All-electric CUPRA Born is the brand's first EV and the evil twin of the VW ID.3
If Volkswagen’s ID.3 isn’t quite the electric Golf GTI you were hoping for, sister-brand CUPRA may have just the performance EV for you. The Born joins CUPRA’s line-up as its first all-electric vehicle, and the first that will be delivered to customers with a net CO2 neutral certification.
Four battery variants, 45, 58 and 77 kWh, outputs ranging from 110 kW (150PS) to 170 kW (231PS)
Headline 77 kWh variant achieves 540 km (335 mile) WLTP range
125 kW DC fast charging with 100 kms (62 miles) range added in seven minutes
Dynamic chassis control, wide tyres, sports suspension
European pricing to be announced later in 2021, ahead of 2022 customer deliveries
If Volkswagen’s ID.3 isn’t quite the electric Golf GTI you were hoping for, sister-brand CUPRA may have just the performance EV for you.
The Born joins CUPRA’s line-up as its first all-electric vehicle, and the first that will be delivered to customers with a net CO2 neutral certification. Taking its name from the Barcelona neighbourhood of El Born, the Volkswagen Group hopes this will be CUPRA’s first global vehicle.
Overtly sporty design
The Cupra’s design is certainly arresting, and that now-signature copper-coloured trim works well with darker colours. Visually, it’s a lot busier — and more aggressive — than its VW ID.3 cousin, but shares a similar profile and dimensions thanks to the modular platform architecture and shared battery module under the floor.
Full-LED headlights make an impact with their light signature, and sharp lines accentuate the body to create ‘a sense of movement’ according to the company.
There’s textures everywhere, from the copper trim, to the body panels, to the C-pillar with its three-dimensional patterns. It’s not overdesigned in our view, but rather just a bit interesting.
Wheels range from 18-20 inches depending on specification level, demonstrating that CUPRA is willing to sacrifice a little bit of efficiency for looks and performance.
The CUPRA Born’s dimensions are almost identical to VW’s ID.3 - 1,809mm wide, 1,537mm high with a wheelbase of 2,767mm. Overall length is 4,322mm, 60mm longer than the ID.3.
CUPRA amps up the sportiness over VW’s ID.3. Images: CUPRA
Interior raises the game over VW’s ID.3
Volkswagen’s MEB platform provides many opportunities for flexible product packaging, and while there are some shared components and materials with the ID.3, CUPRA’s design team has flexed their creative licence.
The copper-coloured theme extends to the interior trim pieces, breaking up slabs of black and grey. The architecture of the ID.3’s interior is visible, but CUPRA adds additional drive-mode steering wheel controls, sporty bucket seats finished in yarn spun from upcycled marine plastics, and unique infotainment display graphics.
Reminiscent of VW’s ID.3, with a sportier stance.
Three battery choices, up to 540km range
The most affordable CUPRA Born will offer a 110 kW (150 PS) engine, with 310 Nm of torque, 45 kW of battery capacity, and a very usable WLTP range of 340 km (211 mi). Like the Volkswagen ID.3, the Born will use nickel, manganese, cobalt (NMC) cells from LG Chem, at least in the initial stages of market launch until Volkswagen’s planned battery factories become operational.
CUPRA is a young brand, and was launched in 2018. In 2020, CUPRA achieved 11% growth over 2019, with 27,400 vehicles sold. The Volkswagen Group has plans to take CUPRA worldwide, and Australia will actually become the first non-European market for the brand when the petrol Formentor SUV arrives in 2022.
Mercedes Benz EQS and Audi Q4 electric vehicles to debut this week
It’s a big week for German manufacturers Mercedes Benz and Audi, as the automakers from Stuttgart and Ingolstadt premiere two important electric vehicles in their respective line ups.
It’s a big week for German manufacturers Mercedes Benz and Audi, as the automakers from Stuttgart and Ingolstadt premiere two important electric vehicles in their respective line ups.
Mercedes Benz will be unveiling their flagship electric vehicle, the EQS sedan on April 15, and the company has teased some technical details and some images, we’re still very keen to see the vehicle in all its glory.
You can watch the livestream below at the following times:
15/4/21 - 6pm CEST
4/15/21 - 10am PDT
16/4/21 - 2am AEST
Audi’s Q4 E-Tron is an important vehicle for the Ingolstadt manufacturer, as it is the first mid-size SUV based on the new modular electric MEB architecture. Again, the automaker has teased plenty of information and images of the Q4 E-Tron, but we can’t wait to see final specifications, colour and trim options. The Q4 E-Tron will go head-to-head with BMW’s iX3 and Tesla’s Model Y, but also with new competitors in the compact to mid-size SUV category. This is the first time South Korean manufacturers are competing in the premium segment with genuinely innovative, class-leading vehicles in the form of Kia’s EV6 and Hyundai’s Ioniq 5 , and we would expect many buyers to be seriously cross-shopping these vehicles when they hit the market.
