Cupra has revealed its first all-electric vehicle, due in 2022 and promising up to 231hp of power and 335 miles of range.

UK pricing for the Cupra Born will be announced in Q4 2021, with deliveries starting at the beginning of 2022

Based on Volkswagen Group’s MEB platform that’s also used for the Volkswagen ID.3, the Born was originally first revealed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show as the SEAT El-Born but instead has been reconfigured as an electric hot hatch by the brand’s sporty offshoot.

Cupra said the Born has been designed to provide “the perfect match between electrification and performance” and will provide an “impulse” for the brand’s transformation, alongside Cupra’s petrol-powered and plug-in hybrid variants of the Leon, Leon Estate, Ateca and Formentor.

The Cupra’s powertrain utilises a 16,000rpm permanent magnet synchronous motor, integrated above the rear axle and married up with a single-speed transmission with differential.

Four different motor and battery powertrain options will be on offer. The entry-level option uses a 150hp motor with a 45kWh battery and a range of 211 miles. Next up is a 204hp motor with a 58kWh battery and up to 260 miles of range.

The top models both feature a 231hp motor – this is paired with a 58kWh battery and e-Boost function for the fastest model, which has a 260-mile range and a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds. The longest-range version uses the same 231hp motor but with a bigger 77kWh battery, again with e-Boost, giving a 335-mile range and a 7.0-second 0-62mph time.

Charging at up 125kW is possible – for the 77kWh battery this gives 62 miles in as little as seven minutes and a 5% to 80% charge in around 35 minutes. Drivers can also have a Cupra-branded wallbox installed, controlled via the ‘Cupra Easy Charging’ app.

Cupra says the Born will be befitting of the brand’s badge in terms of handling. Drivers will also be able to specify optional Dynamic Chassis Control, which offers four modes: Range, Comfort, Individual or Cupra.

Onboard equipment includes a standard, high-definition 12-inch ‘floating’ infotainment screen with touchscreen inputs, physical buttons and voice control and with Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Online Cupra Connect services include a range of downloadable apps, safety and service features. Drivers can also access systems remotely via the new ‘My Cupra’ app.

The Cupra Born also features an augmented reality head-up display that layers driver information onto the road ahead.

Advanced driver assistance features include predictive adaptive cruise control, travel assist, side and exit assist, traffic sign recognition, emergency assist and pre-crash assist. Drivers can also opt for high beam assist, a top-view camera with a 360-degree view of the vehicle, and intelligent park assist.

Drivers also have a choice of two eco-conscious upholsteries, including one made from upcycled marine plastics. To further support its eco credentials, the Born is Cupra’s first model that can be delivered to customers net CO2 neutral.

The Cupra Born will go into production at the Zwickau plant in Germany this September.

UK pricing will be announced in Q4 2021, with deliveries starting at the beginning of 2022. It will also be available to purchase under contract subscription while Cupra will also introduce a new distribution strategy based on an ‘agency’ model.