Cupra (marque)
| Cupra Garage in Martorell, Spain | |
| Product type | Cars |
|---|---|
| Owner | Volkswagen Group |
| Produced by | SEAT S.A. |
| Country | Spain |
| Introduced | 1996; 30 years ago (1996) (as part of SEAT) 2018; 8 years ago (2018) (as a standalone brand) |
| Related brands | SEAT |
| Markets | Europe, Middle East, Africa, Latin America, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand |
| Ambassador | Markus Haupt (Cupra brand CEO)[1] |
| Website | cupraofficial |
Cupra (/ˈkuːprə/ ;[2] stylised in all caps) is a car brand owned by the Volkswagen Group, a German manufacturer, and produced by SEAT, a Spanish car manufacturer and wholly-owned subsidiary of Volkswagen Group, headquartered in Martorell, near Barcelona.
Originating from SEAT's motorsport division Cupra Racing, the Cupra brand was introduced as a standalone brand in January 2018, after being used as a performance sub-brand of SEAT since 1996. While initial Cupra models are based on SEAT vehicles, in September 2020, Cupra introduced the first Cupra-only vehicle, the Cupra Formentor. In 2021, the brand introduced its first electric car, the Cupra Born.
History
[edit ]Cupra originated from Cupra Racing (previously SEAT Sport), the high-performance motorsport subsidiary of SEAT. The "Cupra" name, short for "Cup Racing"[3] was first used in 1996 by the SEAT Ibiza GTI 2.0 16V Cupra Sport, which was a street legal version of the Ibiza Mk2 kit car used in the competition and created as a special edition to celebrate SEAT's victory in the 1996 FIA 2-Litre World Rally Cup (a subdivision of the World Rally Championship at that time).[4] [5] It was followed by the SEAT Ibiza Cupra 1.8 20V in 1999, and the more powerful Ibiza Cupra R in 2000.[6]
Over the following two decades, SEAT introduced a succession of hot hatchbacks marketed with the Cupra badge, such as the SEAT León Cupra 1.8 20V in 1999, and in the following year the SEAT Leon Cupra 4, which is the first AWD Cupra and the only six-cylinder Cupra.[7] Since then, every SEAT León generation has been supplemented with a Cupra-badged hot hatch version.[6]
In 2017, then SEAT CEO Luca de Meo hinted at the possibility of Cupra becoming a standalone brand. At that point, Cupra was only available as the performance version of the León.[8] On 31 January 2018, SEAT confirmed that it is launching Cupra as a standalone brand,[9] followed by an announcement event on 22 February 2018,[10] in which prototypes of forthcoming Cupra models such as the Cupra Ateca were shown.[11] SEAT's head of sales and marketing Wayne Griffiths planned to double Cupra sales within the following four to five years, helping SEAT achieve sustainable profitability. Cupra cars were to be sold in some SEAT dealerships in Europe, with dedicated floor space.[12]
The Cupra logo of two intersecting triangles was designed by Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos. According to Mesonero-Romanos, the philosophy of the triangular logo is that a triangle is a dynamic shape, has a stable base, and points in a clear direction.[13]
The first model from the standalone Cupra brand was the Cupra Ateca, introduced in October 2018.[14] The Cupra León joined the line-up in February 2020, following the introduction of the SEAT León Mk4.[15] In March 2020, Cupra introduced the Formentor after being previewed as a near-production concept vehicle at the Geneva International Motor Show in November 2019. It is the first Cupra product that is not shared with SEAT.[16]
In February 2021, the Cupra Born was introduced as Cupra's first electric car. The concept version was called SEAT el-Born, but the Born became a Cupra-only model while remaining closely related to the Volkswagen ID.3.[17] The second electric car from Cupra is the Tavascan, launched in April 2023, which was preceded by the Tavascan concept car shown at the 2019 Frankfurt Motor Show. It is the first Cupra model produced outside Europe, made by Volkswagen Anhui in China.[18]
In March 2024, Cupra announced its intention to enter the U.S. market "by the end of the decade". The planned models to be sold are the next-generation electric Formentor, and an unnamed larger electric vehicle to be produced in Mexico.[19]
Products
[edit ]Current vehicles
[edit ]| Body style | Model | Current generation | Vehicle description | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Image | Name(s) | Introduction (cal. year) |
Update (facelift) | ||
| Hatchback | Born | 2021 | 2026 | Battery electric C-segment hatchback based on the Volkswagen ID.3. Built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, MEB. | |
| León | 2020 | 2024 | Performance version of the SEAT León. | ||
| Raval | 2026 | Battery electric B-segment hatchback. Built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, MEB Entry. | |||
| Estate | León Sportstourer | 2020 | 2024 | Performance version of the SEAT León Sportstourer/Estate. | |
| Crossover SUV | Formentor | 2020 | 2024 | C-segment SUV based on the León. First standalone model for Cupra. | |
