Second generation Cupra Ateca unlikely | auto expert

The Cupra Ateca a second generation is unlikely when the Spanish sports brand launches a new pair of crossovers.

“Our focus over the next few years will be on three electrified models: on the Cupra Terramar, which you might consider a possible replacement even though it’s a bit larger than the Cupra Ateca; The Cupra Tavascan is our first electric crossover SUV; and Cupra UrbanRebel,” said Cupra CEO Wayne Griffiths.

He also suggests that the range will not extend beyond previously confirmed new patterns, at least in the short term.

“[Those] with the Cupra Formentor and Cupra Leon bringing to us, I think a very competitive range of vehicles will keep us busy for at least the next five years,” said Griffiths.

“More than five years from now, and obviously we’re thinking about a lot of different ideas and different models for the Cupra, but it’s too early to speculate.”

That means the brand only dominates the compact passenger car and small-to-midsize SUV segments, with no larger products on offer even as Cupra considers a North American launch.

The fact that Ateca is coming out is perhaps no surprise.

Present Ateca is the oldest member of the Cupra lineup, an upgraded version of the Seat Ateca that entered production in 2016.

Cupra teases upgraded versions of newer Leon And Formentor at a branding event last June, before introducing both in 2024 or 2025, but an updated Ateca was conspicuously absent.

The new Terramar, scheduled to launch in 2024, will offer a choice of petrol or plug-in hybrid powertrains and will be 4.5m in length, compared to the Ateca’s 4.38m and the Formentor’s 4.45m.

That would make it the same size as the current standard length Volkswagen Tiguanjust over 4.5m long.

The electric Tavascan will share its MEB dedicated EV architecture with a range of Volkswagen Group models, including Cupra was born.

In concept form, the Tavascan generates 225 kW of power from a dual-motor powertrain and uses a 77 kWh lithium-ion battery pack, providing a range of up to 450 km.

It will be manufactured in China and exported to markets such as Europe and Australia. It is due here in 2025.

Cupra will be the latest European brand to export vehicles from China to both Europe and Australia. BMW is a different brand from iX3as well as the majority of Chinese-owned Polestar with 2 of it.

Using Australia as a destination, Cupra wants to expand its global presence and achieve annual worldwide sales of 500,000 units in the medium term.

The Spanish sports brand wants to sell 7,000 cars a year in Australia by 2025.

That’s an ambitious goal, as the Volkswagen Group’s Skoda brand took more than a decade to reach its goal of selling 7,000 units Down Under.

Cupra sold 1111 vehicles in Australia last year, of which Formentor accounted for 690 of these – or 62 per cent of the brand’s sales. The brand also sold 234 Atecas and 186 Leon.

The brand started off as a SEAT trim level, with models like the Ibiza Cupra and Leon Cupra boasting sportier looks and more performance.

The first models to feature the Cupra brand name rather than just a trim level were similarly equipped SEATs like the Leon and Ateca. Things started to change with the Formentor, a brand-unique model.

The SEAT El-Born concept became the production Cupra Born, and the Tavascan and Terramar were revealed exclusively as Cupras with no SEAT versions planned.

The SEAT brand also continues to offer its own exclusive models. Ibiza, Arona and Tarraco are partners of the Spanish brand with Volkswagen Polo, tee and Tiguan Allspace, respectively.

Mr. Griffiths said the Cupra and SEAT brands complement each other, and confirmed there are no immediate plans to launch electric vehicles for the SEAT brand.

Nor will he be drawn to future production for the SEAT brand.

Cupra sold record 152,900 vehicles globally by 2022 but it comes at the cost of SEAT.

SEAT SA prioritizes more profitable Cupra models over SEAT badged vehicles, so while Cupra deliveries increased by 92.7%, the SEAT brand was down 40.5%.

Cupra accounted for just under 40% of all SEAT SA sales, totaling 385,600 – down 18.1%.

THAN: Everything Cupra Ateca