the most powerful Volkswagen ID.3, with 570 kilometers of autonomy

After almost three years of good and faithful service, the Cupra Born electric car is being updated, with the new VZ version. On the program, increased power, less disappointing performance and a larger battery allow a slight increase in the freedom of the cousin of the Volkswagen ID.3. The interior has been slightly updated.

The technical cousin of the Volkswagen ID.3, the Cupra Born has never differed from its German counterpart, especially in terms of performance, with very similar engines. This is surprising considering the fact that Cupra, which is a young brand derived from Seat, fully plays the transformation and performance card, targeting products that span the world of generalists and high-end.

Cupra is today one of the most profitable brands in the Volkswagen Group. The Born is not necessarily the standard bearer of this success, this responsibility is reserved for the Formentor with its petrol and hybrid engines. However, Cupra intends to capitalize on its changing image by offering a new iteration of its sportier compact electric sedan.

A real game? Instead of power

So here is the new Cupra Born VZ, for “Veloz”, which means “fast” in Spanish. Under its hood, it houses a powerful powertrain 325 horse power and 545 Nm torque. Against 204 hp and 310 Nm of torque for the old version. Is this the new AP550 engine?

However, “Veloz” is not so much, as the performance seems normal for a 325 hp electric car. The brand advertises 5.7 seconds for 0 to 100 km/h practice (smaller, less powerful GTIs do the same, or even better) and 200 km / h maximum speed. Compare that to the old model’s 7.2 seconds and 160 km/h.

From a technical point of view, the engineers modified the suspension to make it less stiff. At the rear, the Cupra Born VZ has new shock absorbers and new springs as well as improved front damper settings and new anti-roll bars. It is enough to make the behavior of the car more powerful, but also better by improving the filtering of harshness on the road.

All about style?

Aesthetically, the Cupra Born VZ stands out with the addition of two new 20-inch alloy wheels, as well as distinctive details such as the VZ logo and two new colors: Esterel Green (only for the VZ version) and Midnight Black.

Inside, the sporty mood is understood with the introduction of new standard Cup bucket seats, which are stylish and well integrated into the car’s sporty environment. Paddles on the steering wheel make it easy to control the regenerative braking system, and will probably bring back fond memories for those who used paddles to shift gears in their old petrol cars. Times change, and so do pleasures.

The Born VZ benefits from a new infotainment system with a 12.9-inch screen (+0.9 inches compared to the current Born) and includes a new backlit touch bar, which allows you to directly adjust the air conditioning and audio. This is the same system found on the facelifted Volkswagen ID.3.

Impressive freedom for a powerful car

And in terms of freedom, what does that offer? Unlike performance, it’s not bad for a car advertised as a sports car. Born VZ has the ability to travel up to 570 km on a single charge according to Cupra data, those currently approved have not been submitted. They should be slightly lower, the WLTP cycle is generally less generous than manufacturers.

The battery has also been improved and now offers a total capacity of 79 kWh (+2 kWh). In comparison, the current Cupra Born VZ XL has a range of 549 kilometers in the combined WLTP cycle. Which shows roughly the same usage, despite the increased power.

The battery can be charged at home using an 11 kW wall box, or at a direct fast charging station. 170 kW allowing you to go from 10 to 80% in 30 minutes. Although the car is only three years old, it is already starting to “suffer” from its slightly aging architecture when it comes to recharging, while many competitors, especially those in Asia, are doing well in this level.

More technological than sports

When it comes to safety and comfort, the Cupra Born VZ has a full range of driver assistance features such as Travel Assist which combines cruise control and Lane Assist. In addition, thanks to information from the cloud, this new version also benefits from the improvement of poorly marked roads. All of this is accompanied by a lane change assist function when driving on the highway.

The new Remote Park Assist function allows the driver to complete maneuvers using their smartphone. Similarly, the Parking Assist system allows the car to learn to park in common areas by recording the vehicle’s characteristics and routes on a map. Note also the presence of Side Assist for enhanced protection against blind or fast-approaching vehicles.

Are you attracted to this beautiful, energetic Native? It will be launched in the third quarter of 2024 and will be available to order from June in France. Prices haven’t been announced, but we think it should start low 47 000 euros.

The current Cupra Born VZ XL is available from 39,990 euros (excluding the ecological bonus of 4,000 euros), which makes it one of the electric cars with the best range / price ratio on the market. It replaced the 204 hp engine with a 230 hp one (from the old VZ version) with a recent price drop.