Should CUPRA Become a Genuine Sports Brand?

Once a sporty branch of Seat, CUPRA has taken advantage of the electric revolution to emancipate itself, losing a bit of its DNA in the process.

We can hardly blame CUPRA for not trying everything! In just one week, the Spanish brand lowered the price of its 100% electric Born before unveiling a sporty version. An intelligent way to explore two paths for its future, one of which seems perhaps more relevant to us.

The CUPRA Born, as its design hints, is a redesigned version of the Volkswagen ID.3. More expensive than its German cousin without offering real added value, it logically failed to find its audience, to the point that questions could be raised about its future.

CUPRA, are you there?

The simplification of its range announced a week ago was a commendable effort. But it’s certainly not enough to give a second wind to a car priced the same as a Tesla Model Y, which is also eligible for the Ecological Bonus. The brand’s sporty DNA remains, and this VZ version, for Veloz, aims to stay true to it.

First, there are these figures that send tingles down the right foot. The CUPRA Born VZ uses the same powertrain as the CUPRA Born but increases its power. The 100% electric system now develops 325 hp, a 40% increase over the current version. The torque reaches 545 Nm, which is 75% more than the most powerful version. This concretely translates to a 0 to 100 km/h acceleration in just 5.7 seconds for the CUPRA Born VZ, a second faster than the 230 hp version with the current battery. Additionally, the top speed has been increased and is now limited to 200 km/h, 40 km/h more than the models currently available in the catalog.

Sporty arsenal

But performance doesn’t come at the expense of range, as the CUPRA Born VZ can travel up to 570 km on a single charge. The battery has also been improved and now offers a net capacity of 79 kWh (+2 kWh). The chassis and suspensions have been reworked to accommodate the increased power.

In terms of look, it’s also heading in the right direction with a new exclusive Esterel Green color that pairs very well with CUPRA’s signature copper accents. It shows that pairing green with warm tones is possible without falling into absolute bad taste like Mercedes with its limited edition A 45 S series… These copper tones are also found on two new 20-inch alloy wheels. Inside, you are welcomed by standard CUP Bucket bucket seats, which are also equipped in the CUPRA Formentor VZ5 and the CUPRA Leon VZ CUP.

This Born VZ on paper truly embodies what is expected of a CUPRA. Performance, a look, and especially a story or even a soul. No need to compete with major manufacturers; there are niche markets that are not yet overcrowded where CUPRA could find its place.

The CUPRA Born VZ will be launched in the third quarter of 2024 and will be available to order from June in France. The remaining question is the price of this Iberian tease, because ultimately it is the buyer who determines the success of a model.