UPDATE, 14/03/2024 – The Cupra Born VZ electric hot hatch has been locked in for an Australian berth in 2025, but just when during the year it will arrive is yet to be confirmed.
Pricing is yet to be confirmed, but the Born VZ is expected to eclipse the existing electric hatchback’s $59,990 before on-road costs price tag.
Our original story continues unchanged below.
21/02/2024 – Cupra is pitched as the more sporting cousin of the entry-level SEAT brand, and with the new Born VZ its first all-electric hatchback is finally living up to the billing.
Unveiled overnight, the Born VZ has a single-motor rear-wheel drivetrain boasting output of 240kW and 545Nm. Cupra claims the Born VZ is capable of completing the 0-100km/h dash in 5.7 seconds, and hitting a top speed of 200km/h, making it the fastest car to date based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB architecture.
Currently the fastest member of the Born family has 170kW/310Nm at its disposal, and requires 7.0 seconds to hit 100km/h.
Cupra has yet to confirm availability of the Born VZ in Australia, but an Australian spokesperson told us, “Born is one of the key parts of our lineup and this next iteration of our exciting rear-wheel drive hot hatchback is something we are looking at very closely for Australia”.
Given the Born VZ will become available in Europe during the third quarter of 2024, we would expect it to arrive on our shores from either late 2024 or early 2025 if it’s given the green light for Australia.
In addition to increased performance, the drivetrain is matched up with a battery pack that has a slightly larger net capacity of 79kWh, up from 77kWh on the regular long-range battery.
Going faster is great, but it’s not worth much unless it’s accompanied by improved handling. To that end, the Born VZ has a new chassis setup — marketed as DCC Sport — that includes updated damper valve settings and spring designs up front, revised anti-roll bars, and new dampers and springs at the rear.
There’s also new “sportier” software and hardware for the steering system, and “improved brake pedal feeling”. While Cupra says the VZ has a more “robust rear brake”, from the images it seems as though hottest Born still has a drum-only setup at the back.
Paddles fitted behind the steering wheel allow the driver to choose from three levels of regenerative braking.
External changes are limited, with the key highlights being dark chrome badging, wider tyres, and a choice of two 20-inch alloy wheel designs: either forged or with 3D copper inserts.
For the VZ, two colours have been added to the Born’s palette: midnight black, and an exclusive shade of dark green named Dark Forest.
Inside the cabin there are bucket seats, lifted from the Cupra Formentor VZ5 and Cupra Leon VZ Cup, and fitted with upcycled yarn and majority recycled polyester.
There’s also an ambient lighting system that can communicate certain things to occupants, including the car’s state of charge, its proximity to outside objects, and when calls are coming in.
The infotainment touchscreen now measures 12.9-inches diagonally, up 0.9 inches, features the company’s latest operating system, and comes with a set illuminated touch bar slider controls underneath.
Unfortunately the steering wheel still features capacitive touch buttons on the spokes.
Options include a 425W 10-speaker Sennheiser sound system.
The Born and Volkswagen ID.3 are closely related, with the two cars sharing the same factory, underpinnings, overall silhouette, doors, and interior components.
As such, we expect the long-rumoured GTX variant of the ID.3 to share most, if not all, its drivetrain features and upgrades with the Born VZ. Earlier rumours suggested the GTX would have a dual-motor all-wheel drive setup with around 245kW.
MORE: Everything Cupra Born
