The battery-powered Cupra Born VZ scorching hatch has been an on-again, off-again challenge for the Spanish auto model in Australia, however the first (and solely) instance has now been registered and bought in Australia.
Cupra Artarmon, situated simply off the Pacific Freeway north-west of Sydney, revealed a collection of photos and a subsequent gross sales itemizing of a pre-facelift Born VZ, claimed to be “one-of-a-kind”.
Priced from $71,990 plus on-road prices, the Darkish Forest inexperienced hatch is the one VZ unit to reach in Australia, at over $15,000 greater than the run-out worth of the usual Born final bought in Australia.
It is believed to be a production-spec automobile registered for analysis functions within the Australian market. An similar automotive was proven in Melbourne final July to sellers, prospects and media throughout a launch occasion for the Cupra Terramar SUV.
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The itemizing on the vendor’s web site was posted and vanished inside a day, indicating {that a} very eager buyer snapped it up inside 24 hours. It stays unclear when the Born – lately revealed in facelifted 2027 guise – will return to the Australian market.
As for the automobile itself, the Born VZ is essentially the most highly effective model of the electrical hatchback bought globally, working a rear-mounted electrical motor producing 240kW of energy and 545Nm of torque, marking will increase of 70kW and 235Nm over the usual 170kW Born that is now bought out in Australia.
Consequently, the Born VZ can dash from 0-100km/h in a claimed 5.6 seconds, and attain a high pace of 200km/h. Different adjustments underneath the pores and skin of the VZ embrace a 79kWh battery pack and a brand new DCC Sport chassis setup that features revised dampers, anti-roll bars and rear springs.
Exterior upgrades are restricted to wider tyres and the selection of two 20-inch alloy wheel designs (globally): both solid or with 3D copper inserts. Two new exterior paint hues additionally be part of the color palette: Midnight Black and Darkish Forest inexperienced.
Contained in the cabin, the VZ is prepared for the racetrack with bucket seats completed in recycled supplies. Know-how ranges have additionally been improved over the bottom automotive, with the fitment of an upsized 12.9-inch infotainment touchscreen that options Cupra’s newest working system.
CarExpert understands Cupra Australia has been holding off on relaunching the Born whereas it waits for the facelifted mannequin to turn into accessible earlier than staging a full reboot of the electrical hatch Down Below, led by the VZ halo variant and with lesser variants to probably return after a two-year hiatus.
The final Born to formally be bought Down Below had the pre-update 77kWh lithium-ion battery and the highest-output 170kW/310Nm rear e-motor accessible on the time. The vary has subsequently moved to a bigger 79kWh battery, whereas the VZ bumps outputs to 240kW/545Nm and delivers a claimed 0-100km/h time of 5.6 seconds.
In Europe, there’ll be three motor/battery configurations accessible for the up to date Born lineup, all of which embrace an electrical motor driving the rear wheels, and the choice of one-pedal driving. The bigger 79kWh unit within the facelifted Born Endurance and VZ variants now quotes round 600km of WLTP vary.
Following the reveal of the facelifted 2027 mannequin in Europe earlier this month, a spokesperson for Cupra Australia mentioned the native arm is “assessing the feasibility and timing” for the Born, which seems to stroll again beforehand communicated plans to launch the pre-facelift Born VZ scorching hatch this month.
“At this stage, we’re assessing the feasibility and timing of providing the newly introduced Born for our market. As quickly as selections are confirmed, we’ll share updates,” the spokesperson advised CarExpert.
The native Cupra division’s assertion comes after a collection of native launch delays for the Born VZ, which was initially promised for Australia in 2025, then pushed again two or thrice to early 2026. Whereas this explicit automobile did arrive right here within the latter timeframe, a single manufacturing unit is not precisely delivering on that promise.
