The sister brand of Spanish Seat is adding another model. I'm talking about Cupra and their new model Tavascan. However, the model has been in the pipeline for a long time and has been delayed quite a bit. The premiere of the Tavascan was held at the electric car fair here in Stockholm, eCar Expo. Then Cupra Sweden had organised a national test drive here in Stockholm for the Swedish journalists. I was there but also hired as a photographer to assist the other journalists with pictures. But as I said, I also had the opportunity to test drive the car myself for this article. 

Like its sibling Cupra Born, which shares a platform with Volkswagen ID.3 also shares the Tavascan platform with a Volkswagen model, namely the ID.5. The idea with Cupra is that it should be the sporty division. Previously, Cupra was not a separate brand but just a model version of Seat and their sporty models that had the addition Cupra. But they chose to make Cupra a separate brand where sportiness is a common thread in their models. The name Tavascan comes from a village in Catalonia in north-eastern Spain.

The Cupra Tavascan is an electric car. That makes it very sporty right from the start. Because if there's one thing that really makes electric cars stand out, or perhaps stand out literally, it's the power you have available as soon as the accelerator is pressed. In the Tavascan, we're talking about either 286 or 340 horsepower depending on which version you choose. The model with the VZ add-on, which was the one I got to test drive, is the more powerful version and has 340 horses. However, both versions have the same torque of 545 Newton metres. If you choose the Tavascan with the VZ add-on, however, you get a slightly shorter range and only 465 kilometres, while the one without the VZ add-on gets 510 kilometres. 

Today's test drive started from Volkswagen Sweden's headquarters in Södertälje. They had laid out a route that went mostly on country roads around Södertälje. "There are many nice roads here and I have driven a lot here. There are both challenging and curvy roads but at the same time calmer and more straight sections of road. But it's absolutely perfect for experiencing how Tavascan behaves. And it behaves well. It's clear that much of the technology is tried and tested and comes from Volkswagen. But then there is something vibrant and Spanish that makes the Tavascan very pleasant behind the wheel. 

By 2030, Cupra plans to be a pure electric car brand. But before 2030, there are a number of models planned. Among the new models, the Tavascan is the first. The other models presented but not yet released are Urban Raval and Terramar. 

The Tavascan is just as sporty as it actually looks. Despite the fact that I push it relatively hard on the Swedish roads, it wants more. If I could exchange the curvy roads in Södertälje for the serpentine waves on the Montserrat mountain in Catalonia, it would have been incredibly fun. Just like here in Södertälje, I have driven there several times, but there others also drive very actively and are prepared for someone else to do the same, which actually helps to make active driving safer for all road users. 

One positive detail I even have on my Jeep but which is more powerful on the Cupra Tavascan VZ is the regeneration function. It makes braking for corners much smoother. The car starts braking as soon as you lift your foot off the accelerator. 

The interior of the Cupra Tavascan is actually really cool. The lines and shapes are reminiscent of something out of an Alien film. In addition, Cupra has been kind enough to fit Sennheiser speakers. Something I've never seen in a car before. Some of you may know that besides being a writing photographer, I am also DJ. As a DJ, there are of course a lot of headphones you can have, but all the years I have been doing it, there has always been a pair of headphones that have been considered the best, namely Sennheiser HD 25. So that Cupra lets Sennheiser stand for the speakers in Tavascan I see as very positive. 

My overall picture of Cupra Tavascan is actually very good. The Spaniards have done a really good job. If there was a Volkswagen ID.5 GTX and a Cupra Tavascan VZ in front of me, it would be Spanish!

Cupra Tavascan VZ

Base price: From 654 900 SEK

Motor: Electric motor front asynchronous 107 hp (80 kW) Electric motor rear permanent synchronous 286 hp (210 kW)

Transmission: Front and rear engines, four-wheel drive. Reduction gearbox. 
Power: 340 horsepower, 545 newton metres 

Acceleration: 0-100 km/h in 5.5 seconds
Top speed: 180 km/h

Range: 465 km

Weight: 2 273 kg
Dimensions (length/width/height): 4 640/1 860/1 590 mm