- The Cupra Raval will be the first of VW Group's new subcompact EVs
- The subcompact EVs will use VW Group's MEB Small platform
- Cupra plans to launch in the U.S. later this decade
Several Volkswagen Group brands are working on a new generation of subcompact electric vehicles, and a prototype for one of them has been spotted.
The prototype is for the Raval hatchback from Cupra, VW Group's Spanish performance brand, which plans to enter the U.S. later this decade.
Cupra started out life as a performance sub-brand of VW Group's Spanish brand SEAT, but in 2018 was repositioned as a standalone brand offering a range of sporty, emotional vehicles with striking design.
Similar hatchback to the Raval from the Volkswagen and Skoda brands are also in the works. The VW was previewed in 2023 by the ID.2all concept, and it's set to spawn a crossover sibling.
The Raval was also previewed a few years back by the UrbanRebel concept, and judging by the prototype in our latest spy shots, it will keep most of the concept's lines intact on the road to production.
Cupra UrbanRebel concept
The UrbanRebel concept measured 158 inches long, or about six inches longer than a Mini Cooper, and the Raval appears to be similarly small.
The new EV will ride on a lower-cost version of VW Group's MEB platform for mainstream EVs like VW's ID family, as well as some EVs from other VW Group brands, including the Audi Q4 E-Tron. The lower-cost version, dubbed MEB Small, is expected to only come with a single motor at the front axle.
In the Raval, the electric motor is expected to deliver a peak of 222 hp, or enough for 0-60 mph acceleration in less than seven seconds. The range is expected to hover around 270 miles on the WLTP test cycle used overseas. A lower figure would result using the stricter EPA cycle.
Cupra UrbanRebel concept
The Raval will start sales in 2025 in markets where Cupra is currently present. The VW ID.2 is also expected to start sales next year, and its crossover sibling in 2026.
The Raval is unlikely to be included in Cupra's lineup when the brand is launched in the U.S. Cupra has only confirmed two vehicles for the U.S. market. One will be an electric version of the Formentor, whose current generation is based on the outgoing Tiguan. The second will be a larger electric SUV to be built in North America.
