Cupra unveils new Born VZ

Performance and electrification are finally meeting in something from Cupra that is more than a concept or some metaverse-generated idea.

This, is the Cupra Born VZ, and it's got the numbers to back the brief of serving as the brand's all-electric hot hatch. To start, the car delivers a total of 322bhp alongside a peak torque of 545Nm. For some comparison, the recently updated Toyota GR Yaris offers up a total of 300bhp alongside a peak torque of 'just' 400Nm.

The Cupra Born VZ puts out a total of 322bhp, while its 79kWh battery gives it a WLTP range of 570km

Cupra states that this output allows the hatch to complete the century sprint in just 5.7 seconds.

The car is also set the get the handling chaps to match this output. Up front, the car comes with updated damper valve settings and a new spring design as well as updated anti-roll bars, while at the rear, the dampers and springs are also new, all in an effort to deliver better vehicle body control. All these come in conjunction with an upgraded steering and brakes, all for improved driving feedback.

And Cupra has not forgotten about practicality either. The battery of the Cupra Born VZ has received a small bump in total capacity over regular iterations of the Cupra Born, so it now offers a total of 79kWh of net capacity, allowing the car to post a 570km WLTP range. This battery can be charged at up to 11kW via an alternating current source, and at up to 170kW via a direct current charger.

The electric hot hatch gets a floating 12.9-inch infotainment system complete with a new retro illuminated touch bar from which users can adjust the interior climate and speaker volume

Inside the Cupra Born VZ are the sports seats from the Formentor VZ5 and Leon VZ Cup, only here they come upholstered in upcycled Seaqual yarn textile, as well as Dinamica with 73% recycled polyester.

The Cupra Born VZ also features a new and larger floating 12.9-inch infotainment system and a 425W Sennheiser 10-speaker audio sound system. The car is also said to feature a LED strip that wraps around its dashboard that gives visual cues to the operation of items including its state of charge, onboard driver assistant systems, as well as its infotainment functions.

The Cupra Born VZ is set to launch in the U.K. by the third quarter of 2024.