In 2030, it’s done, all Cupras will be 100% electric. Until then, what do the product plans of the two Iberian brands have in store for us? Won’t the development of one be at the expense of the other? Let’s do a check in.
For 4 years, the Cupra coat of arms has designated a fully-fledged automotive brand within the Volkswagen group, which now lives its life independently of the Seat parent company. Indeed, the era which began in 1996, during which Cupra was the sports label dedicated to the most vitaminized Seat models, will definitely belong to the past when the Seat Leon and Ateca, both also available in the Cupra range, will leave the catalog. Wayne Griffiths the big boss of Seat and Cupra said a roadmap with 100% electric Cupras by 2030 while Seat will remain thermal on their side. A strategy dictated by finances since the Catalan brand has been losing money for two years.
TO READ. cupra. An electric city car for 2025, cousin of the VW ID.1
Cupra: spoils of war at Seat?
![Future compact SUV Cupra 2024 Ateca 2](https://www.largus.fr/images/images/cupra-will-expand-its-line-up-with-all-new-electrified-suv-to-be-launched-in-202401hq_1.jpg)
Today the Cupra range includes four models, the 100% electric Cupra Born compact sedan, derived from the Volkswagen ID.3, the Coupé Formentor SUV as well as the Cupra versions of the Seat Leon and Seat Ateca. The range is recent, in fact, the oldest being the Cupra Ateca born in 2018, followed by the Cupra Leon sedan and station wagon as well as the Formentor coupé SUV which arrived in 2020. Finally, the Born dates from 2021. he Cupra Tarraco coming to play the role of troop transport with its capacity of 7 places will not finally see the light of day. In 2022 and 2023, the product cycle will experience a lull before picking up again in 2024 and 2025.
![Concept Cupra Urban Rebel](https://www.largus.fr/images/images/cupra-urbanrebel-concept-8_2.jpg)
Because, there was a sleight of hand between Seat and Cupra with an “Ateca 2” initially and logically planned for the first and which, finally, with an adequate repositioning, will be in the catalog of the second. In 2024, this new compact SUV manufactured in Hungary at the Audi plant in Gyor will benefit from next-generation hybrid and plug-in hybrid technologies. It will complement the Cupra Tavascan, a 100% electric coupé SUV derived from the Volkswagen ID.5. In 2025, the production version of the Urban Rebel concept car will offer a watted city car to the Cupra range by lowering the entry ticket while a generously sized SUV, a little larger than a Tarraco, will allow Cupra to establish itself calmly on the North American market.
TO READ. cupra. Two new models announced, and from the Metaverse
The future Cupra until 2025
- Cupra Leon VZ Cup – spring 2022
- Cupra Tarraco (abandoned project) – end of 2022
- Cupra Tavascan – current 2024
- Cupra compact SUV-coupe “Ateca 2” – current 2024
- Cupra Citadine “Urban Rebel” – current 2025
- Cupra family SUV “Tarraco 2” – current 2025
What about Seat?
![Seat Leon 4 profile](https://www.largus.fr/images/images/essai-seat-leon-e-hybrid-2021-18_1.jpg)
At the annual Seat and Cupra brand conference, there was very little mention of Seat. Apart from the creation in 2026 of a Gigafactory to manufacture batteries in Spain, no announcement on the brand’s future product plan. Concretely, there will be nothing new under the Catalan sun before 2025. Should we be worried? Not necessarily. 2020 was a festival with the appearance of the fourth Leon of the name, the restyled Ateca and the Tarraco plug-in. In 2021, the restyling of the Ibiza and the Arona and a Leon range expanded by the station wagon and the rechargeable hybrid versions made great news. The question will then arise of the replacement of the Ibiza launched in 2017 and its urban adventurer derivative Arona born the same year. Finally, if we follow the life cycles of the products, the restylings of the Leon and Tarraco should be on the program in 2024.
Beyond 2024, Seat will count because of the expansion of the Cupra range on a reduced range. The Catalan manufacturer will offer renovated Ibizas and Aronas to satisfy customers who do not have the budget to switch to electric. It is expected that the gasoline engines will adopt light hybridization and comply with the Euro 7 emission standard which will come into force in 2025. As for a future Leon, there is doubt. Technically, Seat can count on the development of the Volkswagen Golf 9 but nothing is guaranteed.
The future Seat until 2025
- NOT new Ibiza – current 2024-2025
- Restyled Leon – current 2024
- New Arona – during 2025