| Tavascan | 2023 | 2026 | Battery electric C-segment coupe SUV built on a dedicated electric vehicle platform, MEB. | ||
| Terramar | 2024 | - | C-segment SUV. | ||
Concept cars
[edit ]- Cupra Ibiza (2018)
- Cupra Tavascan (2019)
- Cupra Formentor (2019)
- Cupra UrbanRebel (2021)
- Cupra DarkRebel (2023)
- Cupra Tindaya[20] (2025)
-
Cupra Tavascan (2019)
-
Cupra Formentor (2019)
-
Cupra Urban Rebel (2021)
-
Cupra Raval (2022)
-
Cupra DarkRebel Concept (2023)
-
Cupra Tindaya Concept (2025)
_IAA_2023_1X7A0429.jpg){kind=link}
Racing cars
[edit ]- Cupra E-TCR (2018)
- Cupra E-Racer (2020)
- Cupra Tavascan Extreme E Concept (2021)
-
Cupra E-TCR (2018)
-
Cupra E-Racer (2020)
-
Cupra Tavascan Extreme E (2021)
_Genf_2018.jpg){kind=link}
Yacht
[edit ]
De Antonio Yachts D28 Formentor is a yacht introduced in July 2021 as a collaborative project between Barcelona-based shipbuilder De Antonio Yachts and Cupra's Color & Trim division. Its design was said to be inspired by the Cupra Formentor VZ5.[21] [22]
Production figures
[edit ]| Year | Models | Total | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ateca | León | Formentor | Born | ||
| 2020[23] | N/A | N/A | 11,041 | - | N/A |
| 2021[24] | 4,505 | 13,670 | 58,863 | 4,801 | 81,839 |
| 2022[24] | 8,841 | 20,070 | 105,568 | 36,153 | 170,632 |
| 2023[25] | 14,228 | 62,103 | 124,670 | 45,748 | 246,749 |
References
[edit ]- ^ https://www.fleetnews.co.uk/news/new-ceo-named-for-seat-and-cupra
- ^
- CUPRA Official (7 September 2021). The CUPRA UrbanRebel World Premiere 2021. YouTube. IAA Motorshow, Munich. Event occurs at 26 s. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
- "What's the difference between CUPRA and SEAT?". Pentagon Motor Group. High Wycombe, UK. 14 December 2020. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
CUPRA is pronounced 'koo-pruh', not 'cup-ra'.
- Carey, John (7 July 2021). "Will Cupra succeed Down Under?". Which Car. Mulgrave, Victoria, Australia. Retrieved 27 June 2024.
Cupra, pronounced coop-rah, is actually a compression of Cup Racing
- ^ De dónde viene y qué quiere decir Cupra by Juan Soto on Motor El País, 3 Jul 2022
- ^ "Cupra - The story behind Seat's performance brand". Cupra - The story behind Seat's performance brand. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ Misoyannis, Alex (2021年06月24日). "Cupra: Everything you need to know about Volkswagen's sportier cousin – UPDATE". Drive. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ a b Linklater, David (2019年07月11日). "A short history of Cupra road cars". Stuff. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ "The Good Oil: The confusing history of Seat Cupra". Driven Car Guide. 2020年10月11日. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ Beckwith, Jimi (2017年09月12日). "Seat to spin off Cupra as hot sub-brand in 2018". Autocar. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ "Meet Cupra: the new standalone sporting brand by Seat". CAR Magazine. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ "Seat launches Cupra as standalone performance brand". Fleet News. 2018年02月22日. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ "Cupra Ibiza prototype shown at launch of new performance brand". evo. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ Ciferri, Luca (2018年02月22日). "VW's Seat makes Cupra a stand-alone brand". Automotive News Europe. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ "Alejandro Mesonero's Design Process – Garage | CUPRA". www.cupraofficial.com. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ McIlroy, John (2018年10月12日). "New 2018 Cupra Ateca unveiled with 296bhp". Auto Express. Retrieved 2020年08月20日.
- ^ "Cupra unveils the sporty 2020 Leon hatch and wagon models". Driven Car Guide. 2020年02月24日. Retrieved 2024年03月05日.
- ^ "Cupra Formentor SUV Makes up to 306 HP, Offers Plug-in Hybrid Version". MotorTrend. 2020年03月03日. Retrieved 2020年09月06日.
- ^ "Cupra Confirms New Born (Formerly el-Born) Electric Hatchback". InsideEVs. 23 February 2021. Retrieved 25 February 2021.
- ^ Bob Harper (10 September 2019). "New Cupra Tavascan all-electric SUV debuts in Frankfurt". evo.co.uk. Retrieved 13 April 2021.
- ^ "Volkswagen's Cupra Brand Is Coming to the United States". Motor1.com. Retrieved 2024年03月21日.
- ^ www.cupraofficial.it - it.motor1.com (Video) - "Il nuovo SUV CUPRA... con un MOTORE inedito? CUPRA TINDAYA" (www.quattroruote.it Official Channel - YouTube)
- ^ Niculescu, Aurel (2021年07月06日). "Sadly, the De Antonio Yachts D28 Formentor Won't Be Ready for Cupra Summer Trips". autoevolution. Retrieved 2024年04月04日.
- ^ "Seat Cupra-styled De Antonio D28 revealed". Boatsales. 2021年07月16日. Retrieved 2024年04月04日.
- ^ "Volkswagen Konzern - AR 20 - Moving progress". annualreport2020.volkswagenag.com. Retrieved 2024年03月06日.
- ^ a b "Volkswagen Passenger Cars". Volkswagen Group Annual Report 2022. Retrieved 2023年03月30日.
- ^ "Annual Report 2023 Downloads". VW Annual Report 2023. Retrieved 2024年04月05日.
