CUPRA Formentor VZ5

• Olympic champions and CUPRA ambassadors Saúl Craviotto and Melvyn Richardson talk about their sporting values after their successes in Tokyo 2021
• Speed, power, precision, and performance: their goals in sport, and what they look for in a car
• The CUPRA Formentor VZ5 is the fastest and most powerful model of the range, with 390 hp and a top speed of 250 km/h

Martorell, 21.12.2021 – What defines an Olympic champion and what makes the difference when it comes to standing on the podium? Sprint kayaker Saúl Craviotto, gold medallist at Beijing 2008, silver at London 2012, gold and bronze at Rio de Janeiro 2016, and silver medallist at the last Olympics, and Melvyn Richardson, handball gold medallist at the recent Tokyo Games, know this well. “It’s every athlete’s dream to participate in the Olympic Games, and Tokyo was a magical experience” says Melvyn. The two CUPRA ambassadors talk about their values and inspirations that shape their daily lives, and also about what they expect when they get behind the wheel of a car like the CUPRA Formentor VZ5. Check out what they have to say.

-Gold in speed. “Only a few tenths of a second separates first from last in an Olympic final. In my sport, speed makes the difference between success and failure” says Saúl. “Our ultimate goal is to be faster than our opponents” he continues. For this reason, the Spanish kayaker expects the same from his car and “the CUPRA Formentor VZ5 is a perfect match.” Its name is no coincidence: inspired by the word ‘veloz’ (high speed), the VZ5 accelerates to 100 km/h in just 4.2 seconds and can reach a top speed of 250 km/h.

-Gold in power. “Handball is a fast-paced, action-packed sport, so you need power in the one-on-one, in the attack and in the shot” Melvyn explains. He adds: “In my case, power is synonymous with explosiveness.” He also feels this challenger sentiment in the VZ5 which, thanks to its five-cylinder engine and 390 hp output, emits the most powerful roar in the entire CUPRA range.

-Olympic precision. “Precision is what won us the silver medal in Tokyo. Our team of four kayakers needed maximum synchronisation and we delivered – it was the dream race” says Saúl. “That’s why we always train for precision in performance. A small mistake at the start, a poor paddle stroke, can knock you out of a final” he adds. In a car, “precision is also vital, in brake response, throttle response, cornering grip…” Melvyn notes. Thanks to its innovative technology, the VZ5 harnesses this precision in its customised set-up options, which can be used to control suspension or steering according to the driver’s needs at any given moment.

-Making a difference. “Elite athletes always strive to deliver the best performance” says Melvyn. “At the end of the day, elite sport and motorsport are similar, you have to stand out from the crowd, and I see that in the originality of CUPRA” he adds. “Driving a VZ5 is spectacular, I feel like I’m up against myself, because we both have sportiness in our DNA” says Saúl. “It’s difficult to put into words, you have to experience it to understand” he concludes.