Cupra is planning a brand new massive electrical SUV to take a seat atop the vary, which is able to assist it enter the US market and increase its attain in Australia
The Spanish Volkswagen Group subsidiary mentioned it plans to enter the USA by the tip of this decade initially with two electrical fashions: a next-generation Formentor with electrical energy, and a “larger electrical crossover SUV”.
The latter will likely be produced in North American Volkswagen factories, together with in Mexico – a market the place the Volkswagen Group already produces automobiles such because the Audi Q5 and Volkswagen Tiguan Allspace for export to Australia.
The brand new flagship SUV has additionally been confirmed for not solely North America, however Europe and Australia.
Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths didn’t affirm simply how massive the brand new SUV will likely be.
“I don’t suppose Cupra the model is a household automotive, so I don’t suppose it’s going to have seven seats,” Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths instructed media.
“It’s going to be massive, and it’s massive. We’ve got the design fashions already prepared, it’s a really spectacular automotive when it comes to design.
“Not a traditional SUV, a crossover, sportier in keeping with what Cupra’s all about. Nevertheless it’s massive. It’s actually massive for Europe, and I feel it’s sufficiently big for the US.”
Requirements of dimension are totally different between our market and the US. Autos just like the Nissan Pathfinder and Toyota Kluger which can be thought of massive SUVs right here, for instance, are thought of mid-sized within the US.
However Mr Griffiths’ remarks recommend it could possibly be each bigger and have a sleeker silhouette than the upcoming Terramar, a mid-sized, petrol and plug-in hybrid SUV that Cupra says could have extra of a standard SUV really feel than its fairly low-slung Formentor.
The Terramar will measure round 4.5 metres lengthy, related in dimension to the Volkswagen Tiguan.
The upcoming Tavascan electrical SUV will likely be longer nonetheless at 4644mm lengthy, whereas boasting a extra coupe-like silhouette.
Whether or not the upcoming flagship SUV will likely be even bigger stays to be seen. Volkswagen’s flagship Touareg, for instance, additionally has solely two rows of seating, however measures 4878mm lengthy.
Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths mentioned the model’s success within the Australian market has helped propel its world push.
“[Australia’s] not going to be for us a quantity market, but it surely exhibits the potential of Cupra to increase globally,” mentioned Mr Griffiths.
“I feel if we will make it in Australia, which is a very aggressive market, and you understand that offers us confidence going into different markets notably the large one, the US.”
Cupra will enter the US market the place SEAT has by no means existed and Skoda hasn’t offered vehicles for the reason that Nineteen Sixties.
Mr Griffiths says the model plans to launch in “chosen states the place we’re positive we will discover prospects which can be linked to the Cupra model”, calling out the east and west coasts particularly in addition to Solar Belt states, which incorporates Arizona.
It additionally plans to promote automobiles by a brand new, unspecified distribution mannequin.
Cupra gained’t be the one electric-only Volkswagen Group model within the US, with Scout set to launch in 2026 with electrical off-roaders.
It already has a foothold within the North American market, having launched in Mexico again in 2019.
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