Volkswagen-owned Cupra has just unveiled its first electric performance vehicle, Born VZ, with a whopping 322 horsepower.
Cupra to launch its first electric performance model
According to the press release, the new Born VZ model is a more powerful version of the Born electric compact car.
It carries the “VZ” suffix, an acronym for “Veloz,” which means “fast” in the Spanish language.
Cupra aims to officially launch the sportier Born VZ as early as the third quarter of the year, with final pricing and UK specifications arriving in the summer.
“The CUPRA Born was a milestone for the brand when we launched the model in 2021 as our first 100% electric vehicle. And it’s delivered exceptionally, with 45,300 units sold last year, an increase of 44.4% compared to the year before. With the CUPRA Born VZ, we will bring even more performance to this model, proving once again that electrification and performance are a perfect match.”
Wayne Griffiths, CUPRA UK CEO
Design
Cupra designed the new Born VZ with a pair of exclusive 20-inch wheels. It includes a forged set with performance tires, enhancing its sportier appearance.
It comes with two new body pain options, including the exclusive Dark Forest and Midnight Black. The model also sports a new “VZ” logo on its tailgate with a dark chrome look to mirror the “Cupra” lettering.
Inside, the Cupra Born VZ offers a couple of exclusive body-hugging seats. The range-topping Born variant also features an upgraded infotainment screen size from just 0.9 to 12.9 inches. In addition, it offers a touch slider to adjust certain settings such as climate and volume.
It also has paddle shifters behind the steering wheel, allowing owners to select from one of three energy recuperation levels.
Technical details
The Cupra Born VZ is a rear-wheel-drive electric hot hatch with a revamped electric motor that yields a maximum output of 322 horsepower and 402 pound-feet (545 Newton-meters) instant torque.
It indicates a notable improvement of 94 horsepower and 235 Nm (173 lb-ft) torque from the prior most powerful Cupra Born variant, e-Boost.
It can apparently accelerate from 0-62 mph (100 km/h) in 5.7 seconds, indicating a full-second reduction from the e-Boost variant owing to its newly unlocked electric power.
In addition, its top speed also increased by a notable 25 mph (40 km/h) to 124 mph (200 km/h).
It also comes with an upgraded battery pack with 79kWh of net capacity (+2kWh) to deliver up to 570km* (335 miles) driving range.
Cupra aims to launch the new Born VZ in the European market in Q3 2024. Its equivalent, Volkswagen ID.3 GTX, is also set to arrive this year, hinting at the competition it may face in the electric performance vehicle segment.
