Cupra Tavascan becomes the most powerful MEB model to date

Cupra has unveiled the Tavascan, its first all-electric SUV coupe and its second BEV model. Based on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform, the Cupra Tavascan will launch in 2024 and will be available with either 210 or 250 kW.

The more powerful version has a two-motor all-wheel drive. Previously, the all-wheel drive models based on the MEB were available with 190 or 220 kW. Cupra did not explicitly confirm this, but the increased system power is probably due to the new drive unit on the rear axle. Until now, that electric motor (in the Cupra Born, for example) produced 150 kW. However, the new generation APP550, first introduced in the VW ID.7, has an output of 210 kW. And that is exactly the power that Cupra specifies for the Tavascan with rear-wheel drive.

The 250 kW includes the system output of the additional drive unit on the front axle. The front motor (still an asynchronous motor) has an output of up to 80 kW, but the system output is limited in combination with the battery. Since the Volkswagen ID.7 is not (yet) available as an all-wheel drive model, the Cupra Tavascan is currently the most powerful MEB model.

While there are some changes to the electric motors compared to other SUV coupes based on the MEB platform, such as the VW ID.5, Audi Q4 e-tron Sportback or Skoda Enyaq iV Coupe, the battery is the same. Of the 87 kWh installed, 77 kWh can be used as net energy content. That gives the Cupra Tavascan with rear-wheel drive a range of 549 kilometres, according to WLTP (the APP550 engine is not only more powerful but also more efficient). The all-wheel drive should still be able to complete 517 kilometres on one charge. By comparison, the 150 kW rear-wheel drive ID.5 offers 534 kilometres, while the 220 kW ID.5 GTX is said to have a range of 520 kilometres.

The maximum charging power is 135 kW. The battery can thus be charged from ten to 80 per cent in “just under half an hour.” AC charging is not mentioned in the announcement, but anything other than the familiar 11 kW onboard charger of the well-known MEB models would be a surprise.

The interior has one similarity to the ID.7: The infotainment touchscreen measures 15 inches diagonally, “the largest so far in a Cupra model.” The current MEB models have to make do with ten- or twelve-inch screens. The infotainment system’s revised menu navigation also originates from the ID.7.

“Back when we presented the Tavascan concept at the IAA in Frankfurt 2019, it was our dream car – a manifesto for everything we wanted Cupra to become,” said Wayne Griffiths. “Since then, we’ve kept believing that if we dream it, we can create it. Well, today, that dream comes true.”

The Cupra Tavascan will reportedly be manufactured at Volkswagen Group’s Anhui plant in China for global markets. The company hopes to sell more than 70,000 vehicles per year.

seat-mediacenter.com (announcement), seat-mediacenter.com (press kit)