Cupra unveiled its radical Tindaya concept car at the Munich motor show – a vehicle the Spanish brand promises will become reality and push it further upmarket.
The concept showcases Cupra’s “vision and future design language” while hinting at a flagship model that could deliver almost 500 horsepower. That power would put it in direct competition with the Alpine A390, Porsche Macan and BMW iX3.
Markus Haupt, Seat’s interim boss, made clear this isn’t just a design exercise.
“This is not a dream, not even an ambition. This is our Cupra statement and it’s going to be a reality.”
He emphasized the Tindaya would define Cupra’s focus on driving experience.
At 4.72 meters long, the Tindaya matches the size of its German and French rivals. It’s also the largest model Cupra has ever built, sitting above the current Tavascan SUV.
Design Philosophy
The Tindaya – named after a volcano on Fuerteventura – adopts an extreme version of Cupra’s angular, triangle-heavy design language.
Sitting on 23-inch wheels, the show car features a pronounced shark-nose front end. Huge angular air scoops dominate the nose, topped by three triangular headlights. Sharp creases run along the doors and flow into pronounced shoulders above cut-out rear wheel arches.
At the rear, low-set “keels” echo the front intakes while a split high-level spoiler emphasizes the fastback styling of this coupe-SUV.
Elements of the bodywork use Bcomp flax-based material as part of sustainability efforts. The interior continues this theme with vegan leather and recycled plastics, plus 3D-printed aluminum structural elements.
Driver-Focused Interior
Cupra designed the four-seat interior around its “no drivers, no Cupra” philosophy.
A driver-centric cockpit blends modern technology with straightforward controls. A large central “spine” runs front to rear and houses the “Jewel” – a glass prism controlling most car functions from drive modes to ambient lighting.
There’s no central touchscreen. Instead, a 24-inch Cupra Monitor+ display sits ahead of the driver, acting as both instrument cluster and infotainment system.
That screen adapts to the drive mode selected via the Jewel control.
The display sits behind a yoke-style steering wheel designed to enhance driver connection and emphasize Cupra’s commitment to building EVs with genuine driver engagement.
Powertrain Options
Any production Tindaya would likely use Volkswagen Group’s SSP platform – the same foundation planned for the new Skoda Octavia and VW Golf EVs.
Cupra indicated it has capability to support fully electric or range-extender powertrains. Both versions would use dual electric motors producing 489 horsepower and enabling 0-62mph acceleration in just 4.1 seconds.
While Cupra didn’t specify battery details, the range-extender variant could manage 190 all-electric miles before relying on its 1.5-liter petrol generator.
What’s Next
Before any production Tindaya arrives, Cupra will launch the Raval compact hatchback in mid-2026.
The Raval represents the sporty option in a VW Group family that includes the Skoda Epiq, Volkswagen ID Cross crossovers, and the VW ID Polo hatchback.
