“I never imagined that I’d see a CUPRA Formentor riding the waves, but in fact we were able to create one” says CUPRA’s head of Color&Trim Concept&Strategy Francesca Sangalli proudly as she sails through the port of Barcelona aboard the De Antonio Yachts Formentor D28. The asphalt has turned into water for this showboat inspired by the CUPRA Formentor VZ5 that conveys all the design of this model to a high-performance yacht, developed in collaboration with the Barcelona-based shipbuilder De Antonio Yachts.
Born to be CUPRA. In its aim to create a universe of experiences around the car that represents the brand’s lifestyle, CUPRA also decided to conquer the seas. “We’re a Barcelona brand and we have a very strong connection with the sea” says Sangalli. For this they found the perfect sailing partners, the Barcelona shipyard De Antonio Yachts, with whom they developed a showboat inspired by the Formentor VZ5. “This type of boat, its dimensions and design had all the characteristics to fit and combine with CUPRA as a brand. When you look at them together, you perceive the same code, the same feeling” adds the designer.
A challenge to bring two worlds together. The CUPRA design team had a challenge ahead of them: “We wanted to bring the essence of the Formentor VZ5 to the yacht, but we had to take into account some aspects that we don’t deal with when designing a car, such as salt water or the effects of the sun. For example, we couldn’t use the same materials that we use in an interior. Fortunately, we have the latest technologies and we went a step further by designing new fabrics” Sangalli explains. They created a vegan leather that is resistant to the effects of ultraviolet rays and tested the most sophisticated materials for the yacht, such as hardwoods, carbon fibre and metallic elements featured in the CUPRA Formentor VZ5. “It was great learning from each other while designing this yacht. There are many surfaces and details on this boat, and we achieved the perfect balance between the two worlds with the combination of materials” says Mariano Suñé, designer at De Antonio Yachts.
The DNA of the Formentor VZ5. To convey all the performance and essence of the exclusive model, we used exactly the same colours and finishes that characterise the first model 100% designed and developed for the brand. “We painted the hull Petrol Blue Matt and the result is spectacular. We combined it with Black Chrome and we applied our flagship Copper colour to some details to give it a very sophisticated touch, with a motoring feel that you don’t usually see in shipbuilding” says Sangalli. The hull features a unique flair with diagonal lines in a different finish. “We’ve achieved a visual effect of movement that gives the yacht the same powerful character as the CUPRA Formentor VZ5” according to Suñé.
By land and sea with the same spirit. This showboat is a unique design exercise that lays the groundwork for the launch of a special limited edition of the D28 in CUPRA’s iconic colours and finishes, which will go on sale at the end of 2021. The De Antonio Yachts D28 Formentor, inspired by our CUPRA Formentor VZ5, is just the first project by both brands. Committed to sustainability, CUPRA and De Antonio Yachts are currently exploring the creation of a yacht powered by hybrid propulsion for next year.
CUPRA Formentor VZ5
390 hp output
Five-cylinder engine
20-inch wheels
Copper Akebono brakes
Carbon fibre diffuser
Quad copper exhaust tailpipes
De Antonio Yachts D28 Formentor
400 hp output
Top speed 40 knots
7.99 metres in length
