Inside the CUPRA Raval Pre-Series Tests for Volkswagen’s Electric Urban Car Family

CUPRA presents the Raval, Volkswagen Group’s first Electric Urban Car Family model, an EV now in pre-series road tests ahead of its 2026 launch. Learn more.

Camouflaged prototypes of the CUPRA Raval have left the test track and taken to public roads, giving a first real taste of the brand’s upcoming electric urban hatchback ahead of its 2026 market launch. For CUPRA, this is more than just another model update: the Raval is set to open the Electric Urban Car Family within the Volkswagen Group and signal a new phase in the company’s electrification strategy.

Visually, the Raval remains closely linked to the earlier UrbanRebel concept, with sharp lighting signatures, muscular proportions and the stance of a small hot hatch. Its name pays tribute to Barcelona’s El Raval district, a dense urban neighbourhood that mirrors the environment this compact EV is designed for. Even under camouflage, it is clear that CUPRA wants the car to stand out, with a bold identity that will be immediately recognisable in everyday traffic.

Under the skin, the Raval is based on the updated MEB+ platform, developed for the Group’s next wave of compact electric cars. The motor sits at the front, driving the front axle, while an overall length of around four metres and a wheelbase of about 2.6 metres aim to balance city-friendly dimensions with a roomy cabin. Pre-series driving impressions from independent tests describe a chassis that sits lower and a touch wider than the base architecture, with electronic systems helping the car turn in eagerly yet remain predictable for the driver.

Powertrain and range figures give a clearer idea of where the Raval is heading. CUPRA has outlined three Launch Edition variants: Dynamic and Dynamic Plus, each offering up to 155 kW and a projected range of roughly 450 kilometres, and the VZ Extreme, which raises output to 166 kW with an expected range of around 400 kilometres. These numbers reflect the brand’s current targets rather than final homologated values, but they underline the intention to build a compact EV that is not confined to short city hops.

Inside, the Raval continues CUPRA’s idea of emotional yet practical design. Available Super Bucket seats, optional 3D Knitting upholstery and electric adjustment with memory hint at an unexpectedly high level of sophistication in this class. A 12-speaker Sennheiser audio system provides the acoustic highlight, while a fully digital cockpit and a large central display are combined with familiar physical controls on the steering wheel. Reports from early previews point to generous rear-seat space for a car of this size and a boot volume of around 380 litres, reinforcing the Raval’s role as a daily-use car rather than a design-led showpiece.

The Raval will be the first production member of the Electric Urban Car Family, which will also include the Volkswagen ID.Polo and ID.Cross as well as the Škoda Epiq. All four models will share the MEB+ platform with new unified cell battery technology and are being positioned with a starting price in the region of 25,000–26,000 euros. The Volkswagen Group has stated that this family is intended to capture a significant share of Europe’s small EV segment and to democratise electric mobility, making battery-powered cars a realistic option for a wider group of customers.

The industrial story behind the Raval is just as important as the product itself. Production is scheduled to begin in 2026 at the Martorell plant near Barcelona, where the CUPRA Raval will be built alongside the future Volkswagen ID.Polo. In parallel, the Group is investing billions of euros in Spain’s electric ecosystem, from a new battery gigafactory in Sagunto to additional assembly capacity linked to the Future: Fast Forward project. For the Spanish automotive industry, this programme is described as the largest industrial investment in its history and a key step towards securing its place in Europe’s electric future.

At brand level, the Raval is meant to embody what CUPRA’s leadership calls “driver-first emotion”, bold design and strong performance, while opening the door to EV ownership for a new generation of drivers. If the promised blend of power, range and pricing is carried through to the showroom, the Raval could become both an accessible entry point into CUPRA’s electric line-up and the emotional spearhead of the Group’s urban EV strategy. As the first of four compact electric models to reach the market, it will play a central role in showing whether the Electric Urban Car Family can turn ambitious product and industrial plans into everyday reality on Europe’s roads.