autonomy challenge – Cupra Born

In this new autonomy challenge of #CircutorElectroChallenge we drive locally, a Cupra Born 150 kW, we will take it to the limit of its autonomy, using, as always, our best Efficient and calm Driving skills.

The Born, born electric, is the brand's first model equipped only with electric traction thanks to the use of the MEB platform of the Volkswagen group. Indeed, we could say that the Born is the sport version of the ID.3, but we'll see if it hides another surprise.

This is a suggestive car, its lines give it a very unique character, Cupra DNA. 150 kW of engine power that pushes from behind to reach 100 km/h in just over 7 seconds and therefore make any progress with complete peace of mind and above all safely.

The consumption obtained has allowed us to match those that correspond to the WLTP approval and, even in a terrain without urban driving such as our solidarity vault, we have improved it, which denotes that the car likes curves and unevenness by activating the "B" mode Breaking" on the lever to make a more intensive use of the installation. engine brake function to recover braking.

The arctic cold wave is already here, and in fact, the risk of snowfall is announced in the North East half, therefore, our route will return to the central lands, but unlike the last challenges, we start heading north, to Manresa by the C-58 and the C-55 to Cardona.

The Castle of Cardona, dominating the El Bages region is impressive, the scene of a thousand battles, it welcomes us at only 1.5ºC temperatures. We are at an altitude of 506 m, getting here has cost us 17% of the battery capacity, with a consumption of 15.6 kWh/100 km along the 66 km of the route.

We change slope looking for the sun and head west along a real mountain road, worthy of any Rally stage, but which transports us to an interior, rural and forest world, of peace and greenery, towns like Bergús, Su and Ardévol , of which we have never felt the name before, but what, suddenly we will visit again.

We return to L'Urgell after crossing Torà and taking the C1412 to Ponts. Today there is no traffic, maybe we will cross a dozen cars in more than an hour. It will be the cold, or the price of fuel...

We are already in control of Agramunt, after crossing Artesa de Segre. Here, favorable terrain has returned optimism to the car screens. 148 km from the CIRCUTOR headquarters, with a consumption of 14.4 kWh/100 km and a range of 240 km to be done with 63% of the battery that we have left. According to these data, we could get to do 388 km, which is 35 km more than what the vehicle indicated before leaving.

But, do we have enough as a challenge, or do we want more? Will we be skilled enough to keep growing the numbers? Some important climbs await us, but also very favorable terrain...

We cross L'Urgell and enter La Conca de Barberà, a land of wines, climbing the Solivella mountain range with 723 m, completely surrounded by wind turbines which, in recent days, have once again been the main electricity producers in the country! Welcome Renewable Power!

We are in Montblanc, exactly at the base of its walls, 1.7 km of fortification with 6 m height where we have arrived, after driving 197 km, with a consumption of 14.3 kWh/100 km and we maintain, attention! 50% battery. Will it be possible to maintain these results in the rest of the route?

The 426 m high port of Lilla is the last major obstacle, the last effort to achieve a great result. We crown it by seeing average consumption around 15 kWh/100 km emerge again, but fortunately from this pass a long descent to Valls awaits us.

The C-51 will take us from Valls to El Vendrell, the capital of Baix Penedès and where our route today has its first contact with the coast and, in a special way, with the family. We left our adventure partner and co-pilot, Pep Ruiz, at the train station, he will continue his trip by electric, but collectively, and we took advantage of this adventure to add ourselves to the family calçotada.

We finish the break in which we have shared a good time and we recover the march. With a 40% battery and 183 km of autonomy, thanks to the fact that our consumption has dropped to 13.6 kWh/100 km. all this after having done 246 km.

Car loaded, now we are four occupants, we make the stretch of coast to Sitges, where, as usual on our routes, we take the last control photo before facing the coast of El Garraf, but in this case in the opposite direction to the usual for , after traveling the entire coastline of the city of Barcelona, ​​we go up the C-58 to reach our point of origin in Viladecavalls, the headquarters of CIRCUTOR.

Autonomy Challenge Results - Cupra Born 150 kW

It seems impossible but we have done it, we have repeated the same consumption throughout our route with what we are going to obtain on the EcoBest lap and with the value approved by the brand, perhaps we are WLTP drivers?

Conclution:

The Cupra Born has exceeded expectations. Not only in terms of its autonomy in efficient and quiet driving, but also in its set of benefits. 150 kW of power, which are, whenever they are needed, very fine-tuned in driving aids, especially lane keeping and a head up display that make long-distance driving a relaxed and enjoyable experience.

Looking forward to the 77 kWh version being available with which we will surely be able to do a new challenge exceeding 500 km. Do you think we could do a Barcelona – Alicante without intermediate recharging?

Thanks:

Clarifications:

The Solidarity Tour is a 20 km route starting and finishing at the Circutor headquarters in Viladecavalls, which runs along very twisty secondary roads with slopes of up to 250 m.

The EcoBest tour is a 60 km mixed route that includes approximately 50% motorway, 25% city and the rest on interurban roads, very similar to the distribution of the WLTP cycle.

All our challenges are based on achieving maximum autonomy, in real traffic conditions, using efficient driving techniques and moderate speeds, always above the minimum marked on each road.