Cupra boss Wayne Griffiths said the firm remains committed to “the dream” of putting the Tavascan electric concept into production - but hinted it is unlikely before 2024.
The SUV-coupé concept, built on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform, was first shown at last year’s Frankfurt motor show, featuring radical exterior styling and a 302bhp twin-motor powertrain.
Griffiths said the Tavascan is “a dream for the brand and we’re fighting to bring it to reality”. He added: “It’s a project we’re working on, but we’re not ready to announce dates or timings, not because we have doubts but because we have a lot of other models to launch first. The pipeline is full for the next few years.”
Those models include the new Formentor crossover and the el-Born, Cupra’s first full EV, which will be launched next year.
Griffiths declined to comment on reports that the Tavascan could be built in China from 2024 onwards as part of a joint venture between the VW Group and JAC Motors.
Named after a ski resort near the French border in Catalonia, the Tavascan is said to marry “the presence of an SUV with the sleekness of a sports coupé” and showcases the evolution of Cupra design as it moves further away from its parent company, Seat.
The front end of the Tavascan is designed to balance the desire for “muscularity and dynamism”, the company claims, with an exterior shape honed for range-boosting aerodynamic efficiency. The front end is also intended to create a “totally different focal point” from those of conventional combustion-engined cars, with an illuminated Cupra logo mounted low, below the blanked-out ‘grille’. A separate badge spells out ‘Cupra’ in a vent linked to the headlights.
The rear is also heavily dominated by the lower portion’s styling, with a striking bumper shape mated to a steeply raked rear window line and full-width light bar, intersected by the Cupra logo.
Join the debate
Add your comment
Market positioning
Never mind Seat/Cupra (or Skoda) where are the Audi models that are presumably going to sit on the MEB platform. With the cost of EVs still being too high the market is predominately going to be to premium car buyers. The extra battery weight also negates towards EVs as sporty cars - they may have the performance but they are never going to be nimble. I continue to be confused with where Seat/Cupra sees its market position. Is Seat the cheap Fiat proposition in the VW group or their Alfa Romeo brand. Perhaps this is the reasoning for trying to introduce Cupra as a sporty marque. Oh, and where is Skoda now positioned? It seems to be perilly close to VW who are racing down in quality just as Skoda are really moving up.
Committed to a Dream
What the hell does that mean.
What nonsense.
I went to bed committed to dream about winning the lottery and spending weeks on a tropical island paradise with Jennifer Lawrence sat astride a dozen cases of champagne.
That didn't happen either.
Next time Mr Griffiths , commit to manufacture, or shut up.
Wow!
Been a long time since I saw a concept this ugly. Did they hire the old Ssangyong styling department?