New Cupra Tavascan arrives as brand’s first electric SUV

The new Tavascan electric SUV sits at the top end of the Cupra line-up, and is the brand’s equivalent to the Volkswagen ID.4 and the Skoda Enyaq iV.

Set to hit the roads in 2024, the production version of the Tavascan inherits plenty of the style previewed by the 2019 concept version, and bears a clear resemblance to the UrbanRebel, both using an evolved version of the electric design language used by the Born hatchback. 

Specifications have not yet been revealed, but the Tavascan is all but certain to leverage Cupra’s position as a sporty brand within the VW Group, and will likely be offered with the same powertrain as used in the hot Volkswagen ID.4 GTX. This means a 295bhp all-wheel-drive electric set-up fed by a 77kWh battery. The 0-62mph sprint should take just over six seconds, while a range of around 300 miles on a full charge should be possible. 

The Tavascan concept was first shown back in 2019 at the Frankfurt Motor Show and the production version will be Cupra’s second all-electric model to go on sale following the Cupra Born.

Auto Express had an exclusive sneak peek at the Tavascan concept with Alejandro Mesonero, head of design for the SEAT and Cupra brands. “The car is a simple design,” he said, “but it has a striking look that doesn’t leave you without an opinion. You may like it or not. But it has an impact, and I think that is very important for Cupra.”

Cupra has made no statement on whether the car is destined for production but Mesonero told us, “Nothing has been decided 100 per cent yet but our idea is to come back in the next few years with something extremely similar to this.”

The striking shape of that carbon-fibre body is largely dictated by aerodynamics. The front end features two large ‘S Duct’ vents leading through the nose section and out of the bonnet, while the bumper is hollowed out to either side of the illuminated Cupra logo in order to 
smooth airflow across the sides.

Around the back the LED tail-lights, which match the lighting signature of the sharp front units, sit at the top of the boot lid. An aggressive kamm tail along with a large rear diffuser help to reduce lift without increasing drag. Even the 22-inch alloy wheels have intricate fins so that they produce minimal turbulence.

The concept’s cabin is more conceptual than production ready, but its 13-inch infotainment screen, complete with totally new graphics and layout, will find its way into new Cupra and SEAT models in the near future. The screen’s ability to electrically rotate so that it either faces the driver or front passenger is less likely to make road-legal models any time soon, however. The instrument panel is shown on another digital display measuring 12.3 inches.

Axel Andorff joined SEAT as board member for technical development in the spring of 2019. In his first interview in September 2019, he talked about the challenges of developing the VW Group’s small electric vehicles.


Q: Your team at SEAT is leading development of the VW Group’s new ‘MEB entry’ platform for smaller cars. Has the process actually started?

A: “Yes, we have a team working on it now. What we already know is that just a little improvement of the main MEB platform on costs and so on will not be sufficient for what we need for a small electric car.”

Q: The new ID.3 and your own el-Born take advantage of the all-electric platform to offer more cabin space. Is this principle part of the ‘MEB entry’ project, too?

A: “If you set up a totally new platform, why shouldn’t you use the advantages that it brings? We have had a lot of discussions about this; we have a sophisticated platform strategy in the Group, with plenty available. But when you are convinced that EV is the approach you should follow, of course you try to use to the maximum the benefits that an EV provides.” 

Q: The VW Group has announced plans to electrify its city cars, including your Mii Electric. Is that the future of this smallest class of vehicle, in your view – that they have to be electric? Or are you working on a successor to the regular Mii? 

A: “What we have to do is to focus a little bit. The VW Group is huge and we can afford to do more than others, but we have to focus. Right now we are evaluating these small BEVs to come up with an idea of how a car below MEB could look. It would be good if we could focus on this.”

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