The Cupra Born is a battery electric compact car/small family car (C-segment) marketed by SEAT through its performance-oriented Cupra marque.[1] Initially unveiled as the SEAT el-Born concept in 2019, the production car was revealed in May 2021 as the Cupra Born.[1] The Born is based on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform and has been manufactured at the same plant in Zwickau, Germany, as the MEB-based Volkswagen ID.3.[1] The car is named after a neighbourhood in Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain.
| Cupra Born | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Overview | |
| Manufacturer | Cupra (SEAT) |
| Also called | Volkswagen ID.3 |
| Production | 2021–present |
| Assembly | Germany: Zwickau (Volkswagen Zwickau-Mosel Plant) |
| Body and chassis | |
| Class | Small family car (C) |
| Body style | 5-door hatchback |
| Layout | Rear-motor, rear-wheel-drive |
| Platform | Volkswagen Group MEB |
| Related | Volkswagen ID.4/ID.5 Škoda Enyaq Audi Q4 e-tron |
| Powertrain | |
| Electric motor | APP 310 permanent magnet brushless motor |
| Transmission | Single speed |
| Battery | 45–77 kWh |
| Electric range | 349–548 km (216.9–340.5 mi) |
| Plug-in charging |
|
| Dimensions | |
| Wheelbase | 2,765 mm (108.9 in) |
| Length | 4,322 mm (170.2 in) |
| Width | 1,809 mm (71.2 in) |
| Height | 1,537 mm (60.5 in) |
Concept
The vehicle was previewed as the SEAT el-Born, which was unveiled in March 2019 Geneva Motor Show.[2] The prototype car was fitted with a 62 kWh battery pack, with a claimed 420 km (261 mi) range (WLTP).[3] It was powered by a 204 PS (150 kW; 201 bhp) electric motor, able to accelerate to 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph) in 7.5 seconds.[3] The battery was compatible with 100kW DC supercharging, and features a thermal management system.[2] It featured driver assistance systems, and was capable of Level 2 Autonomous Driving.[4]
Production version
Production of the Born was confirmed in July 2020, and would be sold under the Cupra sub brand.[1][5][6][7] The production car would have a larger battery pack than the prototype.[8] The car was renamed to Cupra Born in February 2021, therefore dropping the "el-" from the name.[9] It was expected to cost around £40,000, which is noted to be around the price of the higher end models of the Volkswagen ID.3.[10]
The Born had its official premiere in May 2021. It will have two powertrains, a base electric motor at the rear and rear-wheel drive of 110 kW (150 PS; 148 hp), while the most powerful model will have a rear engine of 150 kV / 204 hp and 310 Nm, which will develop 170 kW (231 PS; 228 hp). With Boost Mode, it takes 6.6 seconds for the flagship model to accelerate to 0–100 km/h (0–62 mph).[11]
It will have three battery capacities of 45 kWh for the weakest version and 55 kWh and 77 kWh for the most powerful model. The range will be from 340 to 540 kilometers (370 miles). Charging on a fast charger with up to 80% battery will take 35 minutes, and as Cupra announces, it will cover 100 kilometers in 7 minutes. The interior features a 12.0-inch touchscreen, sports seats with integrated headrests and a head-up display. Equipment also includes adaptive cruise control, Travel Assist system for semi-autonomous driving, traffic sign recognition, automatic braking system, Dynamic Chassis Control Sport suspension. Production will begin in September 2021, while it will appear on the market before the end of the year.[12]
References
- ^ a b c d "CUPRA's first all-electric vehicle is born". seat.co.uk. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ a b "The SEAT el-Born premiere". seat.co.uk. 5 March 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2020.
- ^ a b "New Seat el-Born electric car revealed ahead of Geneva Motor Show 2019 debut". Daily Express. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
- ^ "Seat's 201bhp el-Born is brand's first bespoke EV". Autocar. 1 March 2019. Retrieved 1 March 2019.
- ^ "New Cupra el-Born electric hot hatch offers 310-mile range". whatcar.com. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "New 2021 Cupra El-Born is VW Group's first EV hot hatch". Autocar. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "2021 Cupra El-Born electric car revealed: price, specs and release date". whatcar.com. 29 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "New Cupra el-Born electric car 2020: pictures, specs and details". Driving Electric. 8 July 2020. Retrieved 23 July 2020.
- ^ "Cupra Confirms New Born (Formerly el-Born) Electric Hatchback". InsideEVs. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ van Oostvoorne, Nick Lette; Allen, James (22 February 2021). "'Cupra Born' name confirmed for EV hot hatch: price, specs and release date". carwow.co.uk. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ "Cupra Born Officially Revealed With More Power Than VW ID.3". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
- ^ "New 2022 Cupra Born: hot hatch is Spanish brand's first EV". Autocar. Retrieved 2021-05-25.
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