CUPRA has revealed its new Tavascan Extreme E Concept at the 2021 IAA Munich International Motor Show. The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept integrates a completely new exterior design with 100% CUPRA DNA and a holistic approach to natural material use making it more sustainable, adaptable and easy to repair. The all-electric off-road racing car is the next stage in the brand’s Extreme E adventure, which also hints at the design language to be used in the future series production CUPRA Tavascan. The Tavascan will be the brand’s second 100% electric model that will be designed and developed in Barcelona and will reach Europe and overseas markets in 2024.
The front and rear design has changed considerably from the vehicle that is racing in the first season of Extreme E. LED technology delivers greater freedom to produce a vehicle with CUPRA DNA; the headlights in groups of three triangles on either side provide a more imposing look. The LED lighting is set into a 3D-printed frame – a technology chosen to give the CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept a competitive edge. The 3D-printed parts can be manufactured in just six hours, meaning the team can adapt to changes very quickly; whether it’s because of an incident or changes to the light position, the components can be modified in a very short time without the need for cumbersome and expensive tooling.
The Extreme E racing series is about increasing environmental awareness and the CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is pushing boundaries here too. The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept’s revitalised body is finished with a livery that will help it stand out whether it’s racing in arctic, desert, glacier or ocean locations. Constructing as much of the body structure as possible from flax fibres – extracted from the flax plant – reduces the use of carbon fibre components and the vehicle’s impact on the environment. The material can be worked in the same way, achieving the same shapes and radii required by engineers, and is a technology that could easily be adapted for production vehicles.
The all-electric off-road race car is finished with copper accents – a time-honoured CUPRA mark – parametric texturing and dynamized lines to help the exterior shimmer and move as the vehicle shifts through the landscape, and an overlapping CUPRA logo to create a powerful 3D effect. The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is equipped with a 54-kWh battery, placed behind the cockpit to optimise rear weight distribution, and can go from 0-62 mph in about 4 seconds to meet the race series’ regulations. CUPRA has been part of Extreme E from the outset. It was the first automotive brand to announce its participation, joining forces with ABT Sportsline as the team’s main partner. The Extreme E series is enhancing CUPRA’s electrification research while promoting electrification, sustainability, and gender equality.
