Fast Cupra UrbanRebel revealed

Volkswagen Group’s Spanish performance brand Cupra has pulled the drapes off the production version of its stunning 2025 Cupra UrbanRebel ahead of an expected Australian release mid-decade.

Confirmed for right-hand drive production, the 2025 Cupra UrbanRebel is an all-electric compact crossover that will replace the Seat Mii city car in Europe – and its Volkswagen Up! and Skoda Citigo siblings – and has emerged overnight as a toned-down version of the concept of the same name unwrapped at the Munich motor show last September.

Set to be priced from around €20,000 ($A30,000), the Cupra UrbanRebel is based on the Volkswagen Group’s latest MEB 21 architecture that will also underpin the 2024 Volkswagen ID.1 and a still-to-be-named Skoda version.

The UrbanRebel was unveiled at the historic Terramar racetrack in Sitges, south-west of Barcelona, where the company also unveiled two other all-new electrified SUVs –  the 2024 Cupra Terramar and 2024 Cupra Tavascan.

Speaking at the event, designer Jorge Diez explained how the transition of the UrbanRebel from concept to near-production-ready model simply involved removing the show car’s outlandish front splitter and huge rear wing.

That means the aggressive shark nose frontal design lives on, as well as the huge motorsport-derived rear diffuser that helps stretch out the range to an impressive 440km for the most efficient models.

Other design highlights include the crash helmet visor front and side glass graphic and the striking triangular design theme that inspires the front and rear graphics.

Within the cabin, Diez says the steering wheel is inspired by PlayStation controls, while the frameless doors, the unusual use of 3D textures and high-grade sustainable materials will all raise the bar for quality for an entry-level EV.

The UrbanRebel will run Volkswagen Group’s latest operating system that will offer a more intuitive and faster-reacting take on the 12.0-inch infotainment system shared with the Cupra Born EV hatch.

Measuring in at just 4036mm long, 1976mm wide and 1576mm tall, the Cupra UrbanRebel sports an impressive 2600mm wheelbase that should provide plenty of space within the cabin.

Unlike the Born, which shares plenty of design cues with its smaller sibling, the UrbanRebel will mount its single motor on the front axle in a bid to reduce complexity and save costs.

Cupra hasn’t announced how big the battery will be for the UrbanRebel, but R&D boss Werner Tietz admitted that the powerpack would exceed 50kWh.

Despite positioning the battery between the front and rear axles beneath the floor for a low centre of gravity, the UrbanRebel will still tip the scales at a relatively hefty 1500kg.

The most powerful versions of the UrbanRebel will come with a 166kW electric motor that will haul the baby Cupra SUV from 0-100km/h in just 6.9 seconds.

Less powerful motors will also be available that will provide up to 440km between top-ups, although even with the punchiest motor the pint-sized Cupra SUV can still cover up to 400km on a full charge.

Like the larger Cupra Born, the batteries will be able to be recharged at up to 120kW – a figure that Tietz said could be greater by the time the car reaches production.

Cupra has already announced that along with the UrbanRebel it will also develop the small sister models for Volkswagen and Skoda, with all three primed to be built at a new factory in Martorell, Spain.

When it eventually goes on sale, the Cupra UrbanRebel will face some stiff competition from the new Alpine R5 hatch and an all-new MINI Electric hatch.

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