Cupra revealed its new entry-level electric car, the Raval, at this year’s Munich motor show. The company expects to price the vehicle from around £25,000 when it launches next year.
The Raval uses Volkswagen Group’s MEB Entry platform – the same foundation that supports the newly-unveiled Skoda Epiq, Volkswagen ID Polo, and VW ID Cross.
It’ll compete directly with the Renault 5 and Mini Cooper Electric in the growing small EV market.
All four vehicles sharing the platform will be manufactured in Spain, with production handled by the Barcelona-based automaker.
Technical Specifications
Cupra hasn’t released complete technical details yet. The Raval measures just over four meters long and 1.78m wide – putting it squarely in supermini territory.
The company has differentiated it from its platform siblings though. The Raval sits 1.5cm lower than the VW and Skoda variants and features its own steering system.
Two battery options are expected at launch. The Raval should offer the same 38kWh and 56kWh battery packs as the ID Polo, with the larger battery delivering a 273-mile range on a single charge.
Design Elements
The Munich show car wore camouflage patterned after Barcelona’s Raval district street layout. Underneath that wrap, the production car takes significant design inspiration from Cupra’s UrbanRebel concept from three years ago.
Key visual elements include sharp front-end styling, triangular headlights, and distinctive snowflake-pattern wheels.
Cupra’s signature copper-colored trim elements will carry over to the production Raval, maintaining brand consistency across the lineup.
Performance Variant
A flagship Raval VZ will top the range with performance credentials matching the upcoming ID Polo GTI. The hot hatch variant gets a 223bhp motor that delivers 0-62mph acceleration in 6.9 seconds.
The VZ adds several performance upgrades:
- Sportier suspension tuning
- Electronic limited-slip differential
- 19-inch wheels
- Disengageable stability control for track use
Interim Cupra CEO Markus Haupt said the Raval is “now shaping our future” and will be “as always, driver focused.”
The Raval represents Cupra’s push into the affordable EV segment while maintaining the brand’s performance-oriented character that’s distinguished it from parent company SEAT.
