Cupra's Latest EV Troublemaker Appears to Feature Wheels That Resemble Circular Saw Blades | Carscoops

      Sporty electric hatch provides a glimpse of Cupra’s chassis expertise as it prepares to spearhead VW Group’s new urban EV lineup.

      Cupra has unveiled the camouflaged Raval EV, featuring a sporty chassis and three different trims.

      It shares VW’s updated MEB+ platform with the ID. Polo, ID. Cross, and Epiq.

      The top-tier VZ trim boasts 233 hp, while the lower trims are equipped with 208 hp motors.

      Cupra has revealed just enough of the camouflage to give us a first proper look at the Raval, its exciting new electric compact hatch that aims to bring some much-needed personality to the small EV market when it arrives in early 2026.

      Additionally, Cupra is creating a street hatch that behaves like a race car, complete with removable rear seats.

      The Raval is built on Volkswagen Group’s revamped MEB+ platform, the same foundation that will support the VW ID. Polo, ID. Cross, and Skoda Epic.

      All four models will be produced in Spain and Cupra not only designed its own variant but also spearheaded the chassis-tuning development for the entire lineup. Each brand maintains its unique character, but the Raval is, predictably, the sporty option.

      What Makes It Unique?

      Measuring just over 4,000 mm (157.5 inches) in length, the Raval falls into the subcompact category. However, Cupra emphasizes that it’s not solely designed for school runs. This is why the engineers have lowered the chassis by 15mm compared to other MEB+ vehicles, reinforced the suspension, incorporated progressive steering, and equipped it with disc brakes at both the front and rear.

      The vehicle comes with Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers – likely not standard, with details still to be confirmed – and even the base models at launch include a single, front-mounted electric motor delivering 208 hp (211 PS / 155 kW). This setup provides a range of 278 miles (450 km) from a battery of unspecified capacity.

      Upgrading from the base Dynamic trim to Dynamic Plus introduces more ADAS features, sophisticated parking aids, Matrix LED headlights, bucket seats, and a high-end Senhheiser 12-speaker audio system.

      The Performance Upgrade

      In contrast, the top-of-the-line VZ offers a significantly different experience with its enhanced 233 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) motor, electronic differential, and sporty steering knuckle.

      The VZ also features a 10 mm (0.39 inches) wider track, standard 19-inch wheels with a striking circular-saw-style design, and Dinamica bucket seats, though Cupra’s teaser images do not reveal the interior.

      However, this comes with a trade-off, as the range decreases to 249 miles (400 km). Additional, less powerful versions may be introduced later to make the Raval more budget-friendly once the initial excitement wanes, but the launch lineup is aiming for a starting price of €26,000 (£23k / $30k).