Cupra Tindaya First Look: The 489 hp Show Car Cupra Says It Will Build

The Tindaya on its turntable at the IAA Mobility Open Space, photographed on 9 September 2025. The sign behind it reads “World Premiere”.

Cupra says it will build the Tindaya. On 8 June 2026 electrive reported that CEO Markus Haupt told Autocar the show car would “see the streets in some years”, although the powertrain is still undecided.

The show car is a range-extender SUV. Motor1 reports 489 hp from two electric motors and a 4.1-second sprint from 0 to 100 km/h, which would make it the quickest Cupra yet. We photographed it at the Open Space in Munich on 9 September 2025, the day after the premiere.

Named After A Mountain On Fuerteventura

Cupra named the car after Tindaya, a volcanic mountain on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands. The brand says the copper tone of its rock echoes Cupra’s signature colour, and that the design follows the idea “No Drivers, No CUPRA”.

The world premiere took place on 8 September 2025 at 19:30, during the Cupra Media Conference at the IAA Mobility Open Space. Our IAA Mobility 2025 report covers the rest of the show.

Copper Blades, Purple Light And A Rock Wall

In the photograph the Tindaya has a matt finish, huge wheels with copper-toned blades and a front end cut into a deep intake with purple light inside. It stands on a circular turntable in front of a dark rock wall. Large screens show copper-coloured rock, which ties the car to its namesake mountain.

The AUTO TV video walks through the interior as well. It lists a glass control element called the Jewel, a yoke-style steering wheel and floating bucket seats.

About 300 km On Battery Alone

On battery power alone the Tindaya covers about 300 km, which Motor1 says falls short of 2025 EV standards. It reaches its 1,000 km claim with a 1.5-litre four-cylinder engine acting as a range extender.

Cupra has not said how the production car will be powered. According to electrive, Haupt called the powertrain discussions a daily change, and a fully electric version remains an option.

A Possible Flagship Above The Tavascan

The Tindaya does not sit on the platforms of today’s Volkswagen Group electric cars. Motor1 notes that it is built on neither MEB nor PPE. According to electrive, a production car would use the Scalable Systems Platform, arrive after the group’s first SSP model and sit above the Tavascan as a possible flagship.

Our Take: Cupra’s Most Aggressive Design

To us, the Tindaya is the most aggressive design Cupra has shown. It is built around the driver, and we link it to the line “No Drivers, No CUPRA”.

We note Haupt’s comment that the car “was born to be a reality” and see the Tindaya as a genuine preview of Cupra’s electric future.

Independent editorial. No brand or organiser paid for or reviewed this article.