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Irish Examiner
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Cupra Tavascan review: sleek electric SUV impresses with sporty drive and standout design
Cupra will be a 'name' in due course, but right now not enough people know about it Brand recognition is a vital component of any manufacturer's raison d'etre and the motoring sphere is no different from any other endeavour where selling to Joe and Jane Public is essential to success. But if Jane and Joe have no idea about your product line-up, then you're in a spot of bother. For Cupra, the SEAT sub-brand for which the parent Volkswagen Group has lofty ideas, that's a big issue right now. Factor in the intention of its VW masters to launch Cupra as a standalone marque to the US within the next decade, then brand recognition becomes altogether more important for those charged with making it a success. As we have pointed out on numerous occasions when writing about this excellent new brand, this lack of public awareness about the marque and its products is both bewildering and dumb. If you're not out there pushing the metal, then the metal is not going to sell itself. And the thing is that Cupra does have a lot to say about itself – excellent model line-up, competitive pricing and individual product which is as good as if not better than that of the parent company. Indeed – and it has been obvious for some time – that subsidiary companies such as Skoda, SEAT and now Cupra are if not necessarily leaving equivalent VW products looking dull and uninspired by comparison with what they are making, then they are certainly making better cars. But, the reason why Cupra – with its 'four-legged spider' logo and copper-coloured body inserts and alloy wheels – has come into existence is, in reality, because the powers that be in Wolfsburg realised that it was probably going to be impossible to change the brand perception that accompanies the SEAT brand. Sadly, the Spanish marque, has always been associated with the lower end of the market and no end of brand manipulation was going to change that perception. So, what to do? Well, the easy answer was simply to reinvent it. Cupra is that reinvention. Oddly, though, what has emerged is something that will potentially challenge the VW badge itself and it will be interesting in the years to come to see how Wolfsburg copes with that challenge. But enough waffle. The Tavascan is named, like all SEAT and Cupra models, after towns or locations across Spain (in this case a small village in the heart of the Pyrenees, near the border with France). It is solely an EV, like its sibling the Born, and it is Cupra's stab at that most awful of automotive segments, a Coupe SUV. In fairness, looking at it, it does not immediately come across as one of those terrible, but more like a simply sleek SUV. It is a good-looking thing and your eye is caught more by its body curves than the heavily sloped roof, which isn't that heavily sloped really. Cupra Tavascan stylish interior There is an element of drama about the car's appearance and its looks purposeful and modern, despite the fact the designers have relied heavily on older design tropes (clam-shell-y bonnet, Avant Garde light clusters front and rear), fat wheel arches and swoopy creases and folds along the flanks). The interior too dares to be different and is, nominally, a feast for the eyes. There's a unique Y-shaped element which emerges from the centre console between the front seats and melds into the dash and creates a futuristic vibe. On the one hand, this design's adventurousness is daring and different; on the other, it is let down by the materials used to create it, but more of that later. Passenger space is very generous — especially for those in the rear where neither head or leg room are compromised by the supposed 'coupe' look or the panoramic roof — and the boot is huge too. The one caveat is that the materials used – despite plenty of eye-catching copper inserts – don't feel as premium as they might. They are too hard and scratchy for the premium feel that is being sought here. Otherwise, the seats are fantastically comfortable and the tech levels – including the huge 15' touchscreen – are very impressive, although we would have liked a non-integrated climate system and button controls for same. But stuff like the Sennheiser stereo system also adds heft to the package. Driving it, however, is where its winning character comes into play – it's a hoot. Now, that's not something we've often said about EVs; sure, some of them are light-switch fast, but most don't have the handling nous necessary to make that palatable. This one does. The engineers have done a thorough job on the front and rear suspensions – MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link rear setups – have been finely calibrated and it shows. This thing handles like the sporty entity Cupra wanted it to be and not like your regular sloppy mid-sized SUV. With the steering having been specially engineered to provide more driver feel and engagement and, allied with the suspension tuning, the Tavascan packs the necessary ride and handling punch to please even the most demanding driver. The all-new Cupra Tavascan Work has also been done to give heft to the braking system – something we found to be wanting on the recently reviewed Born. Here, they are reassuringly responsive and do their job well. Add that to 286 bhp whack coming from the 210-kW electric motor – powering the rear wheels – on our 'Endurance 6' specced model and you have something very engaging indeed – much moreso than either the excellent Skoda Enyaq or the disappointing Volkswagen ID.3. There are, of course, a choice