Cupra Australia has excessive hopes for its first all-electric automobile.
The sporty Spanish upstart has claimed this week it expects the brand new Cupra Born, the model’s first all-electric automobile, will turn into Australia’s best-selling European-made EV in 2023 – supplied logistics and provide stays as is.
As of the top of April, Cupra’s native division could have already secured 600 examples of the Born for manufacturing, with the primary models being delivered to prospects imminently. The model has confirmed it has now secured 700 builds in whole to this point.
“With the sturdy market we really count on the Born would be the best-selling European-built EV in Australia this 12 months, until one thing unexpected occurs with logistics or provide,” stated Jeff Shafer, head of product and planning for Cupra Australia.
Past the already confirmed 600 models earmarked for manufacturing for Australia – of which greater than 500 are already accounted for – the native arm says it’s successfully “unrestricted” by way of provide.
In a later interview with CarExpert, Mr Shafer stated if all goes to deliberate, there needs to be greater than 1000 Borns coming to Australia in 2023.
“After we launched in December, we took a bunch of pre-orders and we had about 400 models initially. Off the again of the sturdy reception, the manufacturing unit gave us extra manufacturing – as of this week, we could have over 600 models constructed,” stated Mr Shafer.
“We’re really nonetheless pushing for extra manufacturing and lifting even the projection for the 12 months. Barring any unexpected points, it needs to be over 1000 models for the 12 months and proper now we don’t have any points taking and fulfilling orders.”
Mr Shafer famous that whereas provide from the manufacturing unit isn’t a problem at the moment, there are nonetheless some challenges with logistics which contribute to a slight wait on new orders being delivered.
“If you happen to ordered in the present day, we typically place the order within the following week, after which it’s a few month till it’s constructed.”
“Logistics is the large drama with the wharfs in the meanwhile. You would be three to 4 months [wait], however it might be longer primarily based on what we’re seeing with ships and wharfs in the meanwhile,” Mr Shafer continued.
“We don’t wish to be taking orders which can be simply going to sit down in an order financial institution and by no means be constructed, so if that ever turns into the case we’ll flip them off – however we’re positively open [right now].”
Ought to Cupra obtain its gross sales projections for the Born, the corporate could be doing related quantity to the Chinese language-built MG ZS EV, which in 2022 managed 1119 registrations. Market chief Tesla is averaging a little bit over 1000 deliveries monthly of its Mannequin 3 sedan, for reference.
The Cupra Born arrives in Australia as a single-spec providing, priced from $59,990 plus on-road prices – the identical because the 221kW Leon VZx petrol scorching hatch and 180kW Leon VZe plug-in hybrid.
Drive-away pricing varies by state, as outlined under.
2023 Cupra Born drive-away pricing:
ACT: $61,990 NSW: $62,490 QLD: $63,490 SA: $64,490 VIC: $64,990 WA: $66,490
Observe: The above drive-away pricing doesn’t embrace state- and territory-based EV rebate schemes.
Energy within the Cupra Born in Australia comes from a rear-mounted electrical motor growing 170kW and 310Nm, hooked as much as a 77kWh (usbable) lithium-ion battery pack.
Cupra claims its “rear-wheel drive scorching hatchback BEV” will do the benchmark 0-100km/h dash in 7.0 seconds, or about half a second off the 180kW Cupra Leon VZ (6.4s). The model notes that straight-line velocity isn’t the Born’s solely focus, including “most significantly driver engagement by means of the steering and rear-drive chassis”.
The model likes to spotlight it gives the one EV below $60,000 with over 500 kilometres of vary, with the Born quoting as much as 511km on the WLTP take a look at cycle using on customary 19-inch wheels and eco tyres.
Choosing the Efficiency Bundle ($2600), nonetheless, drops that determine to 475km as a result of bigger 20-inch wheels and wider (235mm) Michelin Pilot Sport 4 efficiency tyres.
Keep tuned for our Australian launch assessment of the Cupra Born, coming 19:00 AEST on Could 4.
MORE: All the pieces Cupra Born