The relatively new Cupra brand is a rising star in VW’s empire, posting big sales leaps in Europe, sidelining the Seat brand that spawned it and even being considered for launch in North America. One place it won’t be heading that could have really transformed its sales numbers is China, but just because the Cupra name isn’t bound for China, doesn’t mean its models aren’t.
Earlier this year we reported that VW plans to sell the Cupra Tavascan SUV coupe in China under a new VW sub-brand, and we’ve just spotted the Spanish EV testing in Germany before it makes its way to China. In typical VW prototype style, this one has plenty of black tape applied to its bodywork, but not enough to prevent us confirming that it’s a Tavascan, or the styling tweaks the design team has added to prepare it for its Asian adventure.
Starting at the front, there’s more body-color paint on the bumper than on the Cupra-badged Tavascan, whose face is almost completely black. And speaking of badges, instead of the triangular-shaped Cupra logo, this car has round badges, and it looks like we can just about make out the VW logo on the one at the front. The China-bound EV also has different headlights to the Cupra that look like they might be connected by a light bar beneath the hood.
Related: Cupra’s Electric 2024 Tavascan Debuts As An ID.5 With Spanish Flair
The lower bumper intake is new, and the splitter rises upwards in the center, the wheels are different and there are also new lights and bumpers at the back. Unfortunately this set of images doesn’t give us a look inside, but hopefully the striking dashboard with its Y-shaped console structure and 15-inch touchscreen hasn’t been toned down too much.
Under the skin the European-market Tavascan shares the same MEB platform and basic motor and battery setup as its VW ID cousins, which means a 77 kWh battery and a choice of one motor with 282 hp (210 kW / 286 PS) or two, providing all-wheel drive and 335 hp (250 kW / 340 PS).
We’ll have to wait to see exactly which powertrain options VW makes available to Chinese buyers when the car goes on sale next year, but we’re even more fascinated to know how VW will market the Tavascan there with a VW badge when it already sells the ID.5.
