Cupra’s new battery car takes make’s premium push to new level.

SIX figure pricing has come to Cupra, with an announcement today suggesting the flagship version of its new electric sports utility will be its most expensive car.

As expected, the Tavascan will be available with two editions, a single motor rear-wheel drive V and dual-motor all-wheel drive VZ.

The cars seem to be in the same specification as product also shipping to Australia, but pricing is nowhere near as favourable on our side of the Tasman.

The V that will sell for $89,900 here seems to be identical to the Endurance that costs our neighbour the equivalent of $NZ66,000. The VZ (in both countries) is $109,900 here and $81k there.

Cupra NZ has yet to respond to questions about what factors came into play with the national strategy.

One influence could be that Cupra has been working internationally to revise its original image and mission statement.

When it separated from SEAT in 2019, the nameplate largely sold as a sporty alternate to Skoda, with comparable pricing.

However Cupra now prefers now to be considered an almost Audi-equivalent premium brand; it might be noted that the VZ is just $9000 below the Audi Q4 with an identical drivetrain.

The recently released Terramar petrol and petrol-electric also reflects the more bullish pricing ambition. That car sits right below Tavascan.

Tavascan is now Cupra’s sole electric offering, with the make telling another media outlet - but refusing to confirm or deny to this one - that the much smaller and considerably cheaper Born compact hatchback has been discontinued.

Tavascan customer stock does not arrive until October. The national distributor has a demonstrator unit it is touring around its national dealership network, from mid-August.

Both models use a 77kWh lithium-ion battery, with the V sending power to a 210kW/545Nm rear-mounted motor. The VZ adds a front motor for a 250kW combined output, though this reduces range from the 534km rating (WLTP) to 499km.

They can be DC fast charged at up to 135kW or AC at 11kW, for a 10 to 80 percent charge in as little as “under 30 minutes”.

The claimed 0-100kmh sprint time for the V is 6.8 seconds, with the VZ lessening that to 5.5 seconds.

The flagship has an advanced Dynamic Chassis Control with sport suspension. This system sets out to continuously adjust the suspension response in real time, allowing the vehicle to adapt to different road conditions and driving styles.

Cupra claims the result is a ride that is both comfortable and agile, whether cruising on the motorway or navigating dynamic back roads.

Both variants have adaptive cruise control, side assist with exit warning, a rear and top view 360-degree camera system, lane assist and high beam assist, smartphone integration and a 12-speaker Sennheiser sound system.

Like the Born, Tavascan bases on the VW Group’s dedicated MEB electric car platform that underpins the Q4, VW ID.4 and Skoda Enyaq. The VW and Enyaq are currently out of stock here but have been refreshened by their makers; an updated Enyaq is set to release soon but it seems the ID.4 won’t return until 2026, potentially also with re-issue of the ID.5.

Born sourced from Europe – despite the Spanish stuff, it’s made in Germany - and closely relates to the 2019-released VW ID.3 hatchback.

Tavascan might potentially be the sole China-sourced MEB car for export.

The Middle Kingdom is already a prominent manufacturing point for NZ-market electrics from brands that don’t have their roots there – namely the Tesla Model 3 and Model Y, the Polestar 2 and 4, BMW’s iX3 and Volvo’s C40 and XC40.

Tavascan revealed in 2019 as a concept alongside two other design studies, called Terramar and Urban Rebel. Design of the production edition was undertaken at Cupra’s Martorell headquarters in Barcelona, Spain.

In supplied comment, Cupra NZ general manager Luke Meurant cited Tavascan as providing a clear signal of where the brand is headed. He has called it a symbol of Cupra’s evolution.

“The Tavascan is yet another demonstration of the expertise and capability of our factory teams; bringing together design, performance, and technology in a way that is distinctively Cupra.”

National sales manager Clinton Baird suggested the line-up will be well-suited to the market.

“The Tavascan V will appeal to those looking for everyday electric performance and exceptional range, while the VZ takes it up a level with its dual-motor drivetrain and sport chassis. Both models are packed with features and deliver a premium driving experience that stands out from the crowd.”