The optional E-Boost Performance Pack enables the electric hatch to surpass its Volkswagen sibling model.
As a follow-up last year’s concept vehicle, SEAT’s Cupra performance brand is introducing the Born electric car hatchback in production. The compact EV is a sister model to the Volkswagen ID.3. It hides its Wolfsburg roots well by being more aggressive.
Cupra Born’s front-end is more sporty than the ID. It features sharper-looking headlights with large intakes, and a sleeker design. The back has a large LED light bar that gives the impression of a bigger car. Vertical fins, which Cupra refers to as part of an integrated diffuser, also give the impression of a larger car.
Cupra’s first electric car will come with six different alloy wheel designs, ranging in size from 18 to 20inches. Shoes will feature aero elements and copper inserts. The C-pillar’s textured design appears more sophisticated than the ID.3 and features honeycomb-patterned foil. This is another attempt to distinguish the MEB-based cousins. Six colors will be available at launch.
It will appear familiar at first glance but there are key differences. The all-electric Born has a 12-inch touchscreen (10-inch for the ID.3)) and sports seats with integrated headrests. The steering wheel, however, has a few extra buttons that are reserved for the Cupra model.Cupra BornVW ID.3.The new Born is a rear-wheel drive affair, much like the ID.3. To match the ID.3 Pure Performance model, the single electric motor at the rear delivers 148 horsepower (110kilowatts) as well as 310 Newton-meters (229-pound-feet). The same 45-kWh battery packs provides a range of 211 miles (340 km) and a time of 8.9 seconds to go from 0-60 mph (100 km/h).
You can upgrade to a more powerful version with 201 horsepower (such as the ID.3 Performance), and get a larger 58-kWh lithium battery. The torque remains the same at 310 Nm (229lb-ft), but with the extra horsepower, you can sprint in 7.3 seconds and the battery can go for 261 miles (420km).
Cupra will offer the Born with an EBoost performance package that increases the Born’s output to 228 hp (170 kW). The extra electric muscle, which is not available for the ID.3, helps the zero-emissions hatchback sprint in just 6.6 seconds. The 58-kWh battery has the same range as the model without the EBoost pack at 261 miles (420km).
Combining a stronger electric motor with a larger battery of 77-kWh can increase the range to 336 miles (540 km). The disadvantage is that the heavier battery can slow down performance. For example, the sprint takes seven seconds. The E-Boost pack can be combined with the 58-kWh to get the best performance.
What has Cupra been up to?
The VW Group demonstrated that the MEB platform can support a dual-motor AWD hatchback formula in the ID.X. However, the hot hatch with 329 horsepower remains a concept. The one-off creation is 441 pounds lighter (200 kg) than a regular ID.3, and therefore takes it to 62 mph (100 km/h).
The Cupra Born will be produced at Zwickau, Germany’s VW Group factory. Since November 2019, the ID.3 has been rolling off of the assembly line.