An electric racing adventure towards sustainability.
We are set to push yet another boundary as we unveil the CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept. The all-electric off-road racing car is the next stage in our Extreme E Racing Series adventure, which also hints at the design language to be used in the future series production of the CUPRA Tavascan.
The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept integrates a completely new exterior design with 100% CUPRA DNA and a holistic approach to recyclable material, making it more sustainable and even more repairable and adaptable.
The Extreme E racing series sends international teams to race 100% all-electric vehicles in Arctic, desert, rainforest, glacier and ocean locations around the world, putting enormous demand on the race cars.
“The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is the next evolution of our all-electric off-road racing car with even more CUPRA DNA and a design hint at the brand’s future direction. But it also delivers technical advancement too” said Head of Technical Development at CUPRA Racing Xavi Serra. “The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept uses flax fibres throughout the bodywork to improve sustainability and 3D printed elements that can be quickly recreated to keep the race car out on the track.” added Serra.
The front and rear design of the vehicle racing in the first season of the Extreme E racing series has changed considerably. LED technology delivers greater freedom to produce a vehicle with CUPRA DNA; the headlights in three triangular groups on either side provide a more imposing look. The lighting is set into a 3D printed frame – a technology chosen to give the CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept an edge over competitors.
The 3D printed parts are more efficient as they can be manufactured in just six hours. That means the team can adapt to changes very quickly; whether it’s because of an incident or changes to the light position, the components can be modified in a very short space of time without the need for cumbersome and expensive tooling.
The Extreme E racing series, however, is about increasing environmental awareness and the CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is pushing boundaries here too, making the vehicle even more sustainable.
“The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is looking incredible and in addition to being fully electric, it is now even more sustainable, using recyclable and organic materials such as flax fibres…I cannot wait to compete in this newly designed version of the Extreme E!” said Jutta Kleinschmidt, CUPRA driver.
Constructing as much of the body structure as possible from flax fibres – extracted from the flax plant – means that the carbon fibre components can be replaced, thereby reducing the vehicles impact on the environment. The material can be worked in the same way, achieving the same shapes and radii required by engineers, meaning there’s no detriment to the car’s performance and is technology that could easily be adapted to the production of future vehicles.
The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept’s revitalised body is finished with a livery that will help it stand out whether it’s racing in the Arctic, desert, rainforest, glacier or ocean locations.
The all-electric off-road race car is finished with copper accents – a time-honoured CUPRA mark, parametric texturing and dynamized lines to help the exterior shimmer and move as the vehicle shifts through the landscape. It’s finished with an overlapping CUPRA logo to create a powerful 3D effect.
The CUPRA Tavascan Extreme E Concept is equipped with a 53-kWh battery placed behind the cockpit to produce a real rear weight distribution and measures 2.3 metres wide and more than 1.8 metres tall and can go from 0-100 km/h in about 4 seconds - meeting the race series’ regulations.
CUPRA has been part of Extreme E from the outset. We were the first automotive brand to announce its participation, joining forces with ABT SportsLine as the team’s main partner. The Extreme E series is enhancing our electrification research while promoting electric mobility, sustainability, and gender equality.
