Story and photos by Andreas Conradt, Automedia
'26 Cupra Raval Spotted in the Snow
Cupra, the sub-brand and motorsport division of Spanish automaker SEAT, was recently caught testing the upcoming Raval under very light camouflage in Scandinavia.
Scheduled to debut later this year and built on the same platform as the Volkswagen ID.2 electric hatchback, the Raval is expected to offer upwards of 200 hp from its front-mounted electric drive-unit.
To differentiate itself from Volkswagen and SEAT, the Cupra features sportier exterior styling, apparent with the prototype's camouflage. The pre-production model features a rear bumper valance that resembles a diffuser and a sizeable lower grille, vents for cooling front brakes and triangular headlights up front.
According to sources, the '26 Cupra Raval is understood to flaunt 38- and 56-kWh battery packs and 125 kW for peak charging capacity, as well as an estimated driving range of about 270 miles.
Porsche Macan Rival: Alpine A390
The Alpine A390 was presented as a concept car at last year's Paris Motor Show and is positioned as a direct competitor to the Porsche Macan.
Inside, the A390 will have select colors with blue stitching and a central multimedia screen that will be used to configure multiple aspects of the car, sources said, as well as sporty but comfortable seats with more radical designs from Sabelt available as an option.
Thanks to its aerodynamic design, it will have a clamshell front hood and an LED rear brake light that will run from side to side. Alloy wheels will be offered in 19- and 20-in. sizes.
According to insiders, Alpine will offer the A390 in a 600hp, all-wheel-drive version powered by three electric motors, as well as a more discreet version with 400 hp. The expected maximum range will be slightly more than 370 miles, sources said.
More Powerful Ferrari 296 VS Expected in Late April
New images have emerged of the Ferrari 296 Versione Speziale (VS), Ferrari's usual code for a more potent version of a model after a few years of production.
Rumors suggest the Ferrari 296 VS will make its debut at the end of April, and will continue to be available in its coupe, spider and Piloti versions. Although yet unconfirmed, insiders said the final power output is likely to be around 70 hp higher than that of the normal 296, meaning total output should be around 900 hp.
The current model features a 3.0L V6 twin-turbocharged engine paired with an electric motor, producing a combined output of 818 hp.
Porsche Prepares Cayenne Coupe EV for Debut
With few details already available, the Porsche Cayenne Coupe EV is trading octane and engine sounds for wattage and zero emissions. However, what's not going to change with the new generation Cayenne is the split of the range into the standard SUV and the Cayenne Coupe.
While the first has been photographed in various locations throughout the last months, these are the first shots of the Coupe, which will hit dealers a couple of months after the SUV's debut.
While the two cars are virtually identical from front bumper to B-pillar, the Coupe features a sloping roofline with lower rear side doors and a small rear side window. The entire back will be different, too, and give the Cayenne a much sportier appearance.