CUPRA would possibly pitch itself “between the mainstream and the status section” – within the phrases of Australian model director Ben Wilks – however retail pricing of the model’s “right-sized” all-electric medium SUV has landed nearer to the previous than the latter.
Priced from $60,990 (earlier than on-road prices), the rear-wheel drive Tavascan Endurance shares its 210kW/545Nm driveline with the wagon-bodied Volkswagen ID.4 Professional ($59,990 + ORC) and Skoda Enyaq Coupe Sportline ($69,990 + ORC).
In Endurance trim, the Tavascan additionally lands barely north of the refreshed Tesla Mannequin Y Rear Wheel Drive ($58,900 + ORC).
Whereas the Australian arm of the Volkswagen Group’s sporty Spanish marque fought to safe the ultimate value, in addition to cheap provide from the Anhui, China manufacturing facility, the launch of the electrical crossover coincides with an extra concentrate on profitable novated lease enterprise from eligible salary-sacrifice patrons.
Native Cupra executives have saved a detailed eye on the creating value battle in Australia’s electrical battery electrical SUV section and acknowledge the Barcelona-based model just isn’t immune from its results.
Mr Wilks instructed GoAuto that the marque “(has) to answer the market we’re in – it is crucial that we make a proposal that’s as sturdy as attainable by way of (value).”
Money patrons are a comparatively small half of the present Australian purchaser set for battery electrical automobiles (BEV) priced beneath the Luxurious Automobile Tax (LCT) threshold.
In mid-2024, greater than half of company fleet supervisor FleetPartners’ new BEV lease writings have been novated. Cupra will now be able to straight advertising and marketing novated leases for Australian patrons via its in-house monetary companies arm.
A major driver continues to be the Commonwealth authorities’s waiver of Fringe Advantages Tax (FBT) for fully-electric automobiles bought beneath a novated lease for worker use. The scheme commenced 1 July 2022, with the same waiver for plug-in hybrid (PHEV) automobiles set to shut to new patrons on 31 March 2025.
“Evaluating it to a combustion car of the identical value (on a novated lease), whenever you take a look at what you’ll be able to doubtlessly save from a FBT standpoint, a Tavascan VZ at $79,990 drive-away over 5 years could make a distinction of $26,000 to the shopper,” stated Cupra Australia head of product and advertising and marketing Jeff Shafer.
Australian patrons of BEVs priced beneath the LCT threshold, and who work for an employer that enables novated leasing to be included into wage packages, at present get pleasure from a full waiver from FBT.
The equal scheme for plug-in hybrids (PHEVs) ends on 31 March 2025. Earlier this month it was revealed practically 100,000 Australians have taken up the supply – ten occasions greater than forecast.
The primary Tavascan examples drive into Australian Cupra Storage retail shops this for demonstrator check drive functions, with preliminary buyer deliveries anticipated in Might 2025.
Entry-level Tavascan Endurance examples are adequately powered and fairly geared up with 19-inch wheels, bucket seats, full proximity entry with sit-to-start, wi-fi Apple CarPlay and Android Auto displayed via a 15-inch touchscreen, a 5.3-inch digital driver show, an influence tailgate and in depth LED lighting, together with illuminated entrance and rear Cupra emblems.
Driver help know-how throughout the vary takes in adaptive cruise management (with sturdy lane centring out there in Journey Help mode), blind-spot monitoring, rear cross-traffic alert and autonomous emergency braking.
Nevertheless, the entry automotive will get by with entrance/rear parking sensors and a primary reversing digital camera.
Most Endurance patrons are anticipated to specify an non-obligatory Inside Package deal ($4500), wherein the bottom specification’s guide entrance seat adjustment is changed with power-adjustable, heated items with reminiscence whereas including microfibre upholstery, 12-speaker Sennheiser premium audio, 360-degree digital camera system, additional ambient lighting, and 20-inch wheels.
From there, it’s a step to the Tavascan VZ ($74,490 +ORC) which beneficial properties all-wheel drive and a mixed 250kW of energy, because of a smaller 80kW/134Nm entrance motor becoming a member of the Endurance’s rear unit.
The VZ can be higher geared up as customary, together with the options of the Inside Package deal iwhile including 21-inch copper-coloured wheels, Matrix LED headlights and a set panoramic glass roof with energy sunshade.
In just a few months, a good greater specification will change into out there to clients within the type of an $8000 Final Package deal that may be fitted completely to the VZ.
This pack switches out the blue inside for Enceladus Gray Nappa leather-based and sportier Cup Racing entrance seats with air flow, whereas the VZ’s 21s swap to a lighter design wrapped in efficiency tyres.
Lacking from any specification is a contemporary connectivity suite. Whereas the Tavascan’s working system is fairly slick – and consists of guide local weather preconditioning, wi-fi telephone connectivity and 4 USB-C ports – Australian vehicles aren’t fitted with the modem or software program to allow the Cupra Join app, which abroad permits distant local weather, unlocking, and different conveniences.
“The propostion from Cupra is not only to be an app on wheels … it’s about drivability,” stated Mr Wilks.
“There may be positively a use case (for the Cupra Join tech suite), and the purchasers are requesting this, so the subject is actually on our agenda with our crew at headquarters. In the meanwhile, we haven’t obtained a agency date for that however … we will definitely be advocating for (it).”
All Tavascan incarnations run a 77kWh (usable) nickel manganese cobalt traction battery, via WLTP rated consumption and vary differ relying on configuration.
The Endurance formally consumes 14.4kWh/100km for 534km vary, the VZ 15.4kWh/100km for 499km, and the VZ with Final Pack 16.6kWh/100km for 463km, with the soar attributed to its stickier tyres.
Abroad, different Volkswagen Group automobiles that make use of identical MEB modular electrical toolkit platform because the Cupra can be found with smaller or bigger batteries, together with 52.0kWh and 86.0kWh items, however neither have been slotted into the Chinese language-built Tavascan as but.
“We’ve been fairly clear about the place Cupra sits within the market, within the area between mass and premium, and the costs mirror that … We’re by no means being the basement driveaway value chief. It isn’t the place we wish to be long-term, so it’s not the place we’d go,” Mr Shafer instructed GoAuto.
2025 Cupra Tavascan pricing*:
*Pricing excludes on-road prices.
