This striking new hot-hatch is the CUPRA Born - the first all-electric vehicle from SEAT’s performance off-shoot.
And if you’re looking for a car with ‘unconventional character’, as CUPRA calls it, as well as the option of some decent performance, a Born could be an extremely tempting lease package.
The Born is based on the Volkswagen Group’s ‘MEB’ platform, aka a modular platform for electric cars, and so counts the VW ID.3 as a sibling.
But while the ID.3 is a bit vanilla, you can’t accuse the copper-accented, shark-nosed Born of being a shrinking violet.
The sculpted bonnet is designed to ‘bend the light and bring the front end to life’, while there’s a sporty stance all round.
The C-pillar is created using a three-dimensional, textured surface finished in a contrast colour to give the impression of what CUPRA calls a ‘floating roofline’ The Born can also be specced with chunky 20 inch rims to really help it stand out from the crowd.
There’s a rear spoiler as well as a body-coloured, integrated diffuser that improve aerodynamics while also adding a touch of aggression to proceedings.
And there’s also eye-catching puddle lamp that shine down from the side mirrors, displaying the CUPRA logo onto the floor in front of you.
It’s a similar story inside the Born, where a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen is standard on all models, bucket seats add some sporting character, and a 385 litre boot means the Born is also practical.
There’s a liberal use of recycled materials throughout the cabin, adding to the Born’s eco credentials, with the seats made from upcycled marine litter.
It’s a car that’s also generously loaded with tech, including full phone connectivity, an augmented reality head-up display and assistance systems like Predictive Adaptive Cruise Control, Traffic Sign Recognition, and Pre-Crash Assist all fitted as standard.
Then there are lots of different powertrains to choose from.
If you want the biggest range possible, you’ll want to opt for the 77kWh battery, which has power of 231 PS, will travel for an ID.3-rivalling 335 miles between charges, and which will sprint from 0-62mph in just 7.0 seconds flat.
If you want to trim even more time off that 0-62mph dash, go for the 58kWh battery. Here a lighter weight married to the same power of 231 PS equates to a 0-62mph time of just 6.6 seconds.
And if you need a Born on a budget, there’s a 45kWh battery iteration, with power of 150 PS, a range of 211 miles before it needs plugging in, and a still-decent 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds.
Werner Tietz, Executive Vice-President for Research and Development at CUPRA and SEAT, says:
“The CUPRA Born integrates a very advanced electric powertrain technology, helping to deliver an exhilarating drive from CUPRA’s first all-electric vehicle.
“The CUPRA Born proves that electrification and performance are a perfect match, it’s a game-changer in the market, contributing to the reduction in CO2 but without any compromises – it’s environmentally conscious but at the same time dynamic and exciting.”
UK pricing for CUPRA Born will be announced in quarter four 2021 with deliveries starting at the beginning of 2022.
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