What's all this about?

Cupra, the badge once fixed to go-faster Seats, is now producing cars of its own, and here’s the latest effort. It’s called the Tavascan, and it’s an all-electric coupe-SUV based on the same architecture as the Volkswagen ID.5 and the Skoda Enyaq Coupe. Except this one comes with a few of its own little tweaks.

It's a striking thing to look at...

Isn’t it? The Tavascan looks remarkably similar to the Tavascan concept car of 2019, complete with the illuminated grille and sharp ‘shark nose’ front end. There are triangle designs in the lights at the front and rear, and the overall shape is designed to be aerodynamic, with intakes channelling the air to cool the car.

Cupra has also blacked out the A-pillars, claiming the design creates a visor-style effect from the windscreen and side windows. And there are alloy wheels measuring 19-21 inches in diameter with covers to reduce turbulence and increase efficiency.

How about the inside?

The whole interior desgin is centred around the ‘spine’ that joins the dashboard to the centre console. It gives the Tavascan a more modern interior design, accentuated by the massive central touchscreen. Measuring 15 inches from corner to corner, the screen has configurable widgets to help drivers access the systems they use most. After all, buttons are few and far between in there.

Recycled materials, however, are more common. Customers can choose whether they go for a textile upholstery, made with 90 per cent recycled materials, or a microsuede cabin with 50 per cent recycled material.

What’s more, the Tavascan comes with the augmented reality head-up display lifted from the ID.5 and Enyaq. A so-called augmented reality system allows the data from the driver assistance tech and satellite navigation to be projected onto the windscreen, making it look as though they’re projected onto the real world.

What's under the skin?

Tavascan customers will get a choice of two powertrains, but both are essentially variations on the same theme. The basis of both the Endurance and VZ models, as they are called, is a 77kWh battery that feeds an electric motor mounted at the rear. In the case of the Endurance model, it sends 286hp to the rear wheels, allowing the car to squeeze 341 miles of range from its battery.

The VZ model, on the other hand, adds a second electric motor at the front, giving the car 340hp and all-wheel drive. But the battery remains the same, so the range suffers slightly as a result. Nevertheless, the all-wheel-drive VZ is capable of more than 300 miles on a single charge.

Motors aside, however, the Tavascan is largely the same as the Enyaq and ID.5 underneath, with the same platform and the same basic suspension setup. But Cupra claims to have built on that, saying the Tavascan will take electirification and performance to “the next level”.

But as well as being fast on the road, Cupra says the Tavascan will charge quickly, too. With 135kW charging on offer, charging from 10 to 80 per cent can be done in less than half an hour, while at maximum charging speed, the car will add more than 60 miles of range in just seven minutes.

Of course, most customers will likely charge at home, and Cupra also has them covered. The company is offering a selection of domestic ‘wallbox’ chargers, with a basic Cupra Charger “plug-and-play” system, as well as the Cupra Charger Connect that offers a wi-fi connection, allowing customers to remotely control when the battery charges. There’s also a Cupra Charger Pro wallbox option that combines wi-fi technology with 4G connectivity.

What has Cupra said about it?

“The Cupra Tavascan builds on an evolved electric powertrain technology used in the company’s first all-electric car, the Cupra Born, to produce an exhilarating drive whether in all or rear-wheel drive versions,” said Werner Tietz, executive vice-president for research and development at Cupra. “Cupra’s first all-electric SUV coupe is offering a unique driving experience, showing a reinvented sportiness in electric vehicles.”

How much will it cost?

There’s no indication of pricing as yet, but we expect the Tavascan to be broadly in line with the Skoda Enyaq Coupe and VW ID.5.

James Fossdyke - 21 Apr 2023