The CUPRA Raval’s chassis has one distinctive attribute that sets it apart from other models sharing its platform: it’s 15 millimetres lower. While this difference may seem negligible, it’s a real gamechanger for this urban electric car. “A low centre of gravity makes the car stick to the road better” explains Alba Rollano, R&D engineer at CUPRA. This sportier low-slung chassis, combined with a 10-millimetre wider track and instant electric torque, creates a connection with the road that delivers a genuine go-kart feeling. “You can take corners at high speeds without compromising control or safety, sticking to the road like a magnet, with immediate responses and exceptional traction and handling, far superior performance to typical cars in its segment” says Rollano.

“Feeling the road is vital to us, which is why the CUPRA Raval’s suspension is sporty” says Rollano. The VZ version of this urban electric car, the most powerful and sporty, takes it one step further, featuring DCC Sport (Dynamic Chassis Control) suspension, with adaptive shock absorbers to adjust stiffness according to the driver’s needs and road conditions. “In CUPRA mode, suspension becomes stiffer to increase agility and reduce body roll, while in Individual mode you can customise stiffness with up to 15 adjustment levels” she adds. This allows for increased comfort in the city and maximises sportiness on the open road, offering up to 5% greater rigidity, which provides even more dynamism.

Acceleration power is instantly available in electric vehicles. “That’s why, right from the start of the project, the aim was to reinforce and emphasise that feeling of powerful acceleration” Rollano points out. The ultimate in sportiness is delivered by E-Launch, which practically transports you to the starting line of a race. Developed exclusively by CUPRA, this feature prepares the car for maximum acceleration, which is triggered with a launch-style effect when the brake is released, accompanied by a coordinated sequence of immersive lighting and a dedicated sound ceremony in the cabin to enhance engagement and excitement.

When it comes to urban driving, the 'One-pedal driving' mode is set to transform the way we drive in the city. In addition to the various levels of regenerative braking available with the selector lever in D, a new feature of the CUPRA Raval is that when set to B you can drive using just one pedal, the accelerator: press it down to accelerate; lift your foot off it to brake, and it may even come to a complete stop. “This helps make urban driving, and driving in stop-start traffic, much more dynamic and fluid, reducing reliance on the brake pedal and optimising energy recovery for the battery” says Rollano.

The Raval is CUPRA's vehicle with the lowest aerodynamic drag. “This is the result of combining its drag coefficient with its small frontal area” notes the engineer. Indeed, the model has been designed and developed with the aim of ensuring the highest efficiency in its class. It therefore features several aerodynamic elements, such as its pronounced rear C line, front air curtains, aero optimised wheels, flush door handles, rear spoiler and an active grille. The latter has a kind of shutter concealed behind it that opens or closes depending on the driving conditions. In short, “the CUPRA Raval is all about sportiness at every level, and you can really feel that when you drive it” Rollano concludes.