Cupra has unveiled a large SUV-coupe concept that looks like something from Bruce Wayne’s private collection, and it’s a pointer to the brand’s future styling direction.
The Cupra Tindaya concept comes as something of a surprise from the Spanish brand, making its debut at the Munich motor show this week.
Offering hints of rally-raid styling and a towering stance, the Tindaya concept is a break from the more road-focused hatchbacks and crossover SUVs that Cupra has launched so far.
Cupra says the Tindaya points to its future styling direction.
The sculpted bodysides and rear wheel arch crease could be seen as an evolution of the lines already seen on cars like the Formentor and Tavascan, but the treatment is more pronounced, more aggressive, and with a lot more visual activity to take in.
Up front, Cupra has modified the triangular front light signature of its current line-up into a slimmer trio of wedge-shaped lighting.
It’s the gaping face that really defines Tindaya’s new look, with a huge open area that defies the current trend of aero-friendly, closed-front facias and gives the Tindaya a look that could see it star as the next Batmobile.
Subtly hidden across the top of the front intake is a display screen that can show animations and secondary light effects.
Other hidden details include matte paint that shifts from dark grey to a copper hue along the side of the vehicle, and a gloss insert framing the rear wheel arch.
The sense of scale is lost in images, but the Tindaya measures 4720mm from nose to tail, making it longer than any current production Cupra vehicle, and matching the Mitsubishi Outlander for overall length.
The raised body sits over a set of 23-inch alloy wheels.
For its relatively generous proportions, the Cupra Tindaya is limited to a 2+2 seating layout.
A full-length centre console divides the interior space, while the driver faces a yoke, rather than a traditional steering wheel.
A massive 24-inch colour display handles instrumentation, and rather than festoon the interior with screens, Cupra has doubled down on the Tindaya’s driver focus, omitting a traditional infotainment display in the console.
Perhaps most surprising is that, rather than a motor show flight of fancy, the Tindaya is destined for a production future.
“The Cupra Tindaya showcar is not a dream, not even an ambition. This is our Cupra statement, and it’s going to be a reality," Markus Haupt, Cupra’s interim CEO, said in a statement.
The concept is envisioned as a range-extending hybrid with around 300km of electric driving range and the potential for a further 700km of range when using the petrol engine.
The concept’s dual-motor drivetrain produces 365kW and is capable of running from 0-100km/h in 4.1 seconds.
The use of the Volkswagen Group SSP, or Scalable Systems Platform, unlocks the ability for a fully electric version, although Cupra did not provide full range or output estimates.
While the production version is likely still some years away, the eventual showroom version would be positioned against prestige medium SUVs like the Audi Q5 Sportback, BMW X4 and Mercedes-Benz GLC Coupe.
Tung Nguyen has been in the automotive journalism industry for over a decade, cutting his teeth at various publications before finding himself at Drive in 2024. With experience in news, feature, review, and advice writing, as well as video presentation skills, Tung is a do-it-all content creator. Tung’s love of cars first started as a child watching Transformers on Saturday mornings, as well as countless hours on PlayStation’s Gran Turismo, meaning his dream car is a Nissan GT-R, with a Liberty Walk widebody kit, of course.