of driving modes – and you even get a 'Cupra' button t-on the steering wheel which promises more grunt but doesn't really deliver much. As is so often with EVs these days, you're best off sticking it in 'comfort' mode and leaving it at that. But then you've got the Tavascan's range and re-charging prowess, both of which are impressive. The official range is 546km, but you can feel certain you'll get close to 500 km at least without being overly careful, while the 20-80% charging takes about half-an-hour. So far, so good. So, what are the downsides? Well, this car is actually made in China and therefore subject to EU tariffs introduced last year – even before 'Tariff' Trump swung into action. That makes it quite an expensive car for the mid-size SUV segment, but we can expect to see some inventive sales pitches here to soften that blow somewhat. The other downside is the quality of the interior materials; for a supposedly premium vehicle, they're just not up to the job and detract from what is an otherwise excellent package. Once more with a Cupra product, we have something here which is tantalisingly close to being a five-star product but falls just shy. That they're getting so close to excellence promises much for the brand and its future. This 'experiment' gets more interesting by the day – now all they need is for the general public to actually know and understand what they're up to. Read More Opel Grandland EV review: electric SUV offers good range and undercuts hybrids on price
Sunday World
16-05-2025
- Automotive
- Sunday World
Cupra charges ahead with a new all-electric SUV
Rule this Spanish sex machine out at your peril... Cupra's first all-electric SUV is here, and it has a lot to be proud of. There is a very good range on a full charge, it looks incredible, it has flashes of sheer Spanish sexiness, it is fun, it is young and if you don't aim too high with your trim level it gives a lot of bang for your buck. Named after a small Spanish village best-known for using its lakes to produce green energy, the Tavascan is the company's second EV after the Born and is one of many new exciting models that are about to land here in Ireland over the coming years. Cupra's biggest problem right now is that they are still relatively unknown (or at the very least misunderstood) and with this car are entering a very claustrophobic market with some big hitters holding court. Inside Cupra's Tavascan There area a few big names from the US, Korea and Europe including the Irish car of the Year for 2022 and 2025. But the Tavascan is not starting from absolute zero like some of the other new brands to arrive in Ireland in recent years. And anyone who has feasted their eyes on any one of the models in the Cupra range will know that the company doesn't do boring and mundane. Formerly the premium branch of SEAT, the designers were allowed to introduce flicks of design panache but now that they don't have to answer the mother ship, the Spanish car company has grown up fast and is now producing cars nearly as fast as they drive. But the speed of them is not their unique selling point. You just have to take a quick glance at them to know that designs are their forte. Even their stylish badge is impressive and now gets lit up beautifully from behind. The absolute cheapest version of this car comes in at €44,365 after SEAI grants but the car I got to call mine for seven fun days was the Endurance trim that you can have for €48,105. Cupra's Tavascan has good head-room front and rear but still feels smaller than it actually is It comes with a 77kWh battery and 286hp at your disposal, but best of all the numbers was the mind-blowing 546km you get from a full charge of battery. On the subject of numbers… you can charge this car from 0-100 per cent at an 11kW charge point in hours and if you get hooked up to one of the faster charge points around the country you won't even have time for a decent siesta as you'll go from 10-80 percent in just 28 minutes. It is fast on the road too, and can reach a maximum speed of 180km/h and can do 0-100km/h in 6.8 seconds. Which is pretty punchy for an SUV of this size and weight. And you should know that there is another option you can buy that comes with 335bhp, two motors and in all-wheel drive mode. Okay, enough numbers. Simply put, this is a great looking car; inside and out. The interior is dominated by a carbon fibre Y-Shaped centre console that looks like it should be a in a McLaren F1 car as opposed to a family- focused SUV, but that's classic Cupra right there. My only gripe about that is that I think they wasted the button function on that as it is the car's hazard lights. Surely, a drive mode or on/off button would look better sitting there? There is a good head room in the front and the rear of this car but yet it feels smaller than it actually is. I guess when you want stylish lines and angles you have to sacrifice something, luckily though here it isn't a sacrifice that would become a deal breaker. The high window line here is cool looking but ultimately hinders the view ever so slightly for the kids in the back. The boot still comes with 540ltr, which is not a segment topper but is plenty of boot to get you through your weekly duties. Cupra's Tavascan No matter which version of the Tavascan you buy, you get a 15' infotainment touchscreen with wireless smartphone integration. Like a lot of cars these days, most of the functions are operated using the touchscreen, which is responsive but it takes a bit of getting used to. No matter which model or trim line you get you do get a lot of as-standard features and equipment and if you do opt for this you will have one of the best-looking electric family SUVs on the market.
