA’s most extreme, powerful and performance-orientated Formentor yet. The Spanish brand prides itself on doing things a bit differently. It doesn’t like to feel constrained by rules and convention, which is why the rare five-cylinder fits so well. 

Five-pots have always done things a little differently. They’re the awkward middle child of the combustion family: neither the sensible symmetry of a four-cylinder nor the silky balance of a six. There’s an offbeat pulse to them – a syncopated, slightly wonky rhythm that gives the engine an unmistakable voice.

And the VZ5 has quite a voice. Its 2.5-litre turbocharged five-cylinder produces 390PS and 480Nm, revs to 7,000rpm and sends its power through a seven-speed DSG dual-clutch gearbox and 4Drive all-wheel-drive system. The numbers are appropriately serious: 0-62mph takes 4.2 seconds and will go on to a 174mph top speed*.

But numbers aren’t really why this engine matters. It’s the bits between them. Turn it on and you’re listening to something increasingly unusual. That 1-2-4-5-3 firing sequence works through the VZ5’s diagonal copper-finished quad exhausts to give the engine its naturally distinctive warble. There’s no need to invent a soundtrack when the oily bits already sound this interesting. Five pistons doing their strange little dance thousands of times a minute to make a sound that never gets old.

The power is sent to all four wheels, while torque can be controlled laterally using two independent clutches to vary drive between the rear wheels. It’s constantly being dialled up and down to help the VZ5 put its performance to work through corners with greater stability and precision. In other words, CUPRA hasn’t simply dropped a big engine into a Formentor and gone home for lunch. The hardware around it has been chosen to make the whole car more engaging, agile and exhilarating.

There’s more. Notably, a drift mode. And adaptive DCC offers 15 levels of damping adjustment, while an Akebono six-piston braking system helps bring everything to a stop. Specific 20-inch copper alloy wheels wear wider 255/35 tyres, with the wheelarches expanded to accommodate them. The front and rear bumpers are unique to the VZ5, the nose gets its own splitter with the VZ5 logo engraved into it, and black chrome detailing provides another visual tell. It’s mean.Then there’s the rear. Those standout quad exhausts sit within a revised diffuser, making the VZ5 fairly difficult to mistake for a normal Formentor.

Inside, carbon-backed CUP bucket seats bring some racing influence into the cabin, while a shift-light display flashes red as that five-cylinder closes in on 7,000rpm. But for all the performance hardware and visual theatre, CUPRA hasn’t forgotten that the Formentor is still a car designed to be used every day. There are five doors, five seats and a 410-litre boot, while standard equipment includes a top-view camera and Sennheiser sound system. That combination of excitement and usability is a large part of the appeal.

More important is rarity. Only 4,000 VZ5s will be built globally and, for the first time, right-hand drive is part of the programme, finally opening the door to UK buyers from £64,495 OTR**.

So, if you’re new to CUPRA, the VZ5 is a useful introduction to what the brand is about. It takes an already distinctive crossover and pushes it further: more performance, more attitude, more specific engineering and, crucially, a powertrain with a personality you can hear as well as feel.

So yes, 1-2-4-5-3 is a strange way to count. But it’s a very good way to make a heartbeat.

BOOK YOUR FORMENTOR VZ5 TEST DRIVE HERE

*Performance figures, including power output, acceleration and top speed, are manufacturer test data and provided for comparison purposes only. Actual vehicle performance may vary depending on vehicle specification, road and weather conditions, tyre condition, vehicle load and driving style. Top speed may only be achieved where legally permitted.

**All prices shown are CUPRA's Recommended On The Road Price (ROTR). Actual prices are set by CUPRA Authorised Retailers at their sole discretion, so please check with your chosen retailer for final pricing. The Recommended On The Road Price includes the standard UK delivery charge, number plates, new vehicle registration fee, first year's Vehicle Excise Duty and VAT (calculated at 20%).