Cupra Born eBoost 231 HP: ? she is the electric pi? beauty of the realm VAG? Test and video

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It's called Cupra Born e-Boost, for many it will be; the umpteenth expensive electric, but if we stop to do a more detailed analysis, it's the same. attentive to the market and how the car world is changing, it turns out that the gap between electric and thermal has widened. thinned out. Let's take a look at Cupra for example: the 204 HP of the electric Born also exists in a petrol version (or rather, a plug-in hybrid) and the price is much lower. identical to that of the Cupra Leon 1.4 e-HYBRID. Going down, the "pure" with comparable power (it has 190 HP) it costs 35,200€, around 6,000€ in less.

With an extra thousand euros; compared to the 204 HP Born, keeping the 58 kWh battery, you can; buy the 231 bhp Cupra Born e-Boost, a price very similar to that of the Cupra Leon with the 245 bhp 2.0 TSI. In short, it is clear that on the most potent powers; high, the war between pure electric and "the rest of the engines" yes it is made more turned on, and the gap closed. thinned because é petrol engines cannot reach too high powers, either for the regulations on emissions, or because; if they do, they pay the super stamp, currently not contemplated in the electron world.


Furthermore, even when they have to pay the road tax, the electric ones will do it on a nominal power that is different from the maximum (I'll explain it here), and which also does not represent a handicap because on the road you need to have an explosion of power for a few moments, abundantly covered by the performance characteristics of the combination "electric motor + battery" (different speech on the track).

It is therefore established that in these segments the electric is the most popular. absolutely competitive, it would be hypocritical not to recognize that for those who do not need such powers; high, the way to go towards battery-powered and accessible small cars is; still long, and the gap in terms of prices does exist in the most popular categories; cheap. But here we are talking about Cupra, a brand that focuses on design, performance and sporting sensations…


Having said that let's see if the performance is in line with the image of this brand. The engine is there; everything, but it is needless to say because; the technical data sheet is clear: 310 Nm of instantaneous torque is available immediately, with perfectly linear power that seems drawn with a ruler… and indeed it is, the advantages of electric motors are precisely those of being able to ignore problems that the thermals must solve with an enormously greater level of sophistication.

On the street means having a really funny toy in your hands, almost brutal in its category, but never excessive or with unimaginable reactions. The merit, on this e-Boost, is not; only of the electronics, but also of a different and well-chosen set-up: the slightly raised driving position remains, which many like today, but the ground clearance is not as good. from an SUV and the damping response is excellent. the right ones, soft but with good support.


Sure, a little bit roll you still pay, but by taking the DCC variable set-up you can combine the advantages of a suspension group that varies in the damping according to the mode of travel. driving (the CUPRA is stiffer) with a front lowered by 15 mm and a more rigid rear; 10 mm lower than the standard MEB that we have known on other models, starting with the ID.3.

Progressive steering is already available. we knew him, and it is; what it takes to have an easy and maneuverable car in the city; and with a steering wheel that stiffens as the pace picks up. The rest of the "dynamic" a chassis with a 50:50 weight balance does it (it's easy to achieve with electric), rear-wheel drive and the five-link multilink on the rear.

In short, the MEB in the “tuning” versionwhich one likes best? of the original set-up and that driving makes the difference in returning a car that remains easy and accessible, but is pleasant and engaging if you want to bring out all the horsepower it makes available.

To make it perfect, in its segment, it would only be necessary to make it slightly more; sharp and precise steering, but already; so; it is a good ride for most drivers.


How much do you consume? The declared range for the e-Boost, which has greater power compared to the entry-level Born, is 420 km on the 58 kWh or 548 km on the 77 kWh. Before talking about real consumption, however, a little advice dedicated to this model: given the tuning work to make it more engaging and sporty, Born e-Boost should ideally be chosen with the most battery; smallif autonomy is not; for you an imperative need.

First because; save 120 kilograms, according to why; the weight saving translates into both better shooting (the 58 kWh is almost half a second faster in 0-100), and less aggressive load transfers because it is less aggressive. the battery more; light gives us an advantage in the rapid right-left.

