The SEAT el-Born is dead, long live the
Cupra el-Born. Seat’s version of the VW ID.3 will become officially available
with Cupra badges, at least for the time being.
Seat’s standalone performance brand will
become the first to offer an electric hot hatch within the VW Group once the
Cupra el-Born goes on sale in 2021. The company didn’t reveal the full
technical specs of the MEB-based EV hatch, only saying that it’s powered by a
77 kWh battery pack and an electric motor of unspecified horsepower driving the
rear wheels.
Thanks to the big battery, the driving
range is estimated at 500 km. Fast-charging compatibility means
that the Spanish EV requires just 30 minutes of charging for 260 km of range.
Cupra says that the el-Born will do 0-50 km/h in 2.9 seconds, but it doesn’t reveal the 0-62 mph time just yet.
However, the carmaker adds that its first electric vehicle will feature an
exclusively developed Dynamic Chassis Control Sport (DCC Sport) to offer a
“superior level of driving dynamics”.
The general shape of the new Cupra el-Born
is understandably similar to that of the VW ID.3, but the Spanish model
features a more aggressive front end, deeper side sills, new wheels, and its
own unique styling touches that include bronze detailing inside and outside.
The interior is also similar to that of
the electric VW, only here it features a new raised center console, a new
steering wheel with Drive Profile Selection and Cupra mode buttons, sporty
bucket seats, and a different material selection. Cupra’s new electric model
will be manufactured at VW’s Zwickau factory alongside the ID.3 and will be
launched in the European market in 2021.