Yahoo
15-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
Seat Leon e-HYBRID Style trim expands electrification reach
SEAT, a member of Volkswagen Group, has introduced the Style trim for the Leon e-HYBRID, enhancing electrification accessibility. This move is part of the brand's strategy to make plug-in hybrid technology more accessible. The SEAT Leon was the brand's inaugural plug-in hybrid model. Available in both five-door and Sportstourer versions, the Leon e-HYBRID in Style trim aims to broaden the customer base for electrified vehicles. The new generation e-HYBRID engine delivers 204PS (150kW)/350Nm, combining a 1.5-litre TSI 150PS (110kW) petrol engine, a 115PS (85kW) electric motor, and a 19.7kWh lithium-ion battery. This combination provides an electric-only range of up to 134km. Charging options include up to 50kW on DC fast-chargers or 11kW at home using an AC wallbox. Standard features of the SEAT Leon e-HYBRID's Style trim include ecoLED lights, 17in alloy rims, a 10.25in digital cockpit, and a 10.4in infotainment system with a retro-illuminated slider. SEAT's Martorell facilities in Barcelona are responsible for the design, development, and production of the SEAT Leon e-HYBRID. SEAT Brand Officer Arantxa Alonso said: "The SEAT Leon continues to be a fundamental element of the brand's strategy, especially with the introduction of this new generation of plug-in hybrid powertrain, which reflects our commitment to innovation and sustainability. "The addition of the Style trim to the Leon e-HYBRID broadens its appeal and gives even more people access to an electrified future, mixing the efficiency and excitement SEAT is renowned for.' In March, Wayne Griffiths resigned as CEO of VW Group's SEAT and CUPRA brands. Markus Haupt, SEAT's executive vice-president of Production & Logistics, is now the interim head until a new CEO is named. "Seat Leon e-HYBRID Style trim expands electrification reach" was originally created and published by Just Auto, a GlobalData owned brand. The information on this site has been included in good faith for general informational purposes only. It is not intended to amount to advice on which you should rely, and we give no representation, warranty or guarantee, whether express or implied as to its accuracy or completeness. You must obtain professional or specialist advice before taking, or refraining from, any action on the basis of the content on our site. Sign in to access your portfolio
Forbes
06-05-2025
- Automotive
- Forbes
Spain-Portugal Blackout: Lessons Learned Amid Supply Chain Shockwaves
Industrial port de Barcelona in evening. Spain getty After a nearly daylong power outage that disrupted life for millions across Spain and Portugal, authorities in both countries remain uncertain about the cause. Some experts suggest a rare atmospheric phenomenon caused sudden temperature fluctuations that interfered with high-voltage power lines, leading to grid instability. Others suspect Spain's heavy reliance on solar and wind energy might have backfired when renewable output dropped faster than backup systems could handle. While no evidence of cyberattacks has been found yet, the possibility of external disruptions remains under investigation. Whatever the root cause, one thing's crystal clear: blackouts like this don't just switch off the lights; they send shockwaves through global supply chains, turning a local outage into a worldwide headache. Spain and Portugal serve as vital gateways connecting Europe, Africa, and the Americas, enabling smooth movement of goods across continents. Spain boasts one of Europe's largest logistics markets, supported by extensive rail networks and an 8,000-kilometer coastline. Forbes Earth Day 2025: Supply Chains Hold The Key To A Sustainable Future By Richard Howells Portugal complements this with a focus on quality production and key logistics hubs near Lisbon and Porto that link Atlantic trade routes with European markets. Together, their developed transport corridors and investments in sustainable logistics make them essential nodes in global trade. Any disruption here does not merely flicker locally but sends ripples through international supply chains, impacting industries and consumers worldwide. Who felt the heat? Five big Spanish oil refineries stopped refining fuels, plastics, and chemicals, including Spain's second larger refinery operator. Two other refineries ceased operations, tightening the supply of bunker fuel that keeps ships running. Car manufacturers had to halt production , threatening delays at overseas assembly plants that rely on Iberian parts. Major automakers like Ford and SEAT stopped their production lines. Similarly, truck manufacturer Iveco paused operations at its factories in Madrid and Valladolid while waiting for power restoration. This stoppage disrupted supply of parts, potentially affecting assembly plants abroad that depend on car parts from these facilities. Expectedly, food processors faced spoilage risks and missed export deadlines. As a region exporting a large amount of seafood, fruits, and vegetables, food supply chains faced with spoilage risks, shipment delays, and lost export opportunities. Just the meat industry got 190 million