Cupra to launch el-Born electric car

Cupra has announced the launch of the el-Born, a fully electric car that was initally destined to wear a Seat badge.

Revealed by Seat in concept form at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, the el-Born features an 82kWh battery that provides a range of 310 miles.

It's built on VW's new MEB platform, which also underpins the VW ID3.

The el-Born will now be launched under the Cupra brand, next year, as the VW Group’s first ‘hot’ electric hatch.

Seat, meanwhile, is pouring £4.5bn into electric car research and development over the next five years.

Cupra has given the car a sporty makeover with a more aggressive appearance, lowered suspension and bucket seats, alongside the brand's trademark copper detailing, but its styling is identical to the concept car's.

Cupra says the rear-wheel-drive el-Born will go from 0–31mph in 2.9 seconds, but no other performance specs have been confirmed. 

Charging the el-Born from 0-80% can take as little as 47 minutes using a 100kW rapid charger. Cupra says drivers can expect to add 161 miles in 30 minutes.

Seat’s vice-president for sales and marketing and Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths said: “The Cupra el-Born displays all the genes of the Cupra brand and is the living proof that performance and electrification are a great match. It will allow us to make an important step into the era of electrification, add more sales and increase the contribution margin.”

Order books have also been opened for the Cupra Formentor SUV, the first vehicle developed specifically for Volkswagen Group’s Spanish performance brand. The new SUV features a 310PS, two-litre petrol engine and four-wheel-drive. There is also a 245PS plug-in hybrid version.

The Cupra el-Born is expected to launch in early 2021 with prices around £35,000.