Cupra Australia has offered an update on its upcoming electric city car – the Raval – ahead of a likely local launch within the next two years.
Set to be the production version of the UrbanRebel concept, the Cupra Raval is expected to be the smallest model in the brand’s lineup, sitting below the existing Born electric hatch.
The circa-4.0m long Raval is based on the Volkswagen Group’s ‘MEB Entry’ electric vehicle (EV) platform, and will compete with models including the BYD Dolphin, MG 4, Abarth 500e, and Mini Cooper SE.
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UrbanRebel concept
“We’re now getting into the real meat of the discussions with headquarters,” Cupra Australia’s head of product and marketing, Jeff Shafer, told CarExpert.
“We’re very excited about this car and what it can do for Cupra. It brings a new entry point into the EV range and appeals to a younger audience.
“It’s a car that Cupra is leading global development on, and it’s going to be built in our factory in Barcelona, right at headquarters.
“It’s still a little ways off — we’re probably looking at late 2026 or 2027 for global timing — but we’ll share more as things progress.”
With the Raval set to be launched in Europe late in 2026, based on the typical wait for Cupra vehicles to come here we could be looking at a local launch in early 2027.
At launch, the Raval will be powered by a single front-mounted electric motor, reportedly producing 169kW to give the Raval a 0-100km/h time of less than seven seconds. Cupra is targeting 440km of driving range, shy of the Born’s 511km figure.
The racy city EV was spied testing on public roads in September last year with styling cues that closely resemble the UrbanRebel concept, first unveiled in 2021.
At one stage, Cupra Australia hoped to have the Raval ready for the local market this year, however that timing has since been pushed back.
Nevertheless, Mr Shafer believes the Raval will make a splash younger buyers when it does finally arrive in the next year or two.
“I think this model will really appeal to people who want a youthful, fun car — maybe they’re not driving long distances or don’t need ultimate range as their main concern,” said Mr Shafer.
“They’re looking for a CUV or small crossover SUV with compact practicality — and that’s exactly what this car offers.
“It also comes with a powertrain that’s playful and genuinely enjoyable to drive.”
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Raval
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