Audi’s Q4 E-Tron livestream is also available below at the following times:
15/4/21 - 7pm CEST
4/15/21 - 11am PDT
16/4/21 - 3am AEST
2022 Audi Q4 e-tron previewed with 450km range, augmented reality tech
With aspirations to dominate every market segment, the Volkswagen Group is looking to utilise its electric vehicle architecture across multiple brands and vehicle classes. Enter the Q4 e-tron: the first Audi model based on the Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukastenmodular, or modular electric drive toolkit as a literal translation.
Audi reveals pre-production MEB-based 2022 Q4 e-tron
Based on Audi’s Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukastenmodular (MEB) architecture
The smallest e-tron SUV in Audi’s line up at 4,590mm (15.1 ft) long, 1,865 millimeters (6.1 ft) wide, and 1,613 millimeters (5.3 ft) high
Two electric motors with 224 kW (304 PS), 82kWh battery with claimed 450 km (280 mile) range
Fully digital operating concept with augmented reality head-up display
Upholstery materials with recycled polyester
Worldwide reveal set for April 2021
Q4 e-tron spearheads Audi’s compact electric crossover rollout
With aspirations to dominate every market segment, the Volkswagen Group is looking to utilise its electric vehicle architecture across multiple brands and vehicle classes. Enter the Q4 e-tron: the first Audi model based on the Modularer E-Antriebs-Baukastenmodular, or modular electric drive toolkit as a literal translation.
The MEB is designed exclusively for EVs, and already underpins the Volkswagen ID.3 and ID.4, as well as the Škoda Enyaq. It’s flexibility will see use across future Volkswagen family models, including from the Cupra brand.
Q4 e-tron battery and drivetrain
Packing an 82kWh battery likely to be manufactured by LG Chem, the Q4 e-tron should have a WLTP range of 450 km (280 miles) and can be charged up to 125 kW. With two electric motors outputting a combined 224 kW (304 PS), Audi claims a 0-100km/h (0-62 mph) time of 6.4 seconds.
Of course, quattro -all-wheel-drive will be standard, and it’s expected that adaptive air suspension will also be a feature on the Q4 e-tron.
Exterior Styling
My, didn’t Audi’s wrappers have a field day? Graphics aside, the Q4 e-tron has many familiar Audi design cues. Those slim LED headlights with segmented daytime running lights, that single-frame grille (though perhaps it’s time for Audi to ditch this when it serves no function) the pronounced rear wheel arches and angular taillights.
At 4,590mm (15.1 ft) long, it’s around 10cm longer than a Q3, though that may be hard to discern in the metal. Audi will likely be producing a Q4 e-tron Sportback, complete with cut-off plunging roofline.
Technology and Interior
Audi is promoting the technical innovations and interior features of the Q4 e-tron in the lead up to the vehicle’s global reveal. With the latest version of the Audi Multi-Media Interface (MMI), drivers will have a head-up display with augmented reality features that can project important information over objects in the driver’s line of site, similar to technology already deployed by Mercedes-Benz.
The usual passive and active safety features are expected, such as blind spot monitoring, lane-keeping assistant, front collision avoidance and adaptive cruise control with semi-autonomous capabilities.
Audi also claims the Q4 e-tron offers similar exterior dimensions to a Q3 SUV, but with Q5 levels of space on the inside. The luggage compartment provides 520 litres (18.4 cu ft) of space for luggage, and the 2.76 metre (9.1 ft) long wheelbase should provide comfortable foot, knee and legroom for front and rear seat passengers.
It’s nice to see the shift away from leather interiors; to each their own, but leather has a huge environmental footprint, not to mention the ethical issues around animal skin. The Q4 e-tron offers a combination of artificial leather microfiber Dinamica, which looks and feels like suede but is made of 45 percent recycled polyester, sourced from textiles and PET bottles.
We’re expecting the Q4 e-tron to go on sale (in base trim) from $45,000 USD / £50,000 when it is revealed to the public next month. While there’s nothing about this upcoming crossover that appears revolutionary, the combination of the usual Teutonic interior quality with Audi’s contemporary (if predictable) exterior styling should bode well for the MEB-based electric crossover’s sales.
