The new Cupra UrbalRebel electric supermini will cost more than £17,000 (€20,000) when it is launched, the firm's development boss has confirmed.
The boldly styled new EV is due in 2025 as one of three small cars using a specially adapted version of the Volkswagen Group's MEB platform. Sister firms Volkswagen and Skoda will also have their own versions.
VW Group boss Herbert Diess has long vowed to build an affordable sub-£17,000 EV that would serve as an electric 'peoples' car' and help to drive uptake in such machines.
But Werner Tietz, Cupra's development chief, said that due to the firm's premium brand position, its model will cost more than its VW and Skoda siblings when it goes on sale.
“We will not supply the €20,000 car, but I think we will create some sort of entry-level version of the UrbanRebel – but yes, the Cupra car will be more expensive,” said Tietz.
The UrbanRebel will land with a claimed 273-mile range, and will be equipped with a 166kW electric motor mounted on the front axle.
Tietz also hinted that the UrbanRebel would be followed by more Cupra and Seat models on the same platform. “We are starting a family of new cars and this is the first one, but it is also the most important,” said Tietz.
“With this platform everything is possible. The car is four metres long and other models which use this platform will be around four metres.”
Tietz also added that Cupra's sister brand Seat would introduce new electric models once the cost of batteries and other components had reduced.
“Electrification is still a little bit expensive so the focus is to electrify Cupra," he said. "When prices of components start to fall and batteries are cheaper, then we can discuss and consider talking about Seat again.”
The UrbanRebel, which will become the brand’s third fully electric offering after the Cupra Born and Cupra Tavascan SUV, will be performance-orientated, with Tietz also vowing that the new car will have a different feel to the Born hatchback.
"The UrbanRebel will have sportier steering, more responsive suspension, different tyes; this car will drive like a go-kart I promise you," he said.
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