CUPRA makes it again: the Raval shortlisted for 2027 Car of the Year

• The nomination continues CUPRA’s strong track record in the competition: since its launch in 2018, the brand has reached the final seven with the CUPRA Formentor, the CUPRA Born and the CUPRA Terramar 
  
• Designed, developed and produced in Barcelona, the CUPRA Raval represents the culmination of the biggest transformation in the company’s history
• The CUPRA Raval has become the brand’s most successful launch to date, with more than 60,000 customer orders since its introduction in April and over 20,000 vehicles already delivered

Martorell, 02-11-2026

The CUPRA Raval has been officially shortlisted for the final round of the 2027 Car of the Year (COTY) award. A jury of 64 journalists from 25 countries has assessed a total of 38 vehicles before choosing the seven finalists. And the CUPRA Raval is among them.

The nomination marks another important milestone for the CUPRA Raval. The brand’s electric urban vehicle represents the culmination of the company’s transformation and years of investment to electrify Martorell. With more than €3 billion invested in the plant, the company has transformed its industrial capabilities to lead the Volkswagen Group’s Electric Urban Car Family, bringing together four fully electric models, all Made in Spain, with the ambition of making electric mobility more accessible across Europe.

The CUPRA Raval is now translating this industrial milestone into commercial momentum. It has become the brand’s most successful launch to date, with more than 60,000 customer orders since its introduction in April and over 20,000 vehicles already delivered. A strong start that confirms the Raval’s potential to challenge conventions and reshape its market segment.

A true game changer
Designed, developed and produced in Barcelona, the CUPRA Raval brings CUPRA’s distinctive character, performance-oriented approach and bold design language into the heart of the urban EV segment.

As the first model to be launched within the Volkswagen Group’s Electric Urban Car Family, the CUPRA Raval introduces a range of features developed exclusively for CUPRA, from its distinctive matt and paint finishes, next-generation Smart Light technology and flush, hidden, illuminated door handles, to dynamic welcome projections and illuminated front and rear logos. Inside, innovative CUP Bucket seats with 3D knitting and 3D-printed elements in the dashboard -available in the AHEAD pack- reinforce its progressive character.

Beyond its distinctive appearance, the Raval has been engineered to deliver an engaging driving experience, with a sport chassis sitting 15 mm lower than the platform, specifically tuned suspension, a wider track, progressive steering and ESC Sport as standard. For those seeking maximum performance, the VZ version elevates the experience further with DCC Sport, an electronic slip differential, ESC Off, sporty steering knuckles and 19-inch wheels wrapped in 235 mm performance tyres, ensuring the Raval feels every bit as dynamic as it looks.

A car for the new generation of drivers
The CUPRA Raval also delivers a compelling value proposition without compromising on performance, technology or individuality.

Its versatile powertrain line-up will feature four power outputs (85 kW, 99 kW, 155 kW and 166 kW) alongside two battery options of 37 kWh and 52 kWh, with prices starting at 26,000 €, giving customers the flexibility to choose the configuration that best suits their needs.

This flexibility is further enhanced by a comprehensive range comprising four trim levels -Raval, Raval Plus, Endurance and VZ-, offering a broad choice of equipment and character to suit different customer preferences.

CUPRA and Car of the Year (COTY)
Since the brand’s launch in 2018, CUPRA has consistently captured the attention of the Car of the Year jury. The CUPRA Formentor reached the final in 2021, the CUPRA Born followed in 2022, and the CUPRA Terramar became a finalist for the 2025 edition.

The CUPRA Raval now builds on this track record by securing a place among the seven finalists for 2027 with the ambition to win this prestigious award for the first time in the brand’s history.

The winner of the Car of the Year 2027 award will be announced at the official Car of the Year ceremony during the Brussels Motor Show.

Change needs drivers — and CUPRA believes real progress comes through radical disruption, by defying expectations and challenging conventions. Since its launch in 2018, the brand has transformed the automotive industry as an instigator of creativity and an agitator for change.

In just eight years, CUPRA has launched eight models and sold over 1 million vehicles globally. Every CUPRA model is restlessly expressive, design led, and performance driven. Its fully-fledged portfolio includes the CUPRA Leon, redesigned and enhanced as a standalone CUPRA model; the CUPRA Formentor, the first car to be developed exclusively by the brand and the company’s best-selling vehicle to date; the CUPRA Born, the brand’s first 100% electric vehicle; the CUPRA Tavascan, an all-electric SUV coupe; the CUPRA Terramar, the brand’s sporty SUV; and the CUPRA Raval, the brand’s radical interpretation of the electric urban car.

CUPRA is more than a car. It’s a conviction. The CUPRA Tribe is made up of a team of ambassadors who push back against convention and past the boundaries that hold others back, with members including Spain’s most decorated Olympian, Saúl Craviotto; film director J.A. Bayona; German goalkeeper Marc ter Stegen; and two-time Ballon d'Or and Best FIFA Award-winning footballer Alexia Putellas. Obsessive about elevating emotion on and off the road, CUPRA is also FC Barcelona's official automotive and mobility partner, the Premier Padel Tour's premium sponsor and is also proud to participate in the Formula E racing competition with Kiro Race Co.

www.cupraofficial.com 

For more information, please contact:

Chris Mease, Head of PR and Communications
07586 058302; chris.mease@seatcars.co.uk

Laura Reeder, PR Manager
07881 227608; laura.reeder1@seatcars.co.uk

Holly Williams, Events, Partnerships and Internal Engagement Manager
07738 897319; holly.williams@seatcars.co.uk

Katie Duguid, Press Fleet Manager
07983 537247; katie.duguid@seatcars.co.uk

This news release and illustration are issued in accordance with Clause 1.2J of the British Codes of Advertising and Sales Promotion and therefore cannot be the subject of a transaction of any kind.