Cupra is moving upmarket. A mid-size electric SUV is coming, inspired by that wild Tindaya concept you saw last year. It’s aimed at rivals like the BMW iX3 and Volvo EX30. Or rather, the EX60. Wait. No, the EX30 is smaller. The EX60 is the real fight.
“It looks fantastic,” Cupra CEO Markus Haupt told Autocar. “Why should we not build the Tindanya?”
He didn’t just say it looks good. He confirmed the timeline.
“This car will see the streets in a few years.”
So it’s happening. The big question isn’t whether, but how. Will it keep the hybrid trickery from the concept? We don’t know yet. Haupt is keeping his options open.
“It’s a decision we have not made.”
He wants to wait. To stay flexible. Because by the time the car rolls out, the tech might change. And as part of the Volkswagen family, Cupra has the luxury of betting late on the right tech.
The concept featured an extended-range system (EREV). A small engine charged the battery while the electric motor drove the wheels. That’s 365kW of noise. Maybe the production car keeps it. Maybe it goes fully electric. Haupt won’t say.
SSP architecture is the key. The Tindaya won’t sit on the Tavascan’s older MEB platform. It rides on the new SSP chassis. That platform is supposedly built for range-extenders, though VW’s own leadership questions if small cars actually need them.
“The questionable area is in smaller spaces,” Thomas Schäfer noted earlier. “Do you really need range-extendents there?”
Maybe not for the small stuff. But for a premium mid-size SUV? Possibly.
Here’s what we do know about the design. The concept was aggressive. A gaping grille. Angry lights. A creased bonnet. It even ditched the B-pillar. Suicide doors included.
Reality usually bites those designs.
Those rear-hinged doors likely won’t make the final cut. 23-inch wheels probably won’t either.
Inside, the concept showed a driver-focused cockpit. A steering yoke. A 24-inch screen. Textured surfaces. Edgy stuff.
Cupra had paused its US launch plans. That 2030 entry got pushed. This SSP-based flagship was supposed to lead the charge there. Now the timeline is blurry, but the car exists.
Audi already has the Q6 e-tron. Porsche has the Macan Electric. Both use similar new tech. Cupra wants a slice of that premium pie too. The Tavascan is smaller, cheaper. This new car targets the Genesis GV70 and Lexus RZ. Higher price tag. More presence.
The concept is 4.72 meters long. Not huge. But the price might reflect something bigger than its footprint.
Haupt promises flexibility. The technology changes daily. He waits to decide which engine to bet on. Smart? Or indecisive?
The car is coming. In a few years. The streets will see it. We’ll see what it sounds like when it arrives. 🚗💨
