Cupra debuted its DarkRebel all-electric shooting brake concept at the Munich IAA 2023 auto show, and if production is green-lit, it will sit at a price point ‘considerably less’ than €100,000 (A$167,040) and could share its platform with the upcoming all-electric Porsche Cayman.
Speaking with media at the Munich event, Cupra chief operating officer Sven Schuwirth confirmed that if it enters production, the Dark Rebel will be the brand’s most expensive car.
“Yes, it will be, it would not make sense to go for a €200,000 car so it needs to be significantly below 100 [thousand Euros], for sure,” he said.
According to Schuwirth, Cupra needs to be within reach so that it doesn’t compete with other brands in the Volkswagen Group.
“Otherwise I think we enter the territory of luxury brands which is not our aim, because keeping in mind we are positioned as a contemporary brand, always looking for the younger generations. That’s not our direction,” Mr Schuwirth said.
Most interestingly, though, Schuwirth confirmed that a bespoke platform is out of the question for the DarkRebel, and that it would most likely share an existing platform within the Volkswagen Group.
“That’s the benefit of the Volkswagen Group. There are many different platforms or technologies. There are a few ones already there, but for sure, that would be a future platform,” he said.
Porsche Boxster/Cayman prototype
When asked further whether the DarkRebel would share running gear with the next Porsche Cayman, Schuwirth responded by suggesting that the prediction may be on the money.
“[It] could be. Because we need that performance, but from a low [hip point] and also an affordable platform – in order to achieve that price point, the ultimate price point.”
“I mean, again, it wouldn’t make sense if you started with a car from 25,000 euros in Europe, and to have a car like Formentor today that goes to whatever 70,000 [euros], But then it wouldn’t make any sense.”
The next generation of Cayman and Boxster will go all-electric and will adopt the PPE (Premium Platform Electric) platform, which will be shared with other VW Group vehicles like the Audi Q6 e-tron and the next Porsche Macan.
Porsche is reportedly targeting a weight of 1655kg for the next 718, due in 2024, plus an electric range of at least 400km.
The current, base 718 Cayman has a kerb weight of 1365kg, though a Taycan weighs between 2072kg and 2358kg depending on the variant.
It’ll offer a choice of single- and dual-motor electric powertrains with a single-speed drive, with more powerful versions of the future 718 featuring a second electric motor at the front.
These more powerful versions will reportedly offer performance comparable to members of the 911 family, though Porsche isn’t said to be concerned about cannibalisation given the very different propulsion types that’ll be employed by the new 718 and 911.
Sven Schuwirth
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