Cupra Tavascan Extreme E : The Cupra DNA

“We strongly believe in the Extreme E project as a whole. Electrification, sustainability, gender-balance and diversity are common values between CUPRA and Extreme E. The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is clear proof of the hard work that we’re doing at CUPRA in order to be able to compete next season.” 

Antonino Labate, Director of Strategy, Business Development and Operations, CUPRA.

The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is injected with CUPRA DNA. The all-electric off-road racing car is the next step in the brand’s Extreme E journey, as well as a preview of the design language that will be used in the CUPRA Tavascan, the brand’s second 100 percent electric model, which will be designed and developed in Barcelona and will be available in Europe and overseas markets in 2024. 

The Concept combines a completely new exterior design with 100% CUPRA DNA and a holistic approach to natural material utilization, making it more sustainable and versatile. 

The front and back design of the car has evolved significantly since it raced in the first season of Extreme E. LED technology allows for more creative freedom when designing a car with CUPRA DNA; the headlights are arranged in three triangular groups on either side for a more formidable appearance. 

The lighting is also housed in a 3D printed frame, which was chosen to provide the Concept a competitive advantage. 3D printed parts are more efficient because they may be made in as little as six hours. That means the team can swiftly respond to changes; whether it’s due to an event or a change in the light position, the components may be changed in a short amount of time without the usage of bulky and expensive tooling. 

“The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is the next evolution of our all-electric off-road racing car with even more CUPRA DNA and a design hint at the brand’s future direction. But it also delivers technical advancement too. The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept uses flax fibers throughout the bodywork to improve sustainability and 3D printed elements that can be quickly recreated to keep the racecar out on the track.” 

Xavi Serra, Head of Technical Development, CUPRA Racing.

The Extreme E racing series, on the other hand, is all about raising environmental consciousness, and the CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept does just that, making the car even more sustainable. 

By constructing as much of the body structure as feasible using flax fibers derived from the flax plant, carbon fiber components can be replaced, lowering the vehicle’s environmental effect. And there’s no loss of performance because the material can be treated in the same way, resulting in the same forms and radii that engineers want. It’s already a technology that might be simply applied to mass-market vehicles. 

The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept’s reworked body is finished with a livery that will help it stand out whether racing in the arctic, desert, glacier, or ocean. 

Copper highlights – a time-honored CUPRA mark, parametric texturing and dynamized lines to assist the exterior shimmer and move as the vehicle shifts across the landscape, and an overlapping CUPRA logo to create a strong 3D effect – are used to finish the all-electric off-road racing. 

“The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is looking incredible and in addition to being fully electric, it is now even more sustainable, using recyclable and organic materials such as flax fibers, I cannot wait to compete with this newly designed version!” 

Jutta Kleinschmidt, CUPRA driver.

The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept features a 54-kWh battery that is mounted behind the cockpit for true rear weight distribution and can accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in around 4 seconds, meeting the race series’ requirements. 

CUPRA has always been an element of Extreme E. It was the first automaker to declare its participation, partnering with ABT Sportsline as the team’s primary sponsor. CUPRA’s electrification research is being bolstered by the Extreme E series, which promotes electrification, sustainability, and gender equality. 

“I am delighted to see CUPRA launch the CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E concept as it enables it to become the second manufacturer to use its own bodywork for its Extreme E team. This moves not only injects added style and personality into the series, but also supports our goals for Extreme E to prove itself as a global marketing showcase for partners, as CUPRA prepares to launch this model to consumers in the future. Congratulations to this future thinking and highly visionary team, the CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E is a truly stunning design and I can’t wait to see it make its racing debut in Extreme E.” 

Alejandro Agag, Founder and CEO, Extreme E.

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