New Cupra supermini will be all-electric and use VW platform
Cupra has released a teaser image of its forthcoming all-electric supermini. The side profile sketch is the latest glimpse of the Spanish brand’s entry-level EV, which takes its inspiration from UrbanRebel concept revealed at the Munich Motor Show last year.
From the pictures, it’s clear the production model is likely to be much more toned down than the show car. Instead of the huge rear wing there’s a more conservate spoiler, while the rear arch of the concept is less aggressive, as is the front splitter. The roofline is also taller at the back than the concept so it’s possible the new Cupra supermini EV could be a five-door hatch.
Given Cupra’s position as the sportier sub-brand of SEAT, its EV supermini will likely sit below the larger ID.3-based Born and act as a rival to the Alpine R5 and MINI Electric.
The production version of the UrbanRebel concept will utilise the same MEB Entry platform that VW is developing for its new ID supermini, set for launch in 2025.
Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths has previously confirmed that the UrbanRebel concept will form the basis of a new, small electric car from the Spanish brand, and like its VW sibling it’ll also go on sale in 2025.
The Born has a maximum battery capacity of 77kWh and given the new supermini will sit underneath that car it’s likely to be limited to the smaller 45kWh and 58kWh batteries. A focus on performance over its ID competitor will mean it’s likely not to offer as much range as the VW.
Cupra says the UrbanRebel concept has 335bhp on tap, yet it can produce up to 429bhp for short periods through an e-boost facility, delivering a 0-62mph time of just 3.2 seconds. These numbers – and what is likely to be a dual-motor configuration – will be dialled back considerably for the production car, which is unlikely to have more than 200bhp in its most basic, rear-wheel-drive form.
Cupra UrbanRebel concept
Speaking to Auto Express at the concept’s unveiling in the brand’s new Cupra Garage located in the posh shopping district of Munich, Griffiths said, “The car is a deliberate statement. I think there’s a need out there to do a car for the next generation who are really enthusiastic about cars – and that’s what we do at Cupra.
“We do cars that people love, but not necessarily what everyone likes – we like to provoke so this is a provocation, obviously overstating what we will end up doing as a series car. But it’s very close; if you take the tail off the back then you’re very close to where we are on the series design.
“So the Cupra Rebel will stay very rebellious in the series car – it’ll be very sporty. The inspiration will remain on the series car and we will bring that in 2025.”
“Everybody has their own target and position,” said Griffiths. “Cupra’s job is really to conquer the next generation of younger customers – we’re a brand for today and now; a contemporary brand for the next generation who are looking for something really cool, desirable, emotional that has fantastic design and a really sporty and driver-orientated experience.”
And although the UrbanRebel concept has a race car look, Griffiths didn’t rule out taking the car racing when asked if it could be a race car:
“It needs to be – I think so yes,” he said. “Werner Tietz, my vice-president for technical development wants to do it as a race car as well and I will support him. We need to get it into some sort of race format.”
The proportions of the production car are set to be very similar to the concept, with Griffiths promising that it will not be much taller when the batteries are moved under the car from the back where they are positioned in the concept. “We are very close,” he said. “On the length it will be just over four metres but not much taller.”
On price, Griffiths hinted that the production car would cost just over €20,000 when it goes on sale. “Volkswagen is talking around €20,000; with Cupra we’re positioned above the mass market but below the premium market so somewhere in between.”
The profile of the UrbanRacer reveals a very low and short bonnet line, along with an extremely short front overhang – all elements designed to highlight the fact that the vehicle’s proportions have not been compromised by the need to accommodate a combustion engine.
It features a wraparound screen and a ‘floating’ roof graphic that references Cupra’s forthcoming Tavascan SUV, and the front-end treatment also appears to be more than a nod towards that model. The brand also claims that the strong shoulders above the rear wheel arches are a new interpretation of a styling cue from the existing Formentor SUV.
The concept follows this principle and measures up at 4,080mm long, 50mm shorter than SEAT’s current Arona. The show car’s roofline is significantly lower than the compact SUV’s, although it’s likely that at least some of this difference will be down to aggressive, lowered suspension. There’s no rear doors on the UrbanRebel concept, but again, given buyer trends, it seems more likely that the eventual production model will be a five-door vehicle.
The car’s race car interior is set to be replaced with something a lot more comfortable and spacious, with what Griffiths says will be driver-orientated.
“At Cupra we make cars for car lovers and car drivers, so everything will be orientated around the driver – we don’t do big screens for passengers, the big screen is for the driver and the whole console and experience should be orientated towards the driver.
“We’ll do all the autonomous and safety assistance features that people want, but you should always be able to switch it off to have some fun.”
Keyword: New Cupra UrbanRebel teased in design sketch