Hot Cupra Born VZ goes on sale from £44,625

Order books have opened for the new range-topping, 321bhp Cupra Born VZ.

Adding a welcome performance boost to Cupra’s sweet-handling hatchback, the VZ brings a 94bhp power boost and a 75% increase in torque to 402lb ft. That translates to a 0-62mph time of just 5.6 seconds and an increased top speed of 124mph.

The £44,625 VZ also gets improved chassis dynamics thanks to standard-fit sport suspension and Cupra’s adaptive dynamic chassis control. Battery enhancements add an extra 2kWh of usable capacity and faster charging, meaning the Born’s pack now offers 79kWh and a maximum range of 372 miles in this high-performance iteration. DC charging has been upgraded to 185kW, meaning a 10-80% top-up in 26 minutes.

As well as an uplift in power and performance the Born VZ gets a sportier interior, with new Enceladus Grey Cup bucket seats as standard, and a Sennheiser Premium Audio sound system. On the exterior, 20-inch Thunderstorm alloy wheels are standard and there’s the option of the exclusive Dark Forest paint finish. Other specification boosts over other models include an advanced keyless entry system, wireless phone charging and vehicle-to-X connectivity.

Marcus Gossen, director of Seat and Cupra UK, said: “The Cupra Born is an incredibly popular model, and we’re thrilled with the impact it has made as our first all-electric offering. At Cupra, we continuously strive to exceed expectations, and the Born VZ does exactly that. More power, enhanced refinement, and builds upon the strengths of an already exceptional car.”