Cupra is using the help from race car drivers Mattias Ekström and Jordi Gené in the development of its all-electric Born.
The drivers are helping Cupra to ensure that the car is practical for every driver, from the low key get-me-from-a-to-b type drivers, to the fast and furious wannabe's.
“We want Cupra cars to be precise, dynamic, and to optimally convey the feeling of the road,” says Marta Almuni, technical director of development for the Born. “This is something that these professional drivers know how to identify very well, so we harness their experience and advice on the points we need to work on to deliver this sensation.”
Ekström, a two-time DTM champion and FIA Worls Rallycross champion, and Gené, a class winner at Le Mans, were put to the task of driving the car to its limits on track, making sure it handles well in all conditions.
The drivers were taken to a frozen lake that has been turned into a track in Lapland. The aim was to ensure the car could handle, even in low-grip conditions. But the testing went beyond the snow.
“Dry, wet, and icy asphalt, gravel, snow, dirt road, and slick surfaces… we made sure that the car works everywhere,” says Ekström.
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The Born has DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control), meaning it reacts to driving conditions and can give the best performance. It also has e-boost, which gives the driver a boost of 20 kW for a short period of time when driving between 80-120 kph. It boosts the Born's output from 150 kW to 170 kW.
As the car is the brands first rear-wheel-drive model, it relied heavily on Ekström and Gené to ensure the steering felt right. The race car drivers improved the steering feel of the vehicle, and worked on improving the brakes and even smaller stuff like the size of the pedals.
