Amit Saraswat 
Cupra has given its only electric hatchback Born a sporty treatment, which includes a host of mechanical and functional changes. In the process, it has gained the suffix ‘VZ’, an acronym for the Spanish word ‘Veloz’, which translates to ‘fast’ in English. Speaking of fast, the new Born VZ is plenty fast since it packs a rear-mounted electric motor belting out 326PS of power and 545Nm of torque. The power output is up by 40% while the torque output sees a staggering 75% boost over the regular Born hatchback.
Thanks to the added performance, the Cupra Born VZ can catapult itself from 0-100kmph in a claimed 5.7 seconds, which is about a second faster than the Born e-boost. The top speed is also up by 40kmph, which stands at 200kmph in the case of the Born VZ.
To match the boosted performance, the Cupra Born VZ also boasts a couple of enhancements made to its chassis. Beginning with the new suspension, the DCC sport suspension of the Born VZ combines new dampers, spring rates and updated anti-roll bars for better handling. The retuned steering system further elevates the experience with quicker response and improved feel. Lastly, the Born VZ also features a more robust braking system at the rear, thus enabling superior braking performance.
Since the beefier electric motor and spirited driving performance of the new Born VZ pertains, Cupra has also dialled up its battery capacity for no compromise on the driving range. The new Cupra Born VZ boasts a 79kWh battery pack, which is 2kWh more than the regular Born hatchback. The Born VZ can travel up to 570km on a single charge. Once it’s out of juice, owners can enjoy 11kW AC fast charging or 170kW DC fast charging, which takes about 30 minutes for 10-80% charge.
On the design front, the Born VZ carries multiple visual enhancements befitting its sporty demeanour. These elements include 20-inch alloy wheels, wider wheels and tyres and dark chrome branding for both VZ and Born brands. Moving to the inside, the Born VZ features bucket seats which are not only fitted lower for a more sportier driving feel but also use 73% recycled polyester in their construction.
In addition, the Born VZ includes a larger touchscreen infotainment system, 0.9 inches larger to be exact. It also integrates an optional 10-speaker sound system from Sennheiser putting out 425-watt. Furthermore, the interior of the Born VZ is illuminated with Smart Light technology, which Cupra claims is not just ambient lighting but “a new dimension in human/machine communication”.
