Cupra Australia will lastly carry the 240kW Born VZ electrical scorching hatch early in 2026, although clients anticipating much less highly effective variants must wait just a little longer.
Talking with CarExpert, head of product for Cupra Australia – Jeff Shafer – stated the high-performance Born will arrive in the beginning of subsequent 12 months (regardless of being earmarked for late-2025 as not too long ago as March), whereas lesser variants might arrive with an incoming mid-life facelift.
“We’re within the means of planning the remainder of the Born vary past the VZ – even for the VZ we’re nonetheless locking in a few last particulars,” Mr Shafer stated.
“There’s a facelift coming quickly, so we’re trying on the timing when it comes to whether or not it is sensible to carry [lower variants] again within the shorter time period, or watch for the [mid-life update].”
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Requested about how the ever-changing EV market has impacted Cupra’s strategy, notably almost about re-introducing the Born, Mr Shafer stated the Spanish model will deal with driver enjoyment and worth to face out from growing competitors from the likes of rising Chinese language manufacturers.
“Cupra doesn’t aspire to be all issues to all individuals… so we actually wish to ensure that we’re bringing vehicles which can be interesting to individuals’s feelings, and are above all enjoyable to drive,” Mr Shafer stated.
“With the Born, we obtained quite a lot of constructive suggestions on the experience and dealing with, and the way there was a sense of high quality. I believe these facets take the VZ as much as one other stage when it comes to the responsiveness.
“Bringing Tavascan into the market, within the EV area simply ensuring you’ve obtained a product that doesn’t comply with the others [is important].
“[Pricing] is all the time a problem, and we don’t take something without any consideration within the Australian market. It did transfer in a short time, so we’re attempting to verify we’re bringing a product that has the proper positioning, presents worth that clients can see.
“But additionally, ensuring that the factors of distinction that we imagine we have now in design, experience and dealing with, and calibration of our help techniques can be communicated so that individuals perceive what they’re getting for his or her cash,” Mr Shafer continued.
“It’s vital that individuals really feel like they’ve worth. So we’re not all the time chasing the most affordable value level, I don’t assume that’s ever our place, however you undoubtedly should have a worth that individuals can see and admire.”
The Cupra Born VZ incorporates a single rear-mounted electrical motor producing 240kW of energy and 545Nm of torque, will increase of 70kW and 235Nm over the usual 170kW Born that is now bought out in Australia.
Consequently, the Born VZ can dash from 0-100km/h in 5.6 seconds, and attain a high pace of 200km/h. Different modifications below the pores and skin of the VZ embody a barely bigger 79kWh battery pack and a brand new DCC Sport chassis setup that features revised dampers, anti-roll bars and rear springs.
Exterior upgrades are restricted to wider tyres and a alternative of two 20-inch alloy wheel designs (globally): both solid or with 3D copper inserts. Two new colors be a part of the palette: Midnight Black and Darkish Forest inexperienced.
Contained in the cabin, the VZ is prepared for the racetrack with bucket seats completed in recycled supplies. The tech has additionally been improved over the bottom automotive, with the fitment of an upsized 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that options Cupra’s newest working system.
The early 2026 launch timing is one more delay for the flagship Born, which was initially due in Could 2025, then pushed again to late 2025 as not too long ago as March. This implies when it arrives, will probably be virtually a 12 months late.
Little question one purpose for the delay is the Spanish model’s native technique of giving every new mannequin “the proper time within the solar”, as communicated by Cupra Australia’s former director Ben Wilks earlier this 12 months.
“It’s vital to essentially roll these out responsibly when it comes to timing. Every of those fashions wants the proper time within the solar,” Mr Wilks advised CarExpert in March.
“These should not essentially delays from a manufacturing facility perspective, however quite construction and order from our perspective.”
Nevertheless, since Mr Wilks’ feedback launch timings for a number of new fashions have modified once more. The facelifted Formentor and warmer Born VZ electrical hatch had been each initially due on sale right here earlier than the top of 2025, and now each are coming early subsequent 12 months.
Keep tuned to CarExpert for all the newest Cupra Born updates
