Cupra prepares to replace the Ateca with the all-new Terramar, which is underpinned by the MQB Evo platform of the 2025 Audi Q3. The Spanish crossover will be produced at the Gyor manufacturing complex in Hungary, which assembled 176,493 vehicles and 1,660,425 drive units last year.
The Hungarian facility is also where the Audi-developed 5.2L FSI V10 is produced, a free-breathing screamer that will be discontinued later this year together with the Lamborghini Huracan. Its long-awaited successor – dubbed LB63x – is rocking a twin-turbo V8 plug-in hybrid setup.
Recently spied testing in Germany, the Ateca-replacing Terramar is the Cupra brand's final internal combustion model. Due later this year, the compact-sized crossover will be offered with plug-in hybrid powertrains capable of approximately 100 kilometers (62 miles) of zero-emission range.
The MQB Evo-based 2024 Volkswagen Tiguan is available with two plug-in hybrid options. Known as eHybrid in the Volkswagen brand's vernacular, said PHEVs develop either 204 or 272 metric horsepower (201 or 268 mechanical ponies).
Maximum electric range is rated at 120 kilometers or 75 miles. Two years ago, Cupra said that the Terramar measures approximately 4.5 meters in overall length. Considering that the Tiguan is listed with 4,551 millimeters or 179.2 inches in Europe, the Terramar PHEV's electric range should be pretty close to the aforementioned 120 kilometers.
Photo: Baldauf
Although similar in footprint to the Tiguan and next-generation Q3, the Terramar is 100 percent Cupra in terms of exterior styling. Named after a Spanish town near Barcelona, the newcomer sports a similar design language to the Tavascan EV.
From the three-triangle lighting signature of the headlights to the full-width light bar out back, it will be hard to mistake this crossover for the more sedated Tiguan and luxury-oriented Q3. The Cupra is a strict five-seater, whereas the Tiguan-based Tayron features three-row seating. Both front- and all-wheel-drive versions are in the offing, along with the tried-and-tested 2.0 TDI for those who prefer ICEs over mild and plug-in hybrids.
Just like the Tiguan, the Terramar will be dual-clutch only. The 2.0 TDI- and 1.5 eTSI-equipped Tiguan feature a seven-speed transmission, whereas the 1.5 TSI eHybrid is connected to a sixer. The charging port door is located on the front left fender, meaning that you'll have to park with the front end as close as possible to the charging station.
Shorter than the Volkswagen ID.4- and ID.5-twinned Tavascan, the Terramar won't be available stateside. Cupra intends to enter the US market by the end of the decade with two electric vehicles, namely the next generation of the compact-sized Formentor and a large electric crossover.
Both of them will be underpinned by the Scalable Systems Platform, which – according to chief exec Oliver Blume – is designed to handle up to 1,700 HP. The SSP will replace the Volkswagen Group's PPE, MEB, MQB, MLB, and MSB platforms.
After a 1:43 scale model of a Ferrari 250 GTO sparked Mircea's interest for cars when he was a kid, an early internship at Top Gear sealed his career path. He's most interested in muscle cars and American trucks, but he takes a passing interest in quirky kei cars as well. Full profile
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