Cupra is planning to almost show off its new compact electric model at the IAA Munich motor show in September.
Hang on, how do you 'almost' show off a car?
Ah, well you see… the car that will be shown in Munich will be the new Raval, which will be Cupra's most compact model, and it's third all-electric car, but it won't quite be fully revealed as it will be wearing a camouflage wrap which will ever so slightly break up the lines of its styling.
Cupra says that the new Raval is all about: “Embodying the brand vision and its future design language, it's the perfect symbiosis between human and machine, where the driving experience and emotions reach their fullest expression” and that Munich will be: “A major milestone for the project led by our company and a first sneak peek ahead of the rebellious electric urban car's World Premiere and market launch in 2026.”
What do we actually know about the Raval?
It'll be a compact crossover EV, which will share its platform, batteries, and motor with the Volkswagen ID.2 and the ID.2 All SUV, as well as Skoda's new Epiq. Both the VW and the Cupra will be built in Cupra's home plant of Martorell, just outside Barcelona, but Skoda's Epiq will be built in Czechia.
We don't really know too much about the battery nor range yet, but there has been talk of a top-spec version which will go for up to 440km on one charge, although the most affordable model - and the Raval should have a starting price considerably under the €30,000 mark - will have a range of around 300km and a smaller battery. With Cupra being a sporting brand, though, the Raval will have the option of a powerful front-wheel drive electric motor capable of up to 225hp.
Will it actually be sporty?
It should be, yes. Cupra has spoken of bespoke suspension and steering tweaks for the Raval, relative to the VW and Skoda versions, so expect something quite distinctive in feel as well as in design. There will also, eventually, be an even more powerful Raval VZ model.
What else is Cupra showing at the Munich show?
As well as displaying its current lineup - Leon, Born, Tavascan, Terramar - Cupra will have its own little corner of the Munich show (which spans almost the entire city centre) known as the Cupra City Garage Munich, where it will be showing off a new, potentially radical, concept car which will feature a completely new interior design language which is said to be the template for future new Cupra models, as well as exterior styling which is expected to carry the same influence.
There will also be a new Terramar Tribe Edition and Cupra will be celebrating having sold 900,000 new cars since it was officially launched back in 2018.