2023 Cupra Tavascan: Prices, specs and release date
Sat, 22 Apr 2023
- New Cupra Tavascan is an electric SUV coupe alternative to the petrol-powered Cupra Ateca
- Offers up to 340PS in dual-motor guise; single-motor version has a range of up to 341 miles
- First Cupra to showcase the brand’s new design language
- On sale in 2024 with prices likely to start from £45,000
The new Cupra Tavascan is the sporty Spanish brand’s first electric SUV coupe. A racy alternative to the Volkswagen ID.4, it has been developed from the Cupra Tavascan concept car revealed in 2019, and is Cupra’s second electric car after the popular Cupra Born.
The new Cupra Tavascan is a mid-size, family-friendly SUV, which will compete with other sporty alternatives such as the Skoda Enyaq iV vRS, Kia EV6, Hyundai Ioniq 5, Ford Mustang Mach-e and, of course, the Tesla Model Y.
The new Cupra Tavascan will also offer a pure electric alternative to the existing Cupra Ateca. Bosses of the sporty SEAT offshoot will be watching with interest how the two hot SUVs develop alongside one another…
2023 Cupra Tavascan prices and release date
The new Cupra Tavascan, while developed in Barcelona, will be built at the Volkswagen Group Anhui factory in China. This is a factory specialising in electric cars. Interestingly Cupra has announced yearly volume targets of “more than 50,000”. This will be split between both China and Europe - and the UK will be a major market for the new Cupra Tavascan.
The new Cupra Tavascan will be a high-end SUV coupe, sitting above the petrol-powered Cupra Ateca. That costs from just under £43,000, indicating the new Cupra Tavascan will likely cost from upwards of £45,000. Prices of high-performance models will exceed £50,000, signalling how Cupra intends to move upmarket with the new Tavascan.
2023 Cupra Tavascan styling, interior and technology
The new Cupra Tavascan is a very athletic and muscular SUV coupe. It’s described as progressive, emotional and unconventional by bosses, with a “fierce and mysterious look” to the front end. The illuminated three-triangle eye signature in the headlamps is the focal point. There’s an illuminated Cupra logo set into the bonnet as well - one of the first illuminated logos in Europe.
The deep front end is marked out by a gloss black structure. The air intakes are tuned to feed air precisely through the new Cupra Tavascan, improving its aerodynamic efficiency. The ‘shark nose’ blends rearwards in a wedge shape to the tailgate.
The new Cupra Tavascan has a ‘helmet’ concept at the side, where a polished black A-pillar connects the windscreen to the side glass, mimicking a racing driver’s visor. Moving rearwards, surfaces are stretched to create pronounced muscularity, feeding into a rakish rear end that’s sharply cut off at the back, adding further distinctiveness.
At the rear, the new Curpa Tavascan has bold LED tail lamps with more triangle graphics - and another illuminated Cupra logo that’s built into the full-width light bar. The rear end design emphasises the width of the new Cupra Tavascan, and is a bold, decidedly sporty take on the family-friendly five-door SUV coupe.
The new Curpa Tavascan is offered in distinctive colours including Tavascan Blue, Mokave Beige, Hypernova Red and Century Bronze Matt. Even the smallest wheels are 19-inch and both 20-inch and 21-inch alloys are available, the latter lightweight forged items. All have aerodynamic covers to improve efficiency.
The new Cupra Tavascan has a very bold and distinctive interior. It has a pronounced central spine, a structural element that forms the basis of the entire cockpit. It carries ‘floating’ elements and connects with the dashboard and is finished in a textured metal-like material.
The new Cupra Tavascan has Cupra’s trademark copper elements, including the door handles and an additional trim strip that runs across the air vents and curves into the doors. Door panels themselves are concave and wrap around the dashboard, which is another neat detail and further adds to the new Cupra Tavascan’s unique feel.
Ahead of the driver in the new Cupra Tavascan is a digital instrument panel. In the centre is a much larger 15.0-inch infotainment screen, the biggest yet featured in a Cupra. It is angled towards the driver. It runs a new system called Cupra’s Human Machine Interface, which the firm says is more intuitive to use.
Wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay are standard in the new Cupra Tavascan. It has a new sound system too, developed with audio specialists Sennheiser. The 12-speaker system is described as immersive and gives a unique sound experience.
Sporty bucket seats are standard in all new Cupra Tavascan. They use a new lightweight structure and can be trimmed in Soul Black, Dark Night or Enceladus Grey Metallic - the latter is an option coming to an even sportier Cup bucket seat that arrives later.
The new Cupra Tavascan measures 4655mm long, 1861mm wide and 1571mm high. It has a wheelbase of 2766mm. Cupra says the dimensions deliver plenty of everyday practicality along with distinctive looks. It has a generous 540-litre boot, and comes with an electric tailgate, while stowage space throughout the cabin is ample.
2024 Cupra Tavascan battery, performance and electric range
The new Cupra Tavascan will be available with two power outputs, The single motor version produces 286PS and the range-topping new Cupra Tavascan VZ dual motor model produces 340PS, with grippy all-wheel drive for optimum traction. The standard model is rear-wheel drive.
The new Cupra Tavascan VZ dual motor model can send up to 30% of the overall power to the front wheels, which use a 110PS electric motor. Normally, it uses only the rear 286PS motor, for optimum efficiency. The two motors communicate instantly, meaning the driver won’t notice when the front motor starts up - but will enjoy the additional grip and performance.
Both new Cupra Tavascan have a 77kWh battery. This gives a target range of up to 341 miles in the rear-wheel drive model. But even the dual motor new Cupra Tavascan will still have a range of around 321 miles. It has 135kW rapid charging capability, adding 62 miles of charge in seven minutes, and going from 10% to 80% in under 30 minutes.
The new Cupra Tavascan will be offered with an optional heat pump. Meanwhile, steering wheel paddles allow the driver to manage the level of energy recuperation across four levels when ‘B’ regeneration mode is selected.
The new Cupra Tavascan uses the Volkswagen Group MEB architecture. It has MacPherson strut front suspension and a multi-link rear. Mounting the battery centrally between the axles means the weight distribution is an almost perfect 49:51.
There is a Dynamic Chassis Control system, offering adaptive control through a range of modes, and the ESC stability control has several options including ESC off. The new Cupra Tavascan engineers are promising “the best handling possible” from the new coupe SUV.
New Cars Coming Soon
Before you step into a showroom, read our in-depth guide to all the new cars coming in the next 12 months and beyond – some are well worth the wait.
How fast is the new Cupra Tavascan?
The new Cupra Tavascan is a sporty-looking SUV with the performance to match. In 340PS guise, it will do 0-31mph in 2.4 seconds and 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds.
What is the EV range of the new Cupra Tavascan?
All new Cupra Tavascan will have a 77kWh battery. In most efficient single-motor guise, this gives an EV range of up to 341 miles.
Was there a Cupra Tavascan concept car?
The Cupra Tavascan concept car was shown at the Frankfurt Motor Show in 2019. It was presented as “the brand’s dream” and, five years on, will become a showroom reality.
Should I change all four tyres on an all-wheel drive car?
