It started as Seat and was called el-Born (name of a neighborhood in Barcelona), but it has ended up being Cupra and simplifying its name so that it is easier to identify in other markets. Because that is the aspiration of the Cupra Born: to conquer, conquer and conquer. Those from here and even those from the antipodes (it will land in Australia in 2022).
This 4.32-meter electric compact will be the one that will put Cupra on the map of many more markets around the world. And the one that will inaugurate electromobility in its origin, Spain (although it will not be manufactured here). The Cupra Born will be the first Spanish electric car of great production … and it arrives (in the last quarter of the year) with more aspirations than ever.
It started as Seat and was called el-Born (name of a neighborhood in Barcelona), but it has ended up being Cupra and simplifying its name so that it is easier to identify in other markets. Because that is the aspiration of the Cupra Born: to conquer, conquer and conquer. Those from here and even those from the antipodes (it will land in Australia in 2022).
This 4.32-meter electric compact will be the one that will put Cupra on the map of many more markets around the world. And the one that will inaugurate electromobility in its origin, Spain (although it will not be manufactured here). The Cupra Born will be the first Spanish electric car of great production … and it arrives (in the last quarter of the year) with more aspirations than ever.
Above the Volkswagen ID.3
Logically, it is the ‘Spanish version’ of the Volkswagen ID.3 … but just looking at the photos it is obvious that there is a lot of change in it. Aesthetically it gives an important ‘role’ to his brother. The new front, much sharper, without rounding, and more aggressive, gives it much more character.
If we look at it from the side, the Cupra Born scores points with the huge 20 “wheels (18″ standard) and the very marked side skirts … and if we go behind, we find a huge rear diffuser, which will be present in all the versions. In addition, the finish of the car, with the rear lights attached horizontally, a signature of the Seat family, leaves a very good aesthetic taste in the mouth.
Sporty indoor environment
If inside the Born already denotes character, inside the same thing happens again. When you open the doors, the first thing that catches your attention is its bucket seats (which, in addition, include among its recycled plastic materials collected directly from the oceans).
Regarding Volkswagen, we also see here that the treatment that Cupra has given to its version is more careful. In addition to the touches of color (copper for the details and blue for the dashboard trims, roof, and door panels) we find a central molding, in gray, with decorative elements, a center console with a lid – much better than the Volkswagen – and, in addition, covered with the same material as the seats, or a sports steering wheel identical to that of the Combustion Cupra.
Of course, ‘structural’ elements are maintained, such as the control rod located in the right area of the digital instrument panel to select modes D or B -the latter to increase retention- that remains a little behind if we want to go ‘playing ‘with this factor to recover energy.
A range with many variants
In the technical section, as expected, there are not many differences with the ID.3. The Born range will be established around three electric motor powers (150, 204, and 231 hp) and three battery capacities (45 kWh, 58 kWh, and 77 kWh). And, as a reference in terms of performance, its acceleration from 0 to 100 km / h in 6.6 seconds.
The most accessible version (with 150 hp and 45 kWh battery) will offer an initial range of 350 km (the data in this section are still provisional), while the combination of 204 hp engine and 58 kWh battery already goes to 420.
From here we enter unexplored territory by the ID.3 and exclusive to Born. The e-Boost pack can be added, which offers an extra 20 kW of power (thus jumping to 231 hp), maintaining the 58 kWh battery (we will obtain better performance and the autonomy practically does not change) and, in addition, it has improved brakes and tires 19 “. If to this configuration we add the e-Boost pack with the Range pack (which raises the battery capacity to 77 kWh) we will jump over the 500 kilometers of range (545).
Cupra Born versions
- Engine 150 hp – Battery 45 kWh – Autonomy 350 km
- Engine 204 hp – Battery 58 kWh – Autonomy of 425 km
- Engine 231 hp – Battery 58 kWh – Autonomy 420 km
- Engine 231 hp – battery 77 kw / h – Autonomy of 545 km
Cupra has not detailed for the moment the charging times for its Born, but it does announce that it will admit powers of up to 125 kW, so that is fast charging we can recover enough energy to travel a hundred kilometers in just seven minutes and 35 we could go from 5% to 80% capacity in our battery.
Chassis
We could not verify this – we will still have to wait a bit to prove it – but the guys from Cupra made it clear to us that Born is going to also capture its aggressive look on the road.
The Cupra Born will have dynamic control of the chassis (DCC) with a specific set-up for the model of the Spanish brand. In addition, its height is lowered both in the front axle (-20 mm) and in the rear (-15 mm) compared to the Volkswagen ID.3.
There will also be an ESC Sport function for stability control that will allow the pilot to ‘play more’ (it can even be disconnected), who will be able to configure the Born character according to four predefined driving modes: Range, Comfort, Individual … and also the Cupra, the sportiest (which in the most powerful versions ‘releases’ the additional 20 kW that add up to the total 231 hp).
Cupra Born Equipment
The connectivity will be one of the elements most important in the provision of the Born, already we have advanced to take a picture of digital watches that will be combined with a central screen of 12 inches (standard on all versions and similar to the Formentor ).
Among the most interesting details that we will find, it is worth highlighting the augmented reality head-up display (which projects the information on a larger surface of the windshield), the mobile connection system (either Apple or Android) wirelessly (there will also be a platform charging without cables) or the vocal assistant that will allow us to handle functions orally and that is activated with a very Spanish “Hello, hello”.
Among the assistance systems, it is worth mentioning the active cruise control, which combined with the assistant that prevents inadvertent lane departure and the side assistant allows us to enjoy semi-automated driving even at high speed.
The Cupra Born will also offer a traffic signal reader, exit alert -if a vehicle, pedestrian, or cyclist comes when opening the door-, a pre-collision system …
Altogether, and still static, the Born has left us a pleasant sensation. It is a car with a lot of packaging. The large wheels, the reinterpretation of the front, and a very aggressive rear give it a look that could perfectly pass for a combustion car.
