Cars

First electric Cupra gets Born

Cupra Born
Cupra Born Cupra Born

IT is Cupra's turn to show what it can do with the Volkswagen Group's electric vehicle platform.

The performance oriented brand, which is establishing itself as a standalone company after being spun out of Seat, calls its take on the Volkswagen ID3 the Cupra Born.

It will be offered in Northern Ireland with three battery choices and four power outputs of up to 228bhp.

The Born packs a more aggressive appearance than the ID3 - with narrow slits of headlamps, for example - though it doesn't completely shake off its VW origins.

Cupra Born
Cupra Born Cupra Born
Cupra Born
Cupra Born Cupra Born

At the back, it has a high roofline, chunky bumpers and a full-width light bar.

Inside, Cupra says it has gone for a premium feel, with standard bucket seats that use a material made from recycled marine plastics.

It also gets the latest-generation 12-inch infotainment system with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto.

The four battery options start with a 148bhp motor and 45kWh battery combo with a range of up to 211 miles, while the top-spec option has a 228bhp motor and 77kWh battery promising a 335-mile range.

Cupra Born
Cupra Born Cupra Born

In the middle is a 58kWh battery with a 260-mile range and a choice of a 201bhp or 228bhp motor.

The fastest accelerating version is the 228bhp model with the 58kWh battery, which can go from 0-60mph in 6.4 seconds, while all variants have a torque output of 229lb ft.

Prices are due to be announced towards the end of the year, with the first examples scheduled to reach Northern Ireland in 2022.