CUPRA has finally revealed its first fully electric vehicle, called Born.
In the UK it will be offered with three battery choices and four power outputs, with the top-spec model getting 228bhp.
It’s a handsome hatchback with the striking good looks the CUPRA brand is known for. Up front it has small, narrow headlights and a slim front grille that give it a purposeful appearance, while the back is more SUV-like, with its high roofline and chunky bumpers.
Compared with the Volkswagen ID.3 that it shares a platform with, the Born has a more premium approach to the cabin. It gets bucket seats as standard upholstered in recycled marine plastics, as well as a 12-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, with a Beats speaker upgrade on offer.
There are four battery/power output options available, with the entry level model getting a 148bhp motor and 45kWh battery that provides a range of up to 211 miles. The middle option is a 260-mile, 58kWh battery with either a 201bhp or 228bhp motor, while the top version has a 228bhp motor, 77kWh battery and 335-mile range.
All versions have a 310Nm torque rating, while the fastest accelerating model is the 58kWh battery with the 228bhp motor, which can go from 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds. It can add about 60 miles of range in around seven minutes thanks to charging speeds of up to 125kW, too.
CUPRA says it wants its production processes to be eco-friendly, so the Born is delivered ‘net CO2 neutral’. This is achieved through using renewable energy in the supply chain as well as the use of carbon offsetting projects.
Wayne Griffiths, president of CUPRA and SEAT, said: “The CUPRA Born is a game-changer in the electric market and the impulse of the company’s transformation. Delivering stimulating design, instantaneous performance and offering an all-electric range of more than 500 kilometres (311 miles), the CUPRA Born will contribute to reducing global CO2 emissions and meeting European targets.”
UK pricing will be announced in the fourth quarter of 2021, while deliveries are scheduled to begin early next year.