Cupra expands its tribe with the Urban Rebel, Tavascan and Terramar

Give back to Caesar what is Caesar’s. Cupra, a young Spanish car brand, owes its existence to Luca De Meo, former chairman of the executive committee of Seat and now head of Renault. Now headed by Wayne Griffiths, the manufacturer intends to be the standard-bearer of young people who (still) like to drive sportily, while being aware that the mobility of tomorrow must be electrified and sustainable.

It was in Mr. Ringmaster’s costume that Wayne Griffiths worked throughout the Unstoppable Impulse New Heroes for a New Era event, attended by some 400 journalists from around the world.

Cupra Urban Rebel, Tavascan and Terramar: the new heroes of the tribe

The purpose of the evening was not only to establish an initial assessment of the brand after four years of existence, but also to present the vehicles which will be produced by 2025.

The Urban Rebel displays an aggressive style with bodybuilt sides, a grille ready to devour the asphalt, attractive taillights barely thicker than a line of eyeliner, as well as a ribbed bonnet. Another distinctive element is the interplay of geometric facets which accentuate the dynamism of the car, in particular at the level of the headlights.

We note the body paint that changes color depending on the light and the angle of view, accompanying the recent return of chameleon paint, the centerpiece of car tuning in the 2010s. If the body of the Urban Rebel signs its shape final, the passenger compartment with bucket seats is still under study. Digital screens are celebrating, but there is little chance of seeing them released as is. As for the multifunction steering wheel, it is more like a video game controller.

Shorter, electric-oriented MEB platform

This Cupra Urban Rebel is based on the Volkswagen group’s MEB platform dedicated to electric vehicles. A particular feature is its wheelbase, which is shorter at 2.60 m. On the technical side, it is 4 m long and incorporates a single 226 hp electric motor (0 to 100 km/h reached in 6.9 s). It is powered by a battery whose capacity is unknown, but which provides 400 km of autonomy. We will have to wait until 2025 to get our hands on this Iberian GTI.

Cupra Terramar, a rather muscular hybrid SUV

By baptizing its future SUV with the name of the old circuit of Sitgès, not far from Barcelona, ​​Cupra is setting the tone. Indeed, the Terramar will be in its final version a compact SUV equipped with a range of engines: thermal, mild-hybrid and rechargeable hybrid. This Cupra should share some elements with the new Audi Q3 since both vehicles will be built in the Gyor plant (Hungary).

Like the Urban Rebel, the play of geometric facets on the headlights and taillights, as well as on the ribs of the engine cover and the grille, remain distinctive. Although the body does not yet show its final line, the Terramar will be offered in dealerships from 2024.

Cupra Tavascan, the Iberian version of the Audi Q4

Finally, the last of the trio, the Tavascan SUV, a concept car already presented in 2019, is taking its almost final form. It is neither more nor less than the Iberian counterpart of the Audi Q4 e-tron, the Skoda Enyaq and the Volkswagen ID.4. Despite this technical proximity, the Tavascan exudes a certain aggressiveness thanks to taut lines and sculpted rocker panels. The front end, which looks a lot like the Cupra Born, gives this vehicle a sporty look.

The unveiled technical sheet is extremely thin, except for the presence of a relatively powerful electric traction chain. Knowing that the VW group has 220 kW (300 hp) models in its range, the answer is clear. Just like the Terramar, see you in 2024.

During the Cupra show, its president Wayne Griffiths spoke about the next goals of the young brand. After having sold around 200,000 vehicles and garnered some 2.2 billion euros in turnover in 2021 (430 million euros in 2018), the bar has been set at 500,000 cars sold. In addition to this objective, there is a doubling of turnover and of the global network.