Cupra Born electric car already getting plastic surgery

Although Cupra only released the Born in 2021, it appears the Spanish automaker is updating its electric hatch already.

The Cupra Born sits on the same MEB platform as and has a close resemblance to the related Volkswagen ID.3, which is getting a dual-motor GTX variant.

Given Cupra is a performance brand within the Volkswagen Group, it’s possible the Born could also receive such a powertrain.

Teaser image

We already know the design changes coming to the Cupra Born, as the company teased these at the Unstoppable Impulse event in Terramar in June 2022.

It said the updated Born, along with facelifted versions of the Leon and Formentor, will be “launched by 2025”.

The updated model will feature distinctive new triangular headlight graphics and a restyled front bumper. Cupra has also removed the cutout containing its wordmark.

The brand is yet to release photos of the rear of the hatch but based on these camouflaged photos, it appears nothing has changed.

Cupra Australia currently offers the Born in one variant, which has a 77kWh battery which is mated to a single electric motor that produces 170kW of power. It has 511km of range on the WLTP cycle.

The brand’s local division may introduce a more affordable entry-level Born with a 58kWh battery, according to head of product and planning for Cupra Australia, Jeff Shafer.

“So we’ve started with the big battery with e-Boost. And I think that, a lot of our research has shown that range is a really big driver in the EV space in the short term, and we wanted to bring that really compelling offer with 511km of range for under $60,000,” Mr Shafer previously told CarExpert.

“But, we’ll certainly look at the 58kWh battery as well, and I think as people’s understanding and shifting of mindset from how you drive and experience a combustion-engined vehicle to how EVs can play different roles in different driving needs, that would be a good addition to the range.”

“It’s something that we’re open to and we’ll be looking at. It’s not in the short term, but we’d certainly look to investigate that further,” Mr Shafer added.

Earlier this year, Cupra opened orders for the hatch which resulted in 400 customer reservations.

Cupra Australia was able to later secure 600 examples of the Born for Australia, prior to deliveries commencing in April 2023.

Current Cupra Born

Since commencing deliveries, Cupra has sold 174 Borns in its first three months.

Cupra Australia has previously stated it aims to reach 1000 Born deliveries in 2023.

This means the brand will have to sell an average of 137 Borns per month to reach that target – almost as much as it has in three months.

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