Cupra Born VZ brings huge power increase to electric hot hatch

The most powerful version of the fully electric Cupra Born has been revealed, bringing with it a new top speed, a sportier seating arrangement, and various visual upgrades.

It’s called the VZ, an acronym for the Spanish word “veloz” which translates to “fast” in English. And that it is, with the model now being able to reach 100km/h from a standstill in 5.7 seconds and a top speed of 200km/h.

The Born’s newfound performance is all thanks to an upgraded electric motor which now emits 240kW and 545Nm of torque, a significant bump from the V+ variant’s 170kW and 310Nm figures.

Driving range has increased from 511km to 570km courtesy of a new 79kWh battery, 2kWh more than the old unit, while recharging from 10 to 80 per cent capacity can be achieved in less than half an hour using a 170kW DC fast charger.

Several improvements have been made to how the car handles, with updated suspension featuring all around, including new dampers, springs, and sway bars at the rear, while upgrades have also been made to the steering and brake feel.

Two new colours exclusive to the Born VZ are now available, including Dark Forest and Midnight Black, complemented by two new 20-inch alloy wheel options. In addition, the wheels now measure 8 inches wide compared to 7.5 inches, meaning they can fit wider tyres for improved grip.

As a final touch, the model’s VZ logo and Cupra lettering are finished in dark chrome.

Cup bucket seats from the Formetor VZ5 and Leon VZ Cup have been transplanted into the Born VZ, meaning the driver now sits lower down behind the wheel.

Considering the Born is based on Volkswagen’s MEB platform, much of the interior may be familiar to you. However, several much needed updates have been made to the controls, with the volume and climate control touch sliders now being illuminated. There’s also a larger 12.9-inch infotainment screen in the centre of the dashboard, pumping out sound to an optional Sennheiser 10-speaker sound system.

The list of improvements grows concerning safety and driver assistance technology, with features like the Adaptive Cruise Control and Lane Assist system being updated to help read poorly marked roads better, while parking is made easy with a new Remote Park Assist function.

Pricing and availability of the Cupra Born VZ have yet to be confirmed for New Zealand, but the model will be available overseas in the third quarter of 2023.