What better location than Rovaniemi Driving Center in Finnish Lapland to test a car in extreme conditions of ice and snow? And it is precisely in this famous location because it allows you to see the Northern Lights, that CUPRA has brought its top models, that is the 100% electric Born and the sporty Formentor VZ5. In the 17 hectares of racing tracks immersed in the deep forest and a diversity of structures will help to highlight the dynamic capabilities of both models when it comes to how to balance the cars in driving conditions on snow and ice or to demonstrate the technical characteristics and their agility, in driving conditions on low friction surfaces.
CUPRA Born and Formentor VZ5 to the glacial challenge
CUPRA Born is the first 100% electric vehicle and is available in different power versions: 150 hp (110 kW) or 204 hp (150 kW) which supply power to the rear wheels. But there is also a third, more “gritty” version, CUPRA Born e-Boost, which can reach a maximum power fino a 231 CV (170 kW). Power is supplied by battery packs from 58 kWh and 77 kW, which guarantee a range of up to 420 km (58 kWh) or up to 548 km (77 kWh) respectively. In terms of performance, the CUPRA Born e-Boost with 58 kWh battery pack goes from 0 to 50 km / h in just 2.6 seconds and sprints from 0 to 100 km / h in just 6.6 seconds.
The Born e-Boost version, according to CUPRA, is the high-performance all-electric car that is also incredibly dynamic. Qhis is due to the DCC Sport and the ESC Sport / ESC Off, which in combination with the wider tires, offers the possibility to completely disconnect it. The progressive steering, the larger front brakes and wider tires mounted on 20 “alloy wheels provide the right driving feeling giving the perception of being able to push safely.
The characteristics of the tracks del Rovaniemi Driving Center therefore they will test the dynamic qualities of CUPRA Born. The car will have to deal with situations of understeer and oversteer, while it will be up to the electronic system to manage traction in a high-speed slalom on ice or learn to balance the car to offer a sporty drive on icy snow.
Formentor VZ5, uncompromising performance and driving pleasure
Formentor VZ5 is the model that offers the best performance in the CUPRA range. This is thanks to the combination of an advanced and adjustable chassis with different driving modes and DCC, to which are added progressive steering, a fast shifting transmission and the safety of all-wheel drive.
The engine 2.5-liter five-cylinder TSI releases 390 hp (287 kW) of power and 480 Nm of torque. It integrates Torque Splitter technology for dynamic torque distribution, to increase agility. The differential system is equipped with two control units, each of which activates a clutch capable of controlling the drive torque to be transmitted to each side of the rear axle of the vehicle.
This means it can transfer power between the left and right rear wheels while ‘cornering’ giving the CUPRA Formentor VZ5 even greater agility. The mode deserves attention Drift. which allows, when facing non-urban roads, to deactivate the ESC which, thanks to the Torque Splitter technology, helps to distribute the torque asymmetrically on each wheel of the rear axle. And when maximum braking control is needed, CUPRA Formentor VZ5 relies on Akebono 18 six-piston brake calipers“(375 mm x 36 mm) housed in CUPRA 20” alloy wheels. All these features are highlighted when Formentor VZ5 tackles one of the latest sections added to the calendar WRC dell’iconica Arctic Rally.