SEAT Cupra Urban Rebel Shows Potential of Future Small Urban EV

• Cupra Urban Rebel is a heavily tuned version of upcoming Cupra electric vehicle

• Cupra will be Spanish automaker SEAT’s new electrified performance division

• New EV built on Volkswagen’s MEB platform shared with Volkswagen ID.2

SEAT’s electric performance Cupra division will unveil its Urban Rebel concept to the public at the IAA Show in Munich next week.

The production model is set to reach the European market in 2025 as a performance-oriented compact electric hatchback sharing the same design language as the concept.

The specifications announced for the concept probably won’t reach production, but they hint at a potential revival of the Hot hatch, this time in electric form. The Urban Rebel is said to have an electric motor capable of producing a constant 335 horsepower, with an overboost function that can raise this figure to 429 for short periods. This setup should power the EV to 100 km/h (62 mph) in 3.2 seconds.

While this particular car is unlikely to ever reach North America, it shares its MEB platform with the Volkswagen ID.2 which could be sold here in a few years. Therefore, the Urban Rebel is a glimpse into what can be expected from Volkswagen in the future.

The EV for Enthusiasts

This concept is a breath of fresh air for automotive enthusiasts who may be disappointed by the myriad of new electric crossovers which are coming to North America in the near future. At the very least, it shows that manufacturers haven’t forgotten about them and are working on smaller electric cars that are focused on driving enjoyment.