We love the CUPRA DarkRebel with its 3D printed metal back

Introduced at the Volkswagen Group Night IAA in Munich (and later presented at the CUPRA Open Space at the IAA Mobility 2023, also in Munich) the CUPRA DarkRebel is the ultimate expression of the brand’s enthusiasm. A car that pushes the boundaries of design and performance, that questions how the car will be thought of and designed in the future. It is a literal translation of the first fully designed car in virtual space, for the next generation of drivers. Wherever this type of customization is required, additive manufacturing must play a part.

And it does. The CUPRA DarkRebel pushes design boundaries in its interior as well. Its use of parametric design and additive manufacturing provides the best approach to sustainability. And when they get into the car, the passengers find themselves in a huggable environment, big and extreme.

A key feature of the car’s cabin is the central spine with its asymmetrical shapes, lightness, and sculptural appearance. Produced using the latest metal 3D printing technology, it offers superior design performance and lightness, emerging from between the seat bases and extending forward to embrace the driver. Given that most CUPRA cars are built in Catalonia, Spain, where HP 3D Printing its basis is, and that the Volkswagen Group (which owns the CUPRA) has already collaborated with HP, it is likely that the technology they used is metal jetting, and especially HP Metal Jet.

Once seated in the Supersport bucket seats, with heads made from glass and bronze inserts and covered with 3D composite fabric, the driver sees the steering wheel, which combines geometry from the world of racing with the interaction of the world of gaming .

Hyper Configurator

More than 270,000 CUPRA configurations from the CUPRA Tribe, including brand ambassadors such as FC Barcelona players Alexia Putellas, Marc ter Stegen, Ansu Fati and actor Daniel Brühl helped create the CUPRA DarkRebel design. The data collected from the virtual Hyper Controller was fed into the final model of the car, which has now moved from the internet to the real world with the unveiling of the physical version at the IAA in Munich.

The result is a 100% electric two-seater sports car with bullet brake architecture that drives the passion and disruptive thinking of the CUPRA brand. It includes a mysterious liquid body color, light as a visible material and a strong focus on sustainability.

According to Wayne Griffiths, CEO of CUPRA: “Thanks to the passion and creativity of the CUPRA Tribe, we have now been able to turn one of our most powerful ideas into a real show car. The CUPRA DarkRebel is the ultimate instigation of CUPRA design. It’s a rebel purposeful: to prove that electric cars in the future can be attractive and emotional “.

Rebel rebel

The central spine of the car, like the hull of a boat made of glass, connects the front and rear of the CUPRA DarkRebel. This concept emphasizes the car’s progressive design, inspiring its sporty appeal. Emotional surfaces and a strong combination of strong lines, create tension in the design, show a concentration of energy and purpose. All accented by a subtle liquid body color.

The fluid character of the dark violet tone changes and changes according to how the ambient light hits the car’s body, reinforcing the stance and setting the tone for the DarkRebel as a sports car designed to drive.

Putting the DarkRebel on the ground, its wheel design is influenced by the brand’s racing cars, with great performance and efficiency. The triangular CUPRA logo is naturally extended through the entire wheel, from the design to the aero caps and molded brass parts.

CUPRA DarkRebel’s contemporary exterior design is reinforced by its dimensions of 4.5 meters long, 2.2 meters wide, and 1.3 meters high, the DarkRebel comes to life, especially when its doors are opened to a height of 2.2 meters. These helped achieve his 1/3 body as opposed to the 2/3 body ratio and strong shoulders that give off his sporty spirit.

“CUPRA DarkRebel summarizes all the DNA and values ​​of the brand. With broad shoulders, a long bonnet and a low cabin it is focused on the driver. It stands for people who like to drive and not drive,” said CUPRA Design Director Jorge Diez. “The CUPRA Dark Rebel is designed to enter in a new direction where passion, emotion and pushing without limits is our passion.”

From the inside, the driver is well placed to experience the performance of the CUPRA DarkRebel on the pavement. The CUPRA DarkRebel is the most powerful show car ever produced by the brand, with more than 450 horsepower (peak power), accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in less than 4 seconds.