√Cupra Terramar, Tavascan and UrbanRebel: Three new models revealed, set for Australia

The Volkswagen-owned Spanish car maker’s global expansion will be underpinned by the new Terramar, Tavascan and UrbanRebel.

Cupra has revealed its new Terramar medium SUV ahead of a planned start to Australian sales for the new five-seater in 2024.

Unveiled alongside a near-production version of the electric Tavascan and a second concept of the UrbanRebel hatchback, the Toyota RAV4-rivalling model is set to be sold with the choice of four-cylinder petrol mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid drivetrains in an expansion of Cupra’s existing line-up.

Described as being “around four and a half metres” in length, the Terramar is a sister model to the Audi Q3 – alongside which the new SUV will be produced at an Audi-owned factory in Gyor, Hungary, according to Cupra CEO, Wayne Griffiths.

“It will be our last combustion engine model”, says Griffiths, adding, “the future is electric”.

The basis for the Terramar is the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform – the same structure used by the existing Cupra Leon, Ateca and Formentor. As with the Audi Q3, it is expected to offer the choice of both front- and all-wheel drive depending on the driveline.

Further details to the new SUV remain scarce more than two years ahead of its planned introduction, though Griffiths confirmed the Terramar’s petrol-electric plug-in hybrid drivetrain will offer an electric range of more than 100km on the WLTP test cycle.

Despite the electrification measures, Griffith’s says the Terramar will reflect typical Cupra “performance and style”.

The design of the new SUV is less extreme than current Cupra models. Key elements include a so-called ‘shark nose’ treatment up front, new triangular headlamp graphic and an angled tailgate at the rear.

Named after a Spanish coastal town near Cupra’s Barcelona headquarters, the Terramar will be positioned above the Ateca. “It’s much bigger,” says Griffiths.

The new SUV is being looked upon to lead an expansion of Cupra sales in both new and existing markets, including Australia.

The Spanish car maker, a standalone brand created by Seat in 2018, tripled its sales to over 80,000 in 2021 on a turnover that Griffiths puts at more than €2.2 billion ($AU3.5 billion).

Cupra Australia began accepting online orders for the Ateca, Formentor and Leon in May ahead of first Australian deliveries within weeks.

As well as unveiling the Terramar, Cupra has also revealed the production version of its second electric-powered model, the Tavascan.

Set for Australian sale in 2025, the new five-seat SUV was originally previewed as a concept at the Geneva motor show in 2019.

The production version of the Tavascan retains the coupe-like silhouette of the earlier concept, but receives a less aggressive front-end look with Cupra’s new signature triangular headlamp graphic.

The new Cupra model is heavily related to the Audi Q4 E-Tron and Volkswagen ID.4, alongside which it is expected to be produced at the Volkswagen Group’s Zwickau factory in Germany beginning during the second half of 2024 – the same plant responsible for building the electric Cupra Born.

Based on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric-car platform, the Tavascan is set to offer both single-motor and dual-motor drivelines with either rear- or all-wheel drive.

As with the Q4 and ID.4, it is also expected to be sold with differing battery capacities, including a 77kWh unit in a range-topping 225kW dual motor all-wheel drive model hinted to by Griffiths.

The third of Cupra’s future models to be revealed is a production based concept of the Urban Rebel – a new entry level electric model planned for Australian sale in 2025.

The new four-metre-long hatchback, originally previewed by a more flamboyant concept at last year’s Munich motor show, is set to become Cupra’s third electric model, following the existing Born and new Tavascan, with distinctive exterior styling and a single-motor drivetrain developing “up to 166kW”.

More powerful performance-based models are planned to receive a nickel, manganese and cobalt (NMC) battery with mainstream models planned to run a new lithium iron phosphate battery – the latter offering a claimed range of up to 440km.

The UrbanRebel is the first of three new entry level electric models, including variants from Cupra’s Volkswagen Group sister brands, Skoda and Volkswagen, to be based on a new platform that goes under the internal codename MEB21.

Development of the new model, to be produced exclusively in front-wheel-drive guise, is being headed by Cupra.

“It’s the biggest project in our company’s history,” says Griffiths.

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