Cupra may be gearing up to steal the spotlight in 2026 with the all-new Raval subcompact EV, but it hasn’t forgotten about the car that helped define its electric identity.

Fresh spy shots of a lightly camouflaged Cupra Born prototype show the brand is still hard at work on a mid-life update for its popular electric hatchback, even if the changes aren’t exactly revolutionary.

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We last caught the refreshed Born testing around six months ago, and judging by these latest images, Cupra’s approach remains firmly evolutionary rather than radical.

That’s probably not a bad thing, as the Born is still one of the better-looking small EVs on the market, and in our opinion, it’s far more dynamic than the VW ID.3 hatch it’s based on.

As before, camouflage is concentrated around the front and rear, hinting at redesigned bumpers and updated lighting graphics. Up front, the lower grille appears taller and more sculpted, flanked by vertical outer vents that should add some visual width and aggression.

It’s a subtle tweak, but one that aligns the Born more closely with Cupra’s latest design language seen on models like the Tavascan and Terramar, plus the Raval.

At the back, the refresh seems equally restrained. The rear bumper appears to house a reworked diffuser with a more pronounced lip at the corners, giving the Born a slightly lower, tougher stance. Again, nothing dramatic, but enough to differentiate the facelifted car from earlier models if you know where to look.

A topped and tailed ID.3

The doors, roofline, and overall proportions appear untouched, which is no surprise considering just how much the Born shares with its Volkswagen ID.3 sibling. In fact, the two cars are so closely related that even the doors are interchangeable, making sweeping body changes impossible without VW Group-wide approval.

Inside, we don’t expect many surprises. Cupra already addressed the Born’s biggest interior weakness in 2024 by fitting VW’s much-improved 12.9-inch touchscreen, and the cabin quality far outshines the ID.3’s, so any further upgrades are likely limited to trim and software tweaks.

Up to 322 hp

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Mechanically, the Born lineup should remain familiar. The existing 201 hp (204 PS / 150 kW) and 228 hp (231 PS / 170 kW) rear-wheel-drive variants will likely carry over, alongside the punchy 322 hp (327 PS / 240 kW) VZ hot hatch introduced last year.

While big power bumps aren’t expected, Cupra may try to eke out a few extra miles of range from the 59, 77, and 79 kWh battery options.

With the Born already capable of up to 369 miles (594 km) on a charge, this refresh looks less about reinvention and more about keeping Cupra’s electric hatch sharp so it still looks and feels on the pace in 2026 when the smaller, front-wheel drive Raval arrives.

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Cupra has peeled back just enough camo to give us our first proper look at the little Raval, its feisty new electric compact hatch that promises to inject some welcome attitude into the small-EV segment when it lands in early 2026.

Also: Cupra Builds A Street Hatch That Thinks It’s A Race Car With Removable Rear Seats

The Raval sits on Volkswagen Group’s updated MEB+ platform, the same one that will underpin the VW ID. Polo, ID. Cross and Skoda Epic.

All four will be built in Spain and Cupra didn’t just design its own version – it actually led the chassis-tuning development for the whole family. Each brand still gets its own flavor, but the Raval is, predictably, the spicy one.

What Sets It Apart?

At just over 4,000 mm (157.5 inches) long, the Raval is subcompact-sized, but Cupra insists it’s not just for the school run. That’s why the engineers dropped the chassis 15mm lower than on other MEB+ cars, stiffened the suspension, added progressive steering and fitted disc brakes at both ends.

There are Dynamic Chassis Control adaptive dampers – presumably not standard, details are still TBC – and even base models at launch come with a single, front-mounted electric motor making 208 hp (211 PS / 155 kW). That gives a range of 278 miles (450 km) from a battery of an unspecified capacity.

Stepping up from base Dynamic trim to Dynamic Plus adds more ADAS features, intelligent parking functions, Matrix LED headlights, bucket seats, and a posh Senhheiser 12-speaker audio system.

The Performance Step-Up

However, the flagship VZ is a different animal altogether thanks to its more powerful 233 hp (226 PS / 166 kW) motor, electronic differential and sporty steering knuckle.

The VZ also gets a 10 mm (0.39 inches) wider track, standard 19-inch wheels with an awesome circular-saw-style design and Dinamica bucket seats, though Cupra’s teaser pics don’t show the interior.

The downside is a range drop to 249 miles (400 km). Other less powerful models could arrive down the line to make the Raval more affordable once the initial buzz has died down, but the launch range is targeting a starting price of €26,000 (£23k / $30k).

Cupra