Cupra Presents the Tavascan, Its Electric Coupé SUV On MEB Platform

The new vehicle wants to joint practicality with sportiness in a powerful 225 kW EV package.

Sep 02, 2019 at 9:46am ET

Each time a new international auto show opens its gates, without fail, our fellow journalists declare it was focused on EVs. The thing is, that every year it is more and more true, with brands that never spoke of electrification, or only sold one electric car, showing a new battery-powered model. And that the models are each time closer to being sold. Check the new Tavascan concept, from Supra. It will premiere at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show and it could easily meet the production lines with its MEB platform.

Volkswagen has big plans for that platform. It intends to reach volume production of 22 million EVs until 2029 and to present 70 models until 2028. Among them, probably this electric coupé SUV that intends to deliver a lot of performance.

The vehicle has two electric motors, one for each axle. Cupra does not inform how powerful each of them is, but we can guess that from his cousins, the VW I.D. Crozz and the Skoda Vision iV, all with the same output. They have a front motor of 75 kW (101 hp) and a rear motor of 150 kW (201 hp).

The other electric coupé SUVs also gives an idea of the Cupra’s dimensions. While the Skoda Vision iV is 4.66 m (183.9 in) long, 1.93 m (76 in) wide, and 1.61 m (63.4 in) tall, the VW I.D. Crozz is slightly shorter and narrower – 3 cm (1.18 in) and 4 cm (1.6 in), respectively.

The wheelbase is the same in the two concepts, at 2.77 m (109 in). We bet the Cupra Tavascan has very similar measures.

The only difference the Tavascan presents compared to the other electric coupé SUVs is the 77 kWh battery pack. Both the Vision iV and the Crozz use an 83 kWh battery pack and promise a 500 km (310.7 mi) range. The Tavascan promises a 450 km (280 mi) range.

Perhaps the smaller battery pack aimed at a lower mass, for a more extreme performance, but that’s not the case. The Tavascan can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h (62 mph) in less than 6.5 s. The Vision iV does the same in 5.9 s. The VW Crozz, in 6.2 s.

Tavascan is a city in Catalonia famous for its ski resort. We thought it had a famous mountain pass, such as the Stelvio, but it apparently doesn’t. If you are from the region, tell us what made Cupra choose for its electric coupé SUV. Just for the “stunning landscape and surrounding nature?” There must be more to it.