Showing posts with label tavascan. Show all posts
Showing posts with label tavascan. Show all posts

Tuesday, December 31, 2024

Cupra Tavascan v Terramar

A concept turned reality, the first-ever Cupra Tavascan the brand's first-ever EV coupe crossover that runs on the same bits and bobs as the Volkswagen ID.5 and with prices starting at 51,790 Euros plus additional costs, looks like you're on the roll...or are you?

2025 Cupra Tavascan
2025 Cupra Tavascan

2025 Cupra Tavascan
2025 Cupra Tavascan interior


The first-ever Cupra Tavascan happens when you let Cupra mess around with the humble Volkswagen ID.5 and turn it into a sharp-dressed EV coupe crossover that prefers to prowl around city centers after hours and by the looks of it, it really is on the roll.

Having appreciated its concept-inspired exterior design, the interior retains the minimalist approach like everyone from the Volkswagen Group fleet. On the driver's side, you'll be greeted by its 15-inch infotainment system with smartphone connectivity that controls almost the entire car. It features smart lighting functions, an AR HUD, and smart heated seats for added flashiness. In terms of spacing, the Tavascan can carry up to 540 liters of boot space.

The Tavascan features two different variants to choose from such as the rear-wheel-drive Endurance variant with up to 547km of driving range and the flagship VZ variant with a four-wheel-drive system that produces 250kw of power output and 517km of driving range. Both variants are fitted with a 77kWh battery pack.

In its rear-wheel-drive configuration, which feels like an old Porsche 911 when you handle it precisely like a pro, making it a mild coupe crossover to drive daily but for the VZ, it's a capable crossover that can tackle all kinds of conditions despite retaining its mild driving feel from its normal equivalent. As for safety, the Tavascan is packed with the most advanced safety features ranging from Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring, multi-collision brake and Lane Assist, Side Assist lane change system, Park Assist, Park Distance Control, and so on.

2025 Cupra Terramar

Those who are not interested in the all-electric Tavascan but prefer buying a Cupra crossover or not interested in the Formentor should consider the first-ever Terramar. Priced at 41,190 Euros plus additional costs, the Formentor, named after a historic racetrack, runs on the same MQB evo platform as today's Volkswagen Tiguan.

2025 Cupra Terramar interior
2025 Cupra Terramar interior

The Cupra Terramar is a slightly enlarged Formentor with Cupra's new family face. Inside, it has a typical Cupra minimalist driver-centered interior with a 12.9-inch infotainment system that controls the entire car, smart lighting functions, an AR HUD, a parking heater, CAR2X communication, and more. While it has Tiguan-sized proportions, it has less space than the Tavascan.

The Terramar is powered by a choice of a 150PS 1.5L eTSi, a 265ps 2.0L TSi, and the 272PS 1.5 e-HYBRID. All are mated to a 6-speed DSG. The e-HYBRID VZ variant with the said power output sprints from 0-100kph in 7.3 seconds and a top speed of 215kph. Because it's a PHEV, it has 0.4L/100km of fuel economy and an electric-only driving range of 120km.

Safety features include but are not limited to Front Assist with City Emergency Braking System and Pedestrian Monitoring, multi-collision brake and Lane Assist, Side Assist lane change system, Park Assist, Park Distance Control, and so on.

The all-electric Cupra Tavascan is a sharp-dressed EV coupe crossover that prefers to prowl around city centers after hours. The Cupra Terramar is a Tiguan-sized crossover with up to 272PS of power from its 1.5L e-HYBRID powertrain. Which Cupra crossover will you choose?

Photo: Cupra

Tuesday, June 6, 2023

My FH5 Log: Cupra Crossover Crossroads

Last December, Forza Horizon 5 welcomed players to the world of Cupra by letting them sample the racing version of the UrbanRebel concept. With Cupra gaining exclusivity to the world of Forza, the partnership continues with the arrival of two Cupra crossovers in the game.


Those who logged in before the end of the Explore the Horizon series update will receive not one but two Cupra crossovers in the game. These Cupra crossovers are the Formentor VZ5 and the Tavascan Concept.


Let's begin with the Formentor, the Cupra original crossover that blends practicality and performance at its pace. With the design inspired by the 2019 concept car, the Formentor boasts a diverse choice of powertrains ranging from the 1.5L TSi engine mated to either a 6-speed manual or a 7-speed DSG with 150PS of power, a 1.4L e-HYBRID PHEV with up to 245PS of power while mated to a 6-speed DSG, and the range-topping VZ 2.0L TSi with 310PS of power. Following the Formentor's success, a special-edition VZ5 was launched. Limited to 7,000 units, it features an upgraded 2.5L 5-cylinder turbocharged engine with 390PS of power.


Next up, the Tavascan Concept, and don't worry, it's not the 2019 concept car. It's the pre-production prototype that spawned the real deal that is set to go on sale next year. Running on the same MEB platform as its Volkswagen ID.5 equivalent, the Tavascan will feature two different variants to choose from such as the rear-wheel-drive Endurance variant with up to 547km of driving range and the flagship VZ variant with a four-wheel-drive system that produces 250kw of power output and 517km of driving range. Both variants are fitted with a 77kWh battery pack.



With the Cupra crossovers' introduction done, it's time for me to give these two Cupra crossovers a one-lap time attack to find out which Cupra crossover is the best. Will it be the most powerful Cupra to date or the electric CUV? Formentor or Tavascan? Let's find out as I pit these two Cupra crossovers around the stadium, real and emotional. VTR, start!


And now, the results...

Formentor - 1m06.633s

Tavascan - 1m14.591s

No hard feelings, right? The most powerful Cupra to date, the Formentor VZ5, has mullered the electric-powered Tavascan by nearly eight seconds. Guess it will take a lifetime for electric cars to be as quick as the prehistoric ICE-powered machines. Oh well, this is the new normal.


Both the Formentor and the Tavascan are proven to be a welcoming addition to the Forza Horizon 5 car roster and here's hoping for more in this future partnership between the Forza franchise and Cupra. They may be two different sides of the same coin but these two are a blast to drive and I'm looking forward to digging deeper with these Cupra crossovers.

Which Cupra crossover is your favorite?