2025 Cupra Born VZ electric hot hatch unveiled with more power, wanted in Australia

The 2025 Cupra Born VZ electric hot hatch has been unveiled, with more power and a sportier design – ahead of a possible Australian arrival next year, if it is given the green light for showrooms.

The Born VZ brings a 40 per cent increase in power – now 240kW/545Nm – with stiffer suspension, retuned steering, a larger battery offering a longer driving range, tweaked styling, and a new infotainment system with illuminated touch-sensitive controls.

It is a response to criticisms and areas of improvement with the current Born – and previews some of the changes likely for the electric Cupra’s mid-life facelift expected later next year.

A Cupra Australia spokesperson said “this next iteration … is something we are looking at very closely for Australia.” Drive understands that if the Born VZ is given the green light for Australia, it could be in showrooms in the first half of 2025.

Powering the Born VZ is a single rear electric motor developing 240kW and 545Nm, good for a 0-100km/h acceleration time of 5.7 seconds, and a top speed of 200km/h.

It is a significant upgrade – 40 per cent more power and 75 per cent more torque – than the current 170kW/310Nm Born, which claims 0-100km/h in 7.0 seconds and a 160km/h top speed.

The motor is fed by a 79kWh battery pack (up 2kWh) now claimed to enable 570km of driving range, compared to about 550km previously.

Charging capabilities are unchanged at up to a claimed 170kW DC – said to enable a 10 to 80 per cent recharge in 30 minutes – and 11kW AC.

Cupra says the VZ gains reworked suspension – with new rear springs and dampers, revised front dampers, updated anti-roll bars and recalibrated DCC Sport adaptive suspension – plus new steering hardware and software for a “sportier” feel.

A “more robust brake feel” with “[reduced] softness” is also promised, but the Born VZ appears to retain drum brakes on the rear axle.

The VZ can be differentiated by new Dark Forest and Midnight Black colours, dark chrome VZ and Cupra lettering, and two new 20-inch alloy wheel designs using “3D copper inserts or forged technology” which are wider (20x8J, up from 20×7.5J) and are wrapped in 215mm Bridgestone tyres.

Inside, the VZ adopts a new 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen (up from 12 inches) now with illuminated volume and air-temperature controls, and new software.

Drivers can now choose between three levels of regenerative braking in the ‘D’ mode on the shifter, which can be controlled through paddles on the steering wheel similar to a Hyundai or Kia electric car.

Previously there was only one regenerative braking mode in ‘D’ – and another, stronger setting in ‘B’ mode. It is unclear if the Born has gained a one-pedal driving mode.

Touch-sensitive buttons remain in place on the steering wheel. These could be removed with the Born’s upcoming mid-life facelift expected in 2025, but this is yet to be confirmed.

Standard fitment are exclusive ‘Cup Bucket’ front sports seats, trimmed in recycled Seaqual yarn textile and partially-recycled Dinamica microfibre, and mounted lower in the car for a sportier seating position.

Cupra says “improvements to the chassis setup” now allow five-seat Cupra Borns to be optioned with a sunroof in Europe. The outgoing version was limited by the amount of load its axles could carry, so not every optional extra could be fitted to a vehicle at once.

Other new interior upgrades include an optional 10-speaker, 425-watt Sennheiser sound system – possibly replacing the current nine-speaker Beats stereo – and ambient lighting that can represent safety alerts and battery charge information to vehicle occupants.

An updated Travel Assist system – which combines adaptive cruise control and lane centring assist – is said to include “improvements … on poorly marked roads”, and can help the driver change lanes.

The car can be moved remotely in or out of a parking space through the driver’s smartphone, a Trained Park Assist lets the car “learn how to park in regular spots by storing the characteristics and trajectory in a map,” and there is now a 360-degree camera, updated traffic-sign recognition tech, and door exit warning.

It is unclear how many of these features will be available in Australia given the current Cupra Born lacks Travel Assist and traffic sign recognition locally.

The 2025 Cupra Born VZ electric car is due in European showrooms between July and September this year. An Australian arrival could occur in early 2025 if it is given the green light formally by Cupra Australia.