Cupra Born arrives for testing on Australian roads

The all-new, fully-electric Cupra Born will be ready for Australian roads straightaway from when it's launched, as the performance brand announced its plans to test examples locally throughout 2022.

Slated to arrive towards the end of the year, the Born is based on the same MEB electric platform as its Volkswagen and Skoda cousins, the ID.3/4/5 and the Enyaq respectively.

However, unlike the existing Volkswagen Group Australia brands, Cupra will be the first to bring an electric vehicle to Australia, launching the Born as its flagship model shortly after the marque makes its first appearance in the middle of the year.

UPDATE, December 2022: Australian Born pricing announced

Cupra has confirmed Australian pricing and features for its Born electric hatch. Get all the details at the link below.

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As reported late last year, the first of three Born EVs to be shaken down has arrived in Sydney, with each car slated to undertake over 10,000km of testing – a new world for the performance car which is making its debut outside of Europe.

Ben Wilks, Australian director of the Spanish manufacturer, said the Born has an important role to play in Cupra's local line-up.

"Cupra's conventional [internal combustion engine] and PHEV [plug-in hybrid] range will be unique in this country, the perfect line-up for a new brand to challenge the established order,” said Wilks.

“Born is undoubtedly our halo car, one that embodies all of Cupra’s performance and design allure in a zero-emissions package.”

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Before the Born goes on sale, Cupra will release its Leon, Ateca and Formentor to Australian buyers, all based on existing Volkswagen Group platforms but with Cupra's own twist, providing a performance touch to each model.

No pricing has yet been released for the Born but it's expected to start around the same price as a Golf GTI ($54,490 before on-road costs) – potentially less than the popular Tesla Model 3 ($59,990 before on-road costs).