CUPRA Tindaya - A 1000km Capable REEV

September rewards a collection of exciting reveals from car manufacturers as it is the host month of the IAA mobility show in Munich.

The IAA Mobility Show is widely regarded as 'the' event for automotive brands to showcase new technology, drivetrains, and some truly exciting concept cars. Many of the concepts unveiled remain as just that - a vision into what could be. But more often than not, at least for the most extreme models unveiled to the press, the concepts will only ever be a vision remembered for decades to come, with wishes of 'gosh, if only they made that'.

CUPRA's Latest Concept Car

Toward the end of August, a few weeks ahead of the 2025 IAA Mobility Show, I flew to Munich to see a new show car that CUPRA is particularly proud of. It was made clear to all press visiting ahead of the trip that the new car we'd be seeing is just a showcar (another word for concept) except, unusually, within the press release was some information that suggested there was potentially an ongoing plan for this particular model because it was announced with real-world power and performance statistics which hint at the possibility of a road-going version appearing in the near future.

Tindaya - A Volcano, and now, a car.

Named after a volcano in the Canary Islands, Tindaya is being described by CUPRA as a revolutionary high-performance concept vehicle that embodies the brand's latest design philosophy, innovation, and commitment to sustainability.

The car was revealed in a suitably volcanic-themed studio space, backed by its own ominous drone soundtrack and a light show emitted by the vehicle itself. Tindaya is the largest CUPRA ever produced, and to celebrate the biggest and boldest model yet, some exceptionally clever lighting features have been added to emphasise the model's muscular angles and shapes.

Exterior Design and Materials

On the front and rear bumpers are semi-transparent panels, backlit by a fiery golden glow. In the lower section of the grille on the front of the car, a screen stretching the width of the lower grille displayed golden flames pulsating and rippling outward, as if powered by fire from within.

Okay, admittedly, fire-breathing digital screens aren't likely to make it onto a production car anytime soon, but for the showcar reveal, it was pretty cool to see - and let's be honest, it wouldn't be a proper concept car without a dose of ridiculousness. On the model's exterior are some exciting and revolutionary materials, all of which give a nod towards sustainability and innovation. At the rear of the car is an exposed material called Bcompt Flex Fiber. It looks like Carbon Fibre, however, it's all natural fibres encased in a resin which is then dyed to match the bodywork. The structure of the car, as well as multiple panels, are constructed from 3D printed aluminium, which allows for more radical angles and shapes, many of which look almost organic in form. Aluminium also grants lightness and can be assembled from widely recycled parts.

Interior Design and Materials

The interior of the car was revealed in a dramatic moment, with both the driver's and rear passenger's side doors opening simultaneously outward to reveal a pillarless side profile. The open space revealed a driver's and passenger's seat, which appeared to float in midair, and a steering wheel that wouldn't look out of place on a sci-fi movie's spaceship. The theme of sustainable materials continues within the car with bio-based vegan leather and waxed, bronzed microfibre cloth, which is soft to the touch. A structural spine runs the length of the car's interior and divides the driver and passenger sides of the vehicle, whilst transforming in shape, design and material use from front to back.

Driver Focused with a Jewel

At the front of the car is a driver-centric cockpit featuring a 24-inch display that spans the entire width of the vehicle. The racing and gaming-inspired steering wheel rewards what CUPRA is calling advanced "phygital" (physical + digital) interaction.

In the centre of the cockpit and built into the spine of the car is what CUPRA is calling the Jewel. The Jewel acts as a switch for cycling through driver modes and experience modes, although that would be far too straightforward an explanation of a concept, so CUPRA describes it as 'a central and symbolic element that enhances the connection between the driver and the vehicle'.

Power and Range

Now, for the exciting part… Beyond the radical styling, fire-breathing screens and an interior that looks fitting in a dystopian sci-fi movie. Tindaya is a concept car boasting impressive and highly achievable performance figures. The Tindaya is based on Volkswagen Group's Scalable Systems Platform (SSP), and as a result, rewards 365kW/496PS output, a 0-100 km/h acceleration time in 4.1 seconds, and a total range of over 1,000 km using a Serial Range Extended Electric Vehicle REEV powertrain (Range Extender Electric Vehicle).

Will Tindaya be a Production Car?

For now, CUPRA isn't saying yes; however, it's not saying no either. Putting the exterior screens, the 23' wheels, illuminating body panels, and sci-fi-focused interior to one side, there are plenty of aspects of the Tindaya that could be toned down for production, and something tells me that once the public gets sight of it, the demand may, pardon the pun, erupt.

words by John Marcar
photographs by CUPRA