Having said that, tackling city, motorway and extra-urban in a quite realistic mix around Verona, the electric Born E-Boost averaged 20.3 kWh/100 km, which translates into an average of 20.3 kWh/100 km. autonomy of 286 real km for the largest battery; small and 380 km for the one increased by 77 kWh net. Not bad given the greater power compared to the 150 kW models and, by sensation, in our test path it should be able to obtain results around 17/18 kWh/100 km, but we will see as soon as there is a better power. the occasion of a more difficult test. long.

Good work for the interior: first of all, Cupra listened to user feedback and replaced the touch buttons, the side buttons on the steering wheel that were inadvertently pressed while driving, with physical buttons, along with other little news. The interiors are more; sports, the variety; of colors and materials gives a modern and captivating decor.

Among the seats, those in Dinamica are certainly the most; pleasant, but those who have an environmentalist soul can; choose SEAQUAL which use plastics recovered from the seas and recycled to create a filament similar to fabric and which does not at all recall the tactile sensations of plastic.

And about aesthetics? Comments, social media and forums show that this is the way to go. the bodywork more; spot on among those of the group

Infotainment connected and with appNew steering wheel with physical buttons Some sporadic slowdown CUPRA BORN E-BOOST DATA SHEET

TECHNIQUE

  • ENGINE: synchronous electric with permanent magnets
  • POWER: 170 kW (231 HP)
  • TORQUE: 310 Nm
  • TRACTION: rear
  • SUSPENSION: front McPherson, five-link multi-link, stabilizer bar (front and rear)


DIMENSIONS

  • LENGTH: 4.324 mm
  • WIDTH: 1,809 mm
  • HEIGHT: 1,549 mm
  • WHEELBASE: 2,766 mm
  • BOOT: 385 litres, up to 1,267 litres
  • TURNING RADIUS: meters
  • RIMS AND TIRES: 19" (215/50), 20" (215/45), 20" (235/40)
  • BRAKES: 2 x 340 mm ventilated front discs, rear drums
  • BATTERY: 82 kWh (gross), 77 kWh (net), also available with the 58 kWh net version
  • VOLTAGE: 400 V
  • WEIGHT: curb 1,838 kg ( 58 kWh), 1.950 kg (77 kWh)

On the left, the seats in Dinamica (microfibre), on the right, those in SEAQUAL (obtained from recycled plastic)

PERFORMANCE

  • SPEED MAXIMUM: 160 km/h (electronically limited)
  • ACCELERATION 0-100 km/h: 6.6 seconds (58 kWh), 7.0 seconds (77 kWh)
  • RANGE : up to 420 km WLTP (58 kWh), up to 548 km WLTP (77 kWh)
  • AC CHARGING: 7.4 kW single-phase, 11 kW three-phase
  • DC CHARGING: 120 kW for the 58 kWh, 135 kW for the 77 kWh (10-80% in about half an hour)
  • SUITABLE FOR NEW DRIVERS? Yes

PRICE

The Cupra Born costs 41,100€ in the version with 204 HP (150 kW) engine and 58 battery net kWh. Cupra Born e-Boost starts at 42,100€ of the 231 HP (170 kW) version with the 58 kWh battery, while 46,350€ for the 170 kW with 77 kWh battery.

Born includes as standard 12″ capacitive touch infotainment, 5.3″ instrument screen, 4 USB C (2 front and 2 rear), Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay, network connection and app support, 18″ alloy, CUPRA sports suspension, Full LED headlights, COAST-to-COAST LED rear lights, tinted rear windows, electric mirrors (adjustable, heated and foldable), SEAQUAL sports seats, LED interior lighting, dual-zone automatic climate control , heated leather steering wheel, keyless, aluminum pedals, front and rear parking sensors, ADAS LVL 2 (pedestrian and cyclist anti-collision, lane keeping, fatigue recognition) and 11 kW AC and 120 kW DC charging.

Born e-Boost adds to the above the CUPRA driving profile, 135 kW DC charging (on the 77 kWh battery), steering wheel with physical buttons, 19 " and front disc brakes go from the base version's 330mm x 23mm to 340mm x 27mm.

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