The SEAT brand we know now is very different from the SEAT we knew a decade ago. The wind of transformation has been blowing over the Volkswagen Group-owned carmaker lately and SEAT has been enjoying a new life thanks to a revised lineup brimming with good-looking cars.

In the process, the Cupra nameplate - used to designate the sportiest models of the SEAT bunch - evolved into a standalone brand and without wasting any time, it has come up with an electric car, albeit with a little help from the VW ID.3. Let's check out the Cupra el-Born EV.

Originally unveiled back in 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show, the el-Born is pretty much an ID.3 dressed differently. It will even be built next to the ID.3, in Volkswagen AG's Zwickau plant in Germany, on the same MEB architecture. If you wish, the el-Born is to the ID.3 what the SEAT Leon is to the Volkswagen Golf.

That said, let's have a closer look at what hides under the sheet metal inside the el-Born.

2021 Cupra el-Born - Powertrain

Cupra says the el-Born focuses a lot on performance and dynamics, even more than the ID.3 (which we already drove and found to be a well-rounded package ticking a lot of boxes). In this respect, Cupra's literature mentions a 0-50 kph (0-31 mph) sprint time of 2.9 seconds attainable in the DCC Sport mode developed exclusively for the el-Born.

Since it shares the same bone structure as the ID.3, the el-Born will likely be rear-wheel-driven, too. Cupra, however, is mum on power and torque. The 77-kWh-battery VW ID.3 makes 150 kW (201 horsepower) and 310 Newton-meters (229 pound-feet) of torque courtesy of an electric motor, but we haven't heard yet from Cupra regarding el-Born's oomph credentials.

Cupra el-Born specifications

Obviously, the regular user will ponder whether to buy the el-Born or not with range in mind. The el-Born's 77-kWh battery promises a maximum range of up to 500 km (310 miles) on a single full charge. It also supports fast charging (most likely up to 125 kW), which is said to add 260 km (a tad over 160 miles) of range in just 30 minutes.

With the 77-kWh battery pack, the ID.3 goes from 0 to 100 kph (62 mph) in eight seconds flat, so the el-Born should be slightly quicker, given that it's more oriented to the dynamic side of driving.

2021 Cupra el-Born - Interior

Those familiar with the ID.3's cabin won't be taken by surprise inside the el-Born. Cupra's EV adds just a couple of new shapes and materials to what can be easily identified as the ID.3's interior. In typical SEAT (and now Cupra) fashion, the el-Born retains a minimalistic vibe of sorts that's more common in Audis than in Volkswagens. And that's a good thing.

Granted, VAG will let Cupra do its own material selection inside the cabin. Don't expect fireworks in this department, though, as niceties such as Alcantara and Nappa leather likely won't make their way inside the el-Born. However, since the ID.3's cabin offers a good mix of practicality and ergonomically laid out screens and controls, that should be the case too for the el-Born.

Cupra says the el-Born will host a pair of front sport bucket seats, a revised steering wheel with Cupra mode buttons, as well as recycled and "high-quality material choices." What will those be, exactly, it yet to be announced.

2021 Cupra el-Born - Price and Availability

Cupra is supposed to launch the el-Born on the European market in 2021. That's when we'll know more about the EV in terms of specs, trim levels, and price. Until then, we can only make assumptions regarding how much it will cost.

One good indicator here is the VW Golf/SEAT Leon price comparison. In Germany, the Leon starts at €20.570, while Golf pricing kicks off at €20,395. What's more, the ID.3 is priced from €34,995, but that's the model fitted with the 58-kWh battery pack.

Opt for the 77-kWh version and price goes up to €41.995. We believe this will be a realistic starting sticker for the el-Born, which means a well-kitted one might go to as high as €50,000.