As anticipated by the el-Born Concept earlier this
year at the Geneva Motor Show, Seat will get its own version of the VW ID.3
compact electric hatch. Whether or not it will retain the el-Born name is unknown at this
point, but judging from these first spy shots of the production model, one
thing is certain: it will indeed be the ID.3’s Spanish twin.
There will be some design changes, of course, as
illustrated by the el-Born Concept which is nothing more than a
thinly-disguised version of the production car. Besides the Seat badging, the
EV will also feature distinct headlights and taillights (the latter united by
an illuminated strip), more aggressive-looking bumpers, a “floating roof”
treatment for the C-pillars, and different alloys.
Overall, the el-Born will feature a sportier and
more emotional design, as befitting the Spanish brand. While we don’t have
photos of the interior, we don’t expect any significant changes compared to the
study. hen the el-Born launches in 2020, it will use the same MEB modular
electric platform as the VW ID.3, which means it will offer a range-topping
64-kWh battery pack making possible a driving range of 420 km.
Thanks to compatibility with up to 100kW DC supercharging, it can be charged from
0 to 80 percent capacity in as little as 47 minutes.
The battery will power to a rear-mounted electric
motor rated at 204 PS and 310 Nm of
instantly-available torque. Driving the rear wheels via a single-speed
transmission, the motor will enable the EV to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and reach an electronically limited top speed of 161 km/h. For now, it remains unclear whether Seat’s electric hatch will also
be available with the 58-kWh and 45-kWh batteries or the 147 hp entry-level electric motor from the Volkswagen ID.3.
