2023 Cupra Born

By JEFFREY GIBBS

The Volkswagen Group has finally passed the baton to Spanish upstart Cupra to take on the top-selling Tesla Model 3.

Cupra’s first electric car, the Born, is effectively the ID.3’s sportier cousin and is named after a progressive neighbourhood in Barcelona that blends medieval and gothic heritage with new boutiques, cafes, and bars as well as art museums.

By JEFFREY GIBBS

Motoring enthusiasts, get ready to be wowed: the all-new 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD has been leaked ahead of its official reveal on May 19, and it looks set to be a real show-stopper! The North American-only Tacoma flagship has been uncovered by the 4th Gen Tacoma forum page, and the muscular new look of the dual-cab ute is expected to be replicated with the nextgeneration Toyota HiLux due mid-decade.

The Tacoma’s exterior is definitely eyecatching, with hardly a smooth panel to be seen. It features revised bumpers, an integrated LED light strip underlining the block capital ‘TOYOTA’ logo in the redesigned black mesh grille, and black wheel-arch extensions, bonnet scoop, mirrors, roof and alloy wheels set against a white body. Teasers have previewed the inclusion of Fox suspension and disc rear brakes on the flagship 4x4, as well as the option of a hybrid powertrain. The hybrid powertrain is likely to be a turbocharged 2.4-litre petrol-electric hybrid as seen in the US-spec Toyota Crown and offered locally in the Lexus RX500h F Sport Performance.

This powertrain develops 273kW and 551Nm of torque, putting it in line with the 298kW/583Nm V6 twin-turbo petrol Ford Ranger Raptor. However, Toyota Australia should continue to offer a turbo-diesel option, which may not be available in the US. According to anonymous sources within Toyota, the core powertrain for the new Tacoma will be a 2.4-litre turbo-petrol engine (sans hybrid system), as found in the Toyota Kluger (198kW/420Nm), and transmission duties across the board are said to comprise a six-speed manual and eight-speed automatic.

Be sure to stay tuned for further details in the run up to the Tacoma’s world premiere on May 19, and prepare to be amazed by what Toyota has to offer!

Based on the Group’s MEB electric toolkit, the Born is a reardrive hatch aimed at proving electrified motoring can still be fun and attainable. The Born is available in a single variant with the flagship 77kWh (usable) long-range battery pack offering a claimed 511 kilometres of WLTP-certified range, making it the only EV in Australia below $60,000 to offer over 500km of driving range.

Cupra is expecting big things from the Born, forecasting over 1000 deliveries in 2023 should all go to plan with supply and logistics, with 700 builds secured for the Australian market so far and more than 500 sold already.

The Born comes with a starting price of $59,990 plus on-road costs, and Cupra Australia recently detailed national drive-away pricing which varies between states and territories.

The Born’s positioning is competitive, given the size, packaging, performance and driving range. The Born’s most natural rival in Australia is the Nissan Leaf e+, being a similarly sized electric hatchback around $60,000.

However, the flagship Leaf’s $61,490 starting price is dearer the newer Born, and its 385km range according to WLTP specifications is well off the pace.

The outgoing Hyundai Kona Electric Extended Range starts at $60,500 for the Elite, offering a crossover body (if more compact than the Born) and the backing of a more established brand, though it can’t match the Born’s range (484km).

The biggest threat, however, is Tesla which offers the Model 3 from $61,300 after recent price increases.

The Model 3 offers 491km of range in base trim, as well as a 6.1-second 0-100 time from its RWD single-motor drivetrain. The Polestar 2 is also worth cross-shopping, currently starting at $63,900 for the Standard Range Single Motor, with a facelifted model due later this year with rear-wheel drive and 518km of range in base specification.

Overall, the Cupra Born is an impressive electric car, offering an impressive range, performance, and price. While it may not be the first electric car on the market, it is certainly one of the most competitively priced in its class.

Cupra Born e-Boost

77kWh: $59,990 Price excludes on-road costs Drive-away pricing: ACT: $61,990 NSW: $62,490 QLD: $63,490 SA: $64,490 VIC: $64,990 WA: $66,490

Note: Drive-away pricing does not include state- and territorybased EV rebate schemes.