euros hit due to refrigeration systems failing. How AI helps supply chains to fight back Businesses, shipping companies, and manufacturers do not have to tackle all these challenges on their own. AI-powered systems enable all supply chain stakeholders about disruptions and alternative plans simultaneously. Spain's major ports-Algeciras, Valencia, Barcelona slowed down their operations because of fuel shortages and power outages. This caused delays in handling cargo and led to ships waiting longer than usual. Ships queued up, waiting longer than usual, prompting many to reroute to North African and Italian ports. Forbes AI Leadership: How To Elevate Your Team Through Human Ingenuity By Namita Gupta-Hehl AI algorithms can instantly recalculate the most efficient shipping routes, taking into account both costs and the condition of the goods, especially for the shipments that need cold chain. Changing routes meaning businesses have to use more fuel, which raises the cost of shipping. This extra fuel demand is also causing shortages of bunker the fuel ships at other ports in southern Europe. Machine learning models can forecast port congestion patterns, helping shippers to avoid bottlenecks before they form. Manufacturers are focusing on their most critical suppliers and diversifying sourcing to avoid part shortages, especially in automotive and electronics sectors. During partial outages, business AI can prioritize power allocation to critical production processes while temporarily scaling back non-essential operations. Fostering resilience with supply chain diversification Putting all your eggs in one supplier's basket in 2025? That's a recipe for empty shelves when the disruption hits. Whether it's a bridge collapsing, a huge shipment going sideways in a super busy canal that keeps the canal closed over weeks, or electricity takes an unexpected coffee break nationwide, what could save the supply chains is reducing over dependencies . Forbes Easter Chocolate Demand Creates Supply Chain Squeeze By Oyku Ilgar Instead of simply reacting to disruptions, companies need a proactive, long-term strategy. In fact, nearly one-third of businesses are adopting a dual supply chain approach, maintaining both global and local options. By diversifying suppliers across multiple partners and regions, companies can better manage risks, keep operations running smoothly, and build resilient supply chains. Business Network collaboration platforms play a crucial role in this strategy. They not only help identify suppliers at risk but also offer alternative sources of supply and collaborative tools to ensure rapid and precise management of disruptions. In today's volatile trade environment, resilience, agility, and adaptability are not just advantages but are essential for businesses to survive and thrive. The recent Spain-Portugal blackout underscores a larger reality: even local outages can quickly spiral into global headaches, causing more cost and complexity for the shippers, manufacturers, and consumers worldwide. Rather than being re-active to the undesired global events, companies should focus on building resilient, agile, and adaptable supply chains by combining the right technologies with the right strategies-rather than trying to predict the unpredictable in a complex global trade environment. Want to understand what's driving supply chain resilience today? Explore how leveraging analytics can help companies better manage their assets and resources, turning constant uncertainty into opportunities for smoother, read the IDC Analyst Connection: Guiding Optimal Supply Chain Performance with Artificial Intelligence
Irish Examiner
03-05-2025
- Automotive
- Irish Examiner
Cupra Born VZ review: electric hot hatch outshines VW ID.3 with speed, style and serious range
Volkswagen is not generally known as a company that tends to take a rash punt on something – unless it's trying to trick us all with an emissions scandal, of course. Generally, though, it is a staid outfit where every decision is carefully measured and thought through. That being so, the creation of a new marque from scratch built on the foundations of one of VW's subsidiaries – SEAT – has been something of an ongoing curiosity. The new Cupra marque – despite the fact it has been with us since 2018 and was SEAT's performance sub-brand forever – still elicits frowns and much head-scratching from the motoring public who don't really know (or understand) what it is all about. Coming to a decision to make Cupra an actual nameplate in its own right could be considered a massive gamble in VW terms, but one would have to presume that a corporation of its size and clout considered all the implications before doing so. Those who reached the conclusion that Cupra was a wise road to travel may have kept to themselves the answers to numerous questions – not least wither SEAT? It has also been decided that they are preparing the brand for a push to establish a greater VW Group foothold in markets unused to having anything other than Volkswagen or Audi products available to them. One such market, of course, would be America. Some years ago, we actually tried to persuade several members of the management board at Skoda that