Cupra Born due here early 2023

VOLKSWAGEN Group Australia has confirmed its battery-electric Cupra Born will enter production at the end of this year and arrive in local showrooms early next year (2023).

Cupra brand CEO and president Wayne Griffiths said the Spanish light SUV embodied the visual and dynamic aesthetic of the brand and was likely to become a hit with Australian buyers.

"Last year in Munich I expressed my determination to get the Cupra Born to Australia as soon as possible," said Mr Griffiths.

"I can tell you this morning that Cupra's first fully electric model – and European Car of the Year finalist – will go into production for Australia in the last quarter of this year and will start deliveries early in 2023.

"Already a sales success in Europe, the Cupra Born is a car that in its every aspect embodies the visual and dynamic aesthetic that sets our brand apart. This car is set to be the impulse for a new generation of Aussie car lovers and to prove that performance and electrification can be a perfect match.

"As you know, since January we have had three Cupra Borns on your streets running tens of thousands of kilometres of tests, accruing valuable data that is being assessed in Barcelona right now."

Online sales of the initial Cupra range, comprising Ateca, Formentor and Leon models, will commence soon. The Formentor and Leon will offer plug-in hybrid variants within their respective ranges, but the Born will arrive as the Spanish brand’s first pure-electric model.

Cupra Australia director Ben Wilks said some 6500 expressions of public interest had been received by the brand; the majority of which (2900) were for the Formentor range, with the Born second on 1800 enquiries.

"This is a remarkable response to a brand that is entirely new to Australia and is barely four years old," said Mr Wilks. "To secure Born production at a time of unprecedented global supply challenges demonstrates Cupra's commitment to Australia."

In Europe, the Born is offered with a choice of 110kW or 150kW electric motors driving the rear wheels via a single-speed transmission. Power is drawn from a choice of 45kWh or 58kWh liquid-cooled lithium-ion battery packs offering a driving range of up to 420km (WLTP). Furthermore, the model is available with an e-Boost package which ups output to 170kW and storage to 77kWh, extending driving range to 540km (WLTP).

Cupra says the Born can deliver 100km of driving range with as little as seven minutes of charge via a 125kW charging point, and its battery can be replenished to 80 per cent capacity in around 35 minutes.

With an environmental focus inside and out, the Born uses upholstery made from Seaqual yarn – a material made from upcycled marine plastics. The cabin is also furnished with a broad array of up-to-the-minute technology offerings, including a range of downloadable apps, safety and service features, and remote access.

Riding on VAG’s Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukasten (or MEB) architecture, the Born measures 4322mm in length, 1809mm in width and 1537mm in height. The model rides on a 2765mm wheelbase with MacPherson strut (front) and multi-link (rear) suspension and alloy wheel options ranging in size from 18 to 20 inches diameter. Cupra says the models offers “almost perfect“ 50:50 front-to-rear weight distribution.

It also includes such features as multi-mode dynamic chassic control, semi-autonomous driving capabilities, AEB, and traffic-sign recognition.

Mr Wilks said local pricing and specification for the Born would be confirmed shortly.