2024 Cupra Tavascan

Bold styling readies VW underpinnings for battle with Ioniq 5 and EV6

CUPRA TAKES ON KOREA

Few if any saw it coming: the Hyundai family is in many ways setting the pace for mainstream electric cars. Not always in terms of performance, but definitely when it comes to style. The current Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5 and Genesis GV60, all from the same gene pool, have found three different ways to be modern, stylish and hugely appealing in the booming family electric market.

The VW brand went early into EV, and has hit plenty of obstacles in doing so. But the rest of the VW family of brands is rapidly finding ways to succeed where the mothership has struggled. While Skoda, with the Enyaq, has gone big on practicality, Cupra is banking on style. Its first all-electric car, the Born, is a neat riff on the ID theme. The UrbanRebel concept previews a 2025 electric supermini. And then there’s this. Currently a concept, but one with a lot of detail and a promise it will go into production looking a lot like this, probably in 2024, it’s the Tavascan coupe SUV. And it looks ready to steal back some of the customers lured away by the practicality, performance and above all looks of the Korean alternatives.

The concept has a 77kWh battery feeding an electric motor at each end, with a peak power output of 301bhp and all-wheel drive. It’s a roomy five-seater that is likely to share much of its hardware with the GTX version of the VW ID. 4, which would mean a range of more than 300 miles and a starting price above £50,000.

Although the Cupra line-up has the emphasis on electrification, it won’t be going EV-only just yet. A larger SUV, the Terramar, is due to be launched in 2025, with hybrid power. The UrbanRebel, also due to join the range in 2025, is pure-electric and front-wheel drive; expect a version of the UrbanRebel from Cupra’s parent brand Seat, too.

NEED TO KNOW

• What is it? Electric-only big brother for the Born
• Tech? Like an edgier-looking VW ID. 4 GTX; twin e-motor, all-wheel-drive
• Aimed at? Families that favour style
• When can I have one? 2024 currently looking more likely than 2023

Cupra can right some VW Group wrongs