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CUPRA BORN: RWD EV REVEALED

The Cupra Born represents the marque’s first all-electric vehicle and may well be an early look into hot hatch electric life. Oh, it’s also RWD.

Let’s get down to business. The Cupra Born is the manufacturer’s first electric car and comes with a range of different sized batteries with differing power levels. At the bottom of the range is the 45kWh Cupra Born, which gets a lukewarm 148bhp with a 0-62mph time of 8.9 seconds. Mileage range is roughly 211 miles.

Next up is the 58kWh battery-powered Born, which gets 201bhp as standard and a 0-62mph time of 6.6 seconds. This Cupra Born also gets Cupra’s new e-Boost, which will momentarily produce 228bhp if you mash the throttle for kickdown or if you’re using the Cupra driving mode. According to Cupra, the 58kWh battery has a range of around 260 miles, enough to not have you worrying where the next charging point is.

If you are worried about range and less bothered about performance figures, there is also a 77kWh battery that will extend the range to 335 miles on the WLTP cycle, however, you lose 0.4 seconds from the 0-62mph time due to the increased weight. The other benefit to the bigger battery is access to 125kW charging, which can offer 60 miles of range in around 7 minutes of charging.

Underneath resides MacPherson struts at the front and multi-link suspension at the rear. Adaptive damping is available as an option and gains all the driving modes we are used to from VAG products, but tailored towards the EV: those include Range, Comfort, Individual and Cupra.

Cupra is reporting near 50:50 weight distribution as well as the trademark low centre of gravity that an electric motor offers. Speaking of which, the aluminium frame that holds the motor is bolted directly to the MQB platform to help with body rigidity.

While you will be able to switch traction control off for some sideways action, between the rear wheels is a standard differential, rather than a limited-slip job, so don’t expect 90-degree angles on roundabouts…

Inside it’s business as usual, sharing most of its design with the VW ID.3. As a result, you get a 12-inch touchscreen that controls pretty much everything. Those looking to appease environmentalists will gladly learn that the bucket seats and seat material upgrade options are all made from recycled plastics and t-shirts. This is all in pursuit of Cupra’s promise that the Born will be delivered to customers net CO2 neutral.

Are we looking at the future of the hot hatch?

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May 26, 2021
MANHART GOLF GTI 290 MK8 UNVEILED

The Manhart Golf GTI 290 takes a regular Mk8 Golf GTI and ramps it up to Clubsport levels alongside more aggressive aesthetics.

With the Mk8 Golf GTI sharing a lot of its components with its predecessor, the Mk7, it wasn’t going to be long before we saw a number of companies making their own revisions. Manhart, famed for modifying BMWs but caters for other marques, is one such company. For the Mk7 Golf R, Manhart produced the RS450, and in doing so, learned a few lessons it could transfer to the Mk8.

The Manhart Golf GTI 290 turns the wick up on the EA888-powered Mk8 Golf GTI, upping its power from 245hp to 290hp (286bhp) and its torque from 273lb ft to 313lb ft thanks to its in-house MHtronik Powerbox, a piggyback ECU module that adjusts fuel and boost pressure.

To give the car a more purposeful look, the body was lowered 40mm in total by way of H&R lowering springs, while the factory-spec wheels were replaced with 8x19inch Manhart multi-spoke wheels shod in 225/35 section tyres. Further modifications to the exterior include a more aggressive rear diffuser as well as pin stripe decals on both sides, bonnet, roof and rear. Inside, the headliner is filled with small LEDs to produce a starry sky effect. Those who want to modify further can explore Manhart’s exhaust options.

Prices for the Manhart Golf GTI 290 performance upgrades start from £1300, with the lowering springs coming in at £300 and the wheels £1400. Given the Mk8 Golf GTI Clubsport comes in at roughly £3755, would you opt for the Manhart upgrades or simply order a Clubsport form factory?

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May 26, 2021
2022 BMW M240I XDRIVE REVEALED…

…kinda. This is the new 2022 BMW M240i xDrive, but as you can see, it’s in camouflage. What we do know is that it keeps the six-cylinder turbocharged engine and gets 374hp.

The BMW M2 was arguably the best M car BMW has produced for a while, so this upcoming 2022 2 Series has a lot to live up to in order to provide the foundation for a brilliant performance car. Thankfully, the new top model (at present), the M240i xDrive, has retained its heart in the form of the B58 turbocharged six-cylinder engine and not adopted the smaller four-pot engine that the BMW M135i xDrive received.

While the car has been photographed in camouflage here, we do know that underneath, BMW engineers have worked hard to retain the near-50:50 weight distribution that the 2er boasted in its first generation. We also know that BMW has employed its clever new all-wheel drive system that allows the vehicle to interchange between fully rear-wheel drive and all-wheel drive. This ensures that every BMW boasts the same tail-happy goodness that we’ve grown to love.

For the 2022 BMW M240i xDrive, BMW has stiffened the body across the board by 40% for the 2 Series to improve agility. Also new, as standard, are stroke-dependent dampers, which allows for higher damping forces when going over large bumps. This doesn’t replace adaptive suspension all together, instead, a new Adaptive M Chassis is offered as an option which brings in electronically controlled dampers for the driver to switch between comfort and sport driving styles.

From launch later in the year, the 2022 BMW 2 Series will be available as a 220i, 22od, 230i and M240i xDrive. Engines and driven wheels change between models but the BMW 230i gets rear-wheel drive and the B48 turbocharged four-pot as seen in MINIs as well as the M135i xDrive.

There’s no wording on pricing at the moment, but we’ll update you as and when they’re announced.

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May 17, 2021