they were mad not to put their toe in US waters and particularly so with their hugely successful SUV range. Needless to say, our thoughts on the matter were dismissed out of hand. What we did not know was that they were planning such a move, but it would not be with the Skoda nameplate – it would be with Cupra and in March last year they announced they would do so by the end of this decade. Of course, what nobody factored into the equation was Donald 'Tariff' Trump. His seemingly endless thirst for a deal has wracked world markets and upset pretty much everyone. It also unsettled those in Martorell, near Barcelona, who had been charged with readying Cupra for an assault on America. Cupra's stylish interior Their plans might have had to be put on hold for a while as everyone trading with America tries to ensure they're not tariffed out of business. You can be sure, however, that this dumb-ass idea to try and make America great again, will not put a stop to their intentions in the long-run. From something of a standing start, Cupra has made steady ground across Europe as a sort of sub-premium car maker with ambitious plans. They have thus far come up with an impressive range of models and like Skoda (within the parameters they were allowed) have made a bunch of cars that – embarrassingly – often put their Wolfsburg equivalents well in the shade. Read More Essential electric vehicle tips for Irish road trips and motorway driving One such has been the Cupra Born, the company's first EV which shares a lot with the VW ID.3, except it is a much better car. It is better looking, far more premium-minded and still reasonably priced. We've driven a few of them since they arrived in 2021 and recently we got our hands on another. We were, once again, impressed. This time around we had the VZ version of the car, which is the EV hot hatch model – and quite the thing it is. Like its lesser siblings, it shares a lot with the ID.3, but in this case it is specifically twinned with the ID.3 GTX. Interestingly, we will not be seeing that VW here for some time, so for the powers-that-be in Wolfsburg to allow the Cupra Born VZ to steal some of their thunder, is a measure of just how important the new brand is for the group right at this very moment and into the future. Now, while the Born has been critical in growing sales for the new marque – along with the excellent Formentor, which we will be trying again soon. Across Europe it sold over 45,000 units last year and, it is obviously hoped that by sprucing it up, it will sell many more this year. The VZ handle stands for 'Veloz' (speed in Spanish) and while the transition to hot hatch has not seen much development on the exterior look (some new colours and new 20' alloys), under the skin there is 40% more power and 75% more torque, as well as better range and charging times thanks to a new 79 kWh battery. The new Cupra Born But that's not all because the suspension has been tweaked, the anti-roll bars have been upgraded and the brakes and steering also given a going over. The interior has also been upgraded, with all manner of lighting systems and an excellent pair of Sabelt bucket seats for the driver and passenger. The Born was always a nice car to drive or be driven in. Now, though, it has a new edge and the increase in grunt now sees 322 bhp being delivered, as well as a 0-100 km/h time of 5.6 seconds and a top speed just shy of 200 km/h. The range too has improved to a fraction under 600 km, which is pretty impressive for a small EV and even moreso when you factor in the power increases. It is a rear-wheel-drive car, so with that extra power it might be a tricky wet weather companion, but upgraded steering and a host of electronic aids eliminate most of those downsides. The traction control system is excellent and while the ESC might be a bit intrusive for some, it keeps things sensible. This is something unusual for an electric in that it likes to be hustled; many of them are simply quick, but don't particularly like corners. This one does both satisfactorily and while the ride is a little on the stiff side, that's for a good reason. Cornering and grip levels are top drawer. One issue that rear its head was the relatively spongy brakes. While these have been upgraded, they are still too slow to react for my liking and you really had to jump on them to get a satisfactory response. Overall, though, this was a car that impressed greatly and, to be honest, one which came very close to securing a valued (and rare) 5-star review. It did everything really well and was comfortable and practical while doing so. The only thing that took the shine off somewhat was that issue with the brakes which were really not up to the standards set everywhere else in the Born design and took the gloss off an otherwise outstanding vehicle. But we set a high bar here at Examiner Motoring and the Born just didn't clear it satisfactorily, which is something of a blot on a pretty much blemish-free car from the marque. And remember too that if you're unfamiliar with all things Cupra, you'll soon be wondering why that was ever the case. And, if you're American, you can look forward to something new, fresh and exciting coming your way soon.
