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CUPRA have announced a new addition to the line up of the Born, their first fully electric model, with the Born VZ: a new and more powerful version of the model to inspire the world from Barcelona.
The VZ name is an acronym for the Spanish word “veloz” which translates into English as “fast”. It delivers a staggering 240kW of power alongside 545Nm of torque which is applied to the road through improved suspension setting geometry, sports-tuned steering, and improved braking feel. This gives the VZ the best performance from the Born line-up.
The 240kW power is a 40% increase on the e-Boost version currently available whilst the torque is increased by 75% meaning that the VZ can reach 62mph in just 5.7 seconds from a standing start.
To allow these impressive improvements the Born VZ has new DCC Sport suspension, responsive steering behaviour, and improved brake pedal feeling with a robust rear break which all comes together to create a superior dynamic performance.
The DCC Sport suspension is created with new dampers and springs at the rear whilst the front has an updated damper valve setting and spring design, and updated anti-roll bars which allows the VZ to deliver better vehicle body control.
There isn’t any sacrifice of efficiency though as a full charge will provide up to 335 miles of driving thanks to an improved battery pack which now provides a net capacity of 79kWh which can be charged with an 11kW AC system or up to 170kW DC fast charging point. This will allow you to charge from 10 to 80% in just 30 minutes.
Two new colours will be available with the launch of the VZ model, Midnight Black and the exclusive Dark Forest which will only be available on VZ models from the Born range. There’s also new 20-inch alloy wheels available with different finishes such as 3D copper inserts or forged technology to emphasise the sporty spirit of the model. The wheels themselves are also wider than those on the current CUPRA Born, 8J20” instead of 7.5J19” or 7.5J20”.
Inside you’ll have cup bucket seats as standard, the same ones found in the Formentor VZ5 and Leon VZ Cup but not on any other Born model. These deliver a more ergonomic and sporty driving position and are made from upcycled SEAQUAL yarn textile with DINAMICA which has 73% recycled polyester.
A larger 12.9-inch infotainment screen sits in the centre console and mixes a touchscreen with a new retro illuminated touch bar to adjust the interior climate and volume. There’s also a new optional 10-speaker audio system developed in collaboration with Sennheiser available if you want to improve your experience further.
Horizontal full-LEDs wrap around the width of the dashboard to enhance specific features, giving warnings and indications to the driver and other occupants. These visual cues add another level of awareness, making the CUPRA Born VZ safer and smarter.
Wayne Griffiths, CEO of CUPRA UK, said: “The CUPRA Born was a milestone for the brand when we launched the model in 2021 as our first 100% electric vehicle. And it’s delivered exceptionally, with 45,300 units sold last year, an increase of 44.4% compared to the year before. With the CUPRA Born VZ, we will bring even more performance to this model, proving once again that electrification and performance are a perfect match.”
The CUPRA Born VZ will be launched in the third quarter of 2024. Pricing and UK specification will be confirmed in the summer.