Ducati already exists in the VW group

MISANO ADRIATICO – «Formula E is a platform that interests us, but we are the “only” sponsors of Abt. We usually make decisions about financing at the end of the season”, sums up Werner Tietz, Cupra’s vice-president responsible for research and development. After finishing early with the German team’s contract with Mahindra of India (already “compelling” for the brand part of the Volkswagen group) and the subsequent agreement with the British Lola Cars which is based on the Japanese Yamaha, questions about the continuation of the partnership are many.

Tietz doesn’t even say anything about the possible evolution of the Cupra, from sponsor to producer: “Definitely not in the next two seasons”, he basically excludes. These are the eleventh and twelfth, the ones that the updated version of Gen3 will be used (apparently the presentation is planned on the eve of the Monaco ePrix, which will take place on April 27), which among other things will be able to use. front engine also for traction, at least in some cases.

A more “natural” option would be a partnership with Porsche, another brand of the German international car company, which however already has a customer team, Andretti, which operates in a market that is very important for the Zuffenhausen company, that of North America. Which means at the end of the decade Cupra will bring a few models. “We had excellent feedback in the inspection we did”, recalls Tietz, who also emphasizes the volumes for the first quarter of 2024. The Spanish company has registered 138,500 cars, of which 56,600 Cupras: “The seat has recovered, it’s a good sign.”, he says.

Currently in Martorell, home to the group’s headquarters, work continues on several planned launches: Leon, Formentor, Born and, at the end of the year, Tavascan and the new Terramar. Formula E doesn’t seem to be a priority at the moment, but multi-brand collaboration is certainly a difficult puzzle to solve. Above all because while the one with Lola Cars is still an acceptable combination, the one with Yamaha seems more difficult: in the Volkswagen group there is already another two-wheeled brand, the Italian Ducati.