Cupra has adorned its electric Born with the VZ label, turning the compact EV into a sporty hot hatch with 325 hp on tap. The Born VZ also gains a new suspension setup, a slightly improved battery, special bucket seats, and an update for the infotainment system.

Cupra, Seat’s younger brother set to take over as the leading Spanish brand in the VW Group, first introduced the VZ label (‘veloz,’ Spanish for ‘speed’) with its León and Formentor models. The Born is Cupra’s first electric model to get this sporty badge.

Single motor, 325 hp

And sporty it is, as the power has been boosted by 40 percent compared to the previous top-of-the-range model, the e-Boost. The Born VZ delivers up to 240 kW (325 hp) and 545 Nm but is still rear-wheel drive. This is the first time this specific electric motor has been used in VW’s MEB platform vehicles.

The extra power gives the Born a nice performance boost, with a 0-100 km/h time in 5.7 seconds, while the top speed has been increased to 200 km/h from 160 km/h. The suspension has also been upgraded to handle the extra power, with new rear springs, dampers, and adjusted sway bars. The steering and pedal feel have also been improved.

Slightly bigger battery

The battery has also been boosted, with a new usable capacity of 79 kWh (77 kWh before), which gives the Cupra VZ an estimated WLTP range of 570 km. Charging is possible up to 11 kW (AC) or 170 kW (DC fast charging), which tops the battery from 10 to 80 percent in 30 minutes.

Regarding looks, the key differences to recognize the Cupra Born VZ are the new forged wheels, the exclusive Dark Forest exterior color, and the special CUP Bucket seats on the inside. The Born VZ also gains paddles on the steering wheel to regulate the regen brake function, a new 12.9-inch infotainment screen, and the now illuminated touch bar under the screen to regulate the temperature and volume.

Base model eligible for subsidy

Pricing is not yet available, but Cupra claims the Born VZ will be launched in Q3 2024. Meanwhile, the regular model has a starting price of less than €40,000, which means it is eligible for the Flemish EV subsidy of €5,000 in 2024 (and only in 2024).