The Cupra Raval Goals To Make Small EVs Much less Boring

• Cupra teases the manufacturing Raval electrical hatchback underneath revealing camouflage.
• The prototype within the images has its manufacturing physique and lights, giving us a very good take a look at the automotive earlier than subsequent 12 months’s debut.
• The Cupra Raval will launch in early 2026 with its sights set on the favored Renault 5 E-Tech.

Cupra is the sporty Seat spinoff that desires to inject some enjoyable and angle into the Volkswagen Group’s smaller vehicles. It already sells two compact electrical crossovers, but it surely desires to take its EVs even smaller with the Cupra Raval, which it’s teasing with its manufacturing physique underneath mild camouflage.

Set to be absolutely revealed and enter manufacturing in early 2026, the Raval is known as after an space of Barcelona outlined by “fixed motion, uncooked vitality and fearless city character” and principally identified for its vibrant nightlife. That is Cupra’s approach of hinting at its barely mischievous character, so it is going to hopefully be enjoyable to drive.

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Supply: Cupra

It’s mechanically associated to the upcoming Volkswagen ID. Polo and ID. Cross, in addition to the Skoda Epiq, all of which might be constructed on the MEB+ platform in the identical manufacturing facility in Spain. In contrast to the common MEB platform, MEB+ is front-wheel-drive, and it’s designed with affordability in thoughts, particularly to be used in subcompact metropolis vehicles.

With a decrease journey top than all the opposite automobiles constructed on this platform, in addition to stiffer suspension, Cupra says it is going to provide probably the most thrilling driving expertise. We don’t know the way a lot energy the bottom mannequin can have, however thus far, Cupra has confirmed that it’ll have 208 hp or 223 hp within the scorching Vz mannequin, which will get decrease and stiffer suspension in addition to an digital limited-slip differential to rival the Alpine A290.

Its greatest rival in Europe would be the Renault 5 E-Tech, which right now is the continent’s hottest subcompact electrical hatchback. The 5 mixes nostalgic design with good tech and real functionality, making it a really exhausting rival within the phase. After I drove it, it was ok to revive my religion in all European automakers threatened by low-cost (and good) Chinese language imports.

In contrast to the French automotive, the Raval doesn’t attempt to mimic a retro design icon. Its focus is firmly on sharp, trendy styling. The triangular headlights give it an offended expression, and a crisp crease runs alongside the edges into the hind lights. You received’t confuse it for anything on the street. It nonetheless appears to be like a bit like a crossover, with its tall physique nonetheless having to cover a thick battery in its flooring.

With a projected beginning worth of €26,000 ($30,100), it is going to simply undercut its fundamental rival from France, and base variants might be supplied with a sub-40-kWh LFP battery pack. The long-range Raval and the spicy Vz will characteristic a 58 kWh NMC pack, which can give them a WLTP vary of 278 miles (450 km) and 249 miles (400 km), respectively, within the scorching hatch variant