New-to-market brand Cupra says it considers the Born battery electric hatchback – due before the end of 2022, a few months after its launch trio – to be the “halo” product for its Australian rollout.
The Barcelona-based manufacturer is part of the Volkswagen Group, but will beat both its Volkswagen brand and Skoda stablemates to our market when it comes to launching a first electric car (EV). Talk about getting off to a good start…
It’ll also offer a European alternative to the market’s entry EVs such as the Nissan Leaf and Hyundai Ioniq, as well as the soon-to-be-updated MG ZS EV. It should also undercut slick products like the Tesla Model 3 top-seller and Polestar 2.
Reflective of this fact, as well as with an eye to promotion, the company said this week it would bring three Cupra Born EVs to Australia for about 30,000km of local “testing” ahead of the on-sale date.
The first of these Borns touched down at Sydney airport at the end of 2021, with the company this week putting out an accompanying release with some great local photography.
This will be the first time that time that the Born has been driven outside Europe – where it went on sale last November – with Australia chosen as a pilot market for its planned global expansion.
Cupra Australia Director Ben Wilks reaffirmed its determination to bring the Born EV to market by year’s end.
“Cupra’s conventional and PHEV range will be unique in this country, the perfect line-up for a new brand to challenge the established order,” brand director Ben Wilks said.
“Born is undoubtedly our halo car, one that embodies all of Cupra’s performance and design allure in a zero emissions package.”
Cupra goes on sale locally mid-year with a three model range: the Formentor crossover, Ateca SUV and Leon hatchback. Among these models’ combined 12 variants are two PHEVs in Formentor and Leon form.
Keen on Cupra? Read our previous coverage for all the latest…
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