Future Seat Cupra Models Could Go Electric To Attract Younger Buyers, Because Gadgets
Future Seat Cupra models could be hybrid or even fully electric, if the firm’s UK managing director gets his way.
Richard Harrison, top dog at Seat UK, is pushing the idea of electrified Cupra models, according to an interview with Autocar. The firm’s global boss, Luca de Meo, is a known supporter of any idea that makes more of the Cupra brand, so the principle has legs. Harrison is quoted as saying:
“There are no fully formed plans yet, but I’d be keen to explore the different opportunities between hybrid and full electric. If we did it, we’d pick one or two vehicles and do them properly; Cupra isn’t a badge to put on everything.”
We can also add him to the growing list of automotive execs who publicly praise Tesla for what it has done to the industry. Doing electrification properly, as per Tesla, is seen within Seat as the best way to win younger buyers’ business. He continued:
“If we did it, we’d need to have the debate on whether to go into motorsport to prove the quality of our products, or to let the quality of the products speak for themselves. Tesla has come from nothing to something with no (prior) heritage, so it is possible.
“But if we chose the former option, it would be another opportunity to do things a little differently again; there are different types of motorsport now, and it doesn’t have to be about Nurburgring lap records. There are exciting, shareable goals that could capture the imagination of a younger generation of buyers that could prove interesting.”
As Autocar itself points out, there is a bit of a trend developing. Polestar is going all-out as a performance hybrid maker, Audi is on course to electrify every model in its range (eventually), Renault is working on a performance Zoe and now Seat wants to go part-electric with Cupra. The change is real, and it’s happening today.
Via: Autocar
Comments
Attract young customers? Just include a fidget spinner w/ purchase
To every young person saying that gadgets don’t matter: this car is not intended to be sold to people who like cars. It is intended to be sold to hipsters who think they look cool when they play their Spotify playlist from their car. And lets be honest, there a lot more hipsters out there than car lovers.
Like 90% of all cars today.
And even worse is when they start going bad, the bills will make you cry or scrap the damn car
Don’t see why a fully electric car appeals to younger people more? Especially a sporty one. Aren’t we the generation who watch tonnes of super car YouTube videos about putting a new exhaust on a lambo?
Well I’d hate it then.
Sometimes I wonder whether they really thought the “attract younger buyers” concept through. There are only very few young people that have the money to buy a brand new car and those who can probably wouldn’t buy a Seat.
True, new cars to young people in europe is like 10% of sales. Every dad knows that a first car should be cheap
To Attract Younger Buyers
Said younger buyers are the fскing Millenials, and they don’t even like cars?!
Right right. Us 2001 kids obviously don’t care
I mean, EV’s are kinda superior in performance and efficiency. They just need to work on batteries or super capacitors.
Im also young and i know the benefits of EV’s but something is wrong wit this generation, where is the driving pleasure ? New cars have no sound, you dont feel the road because suspension and steering are to much assisted, and why the hell all this gadgets, the biggest problem with EV’s ar the batteries, so why put a 22” screen inside ? The less elecronics you have the longer the battery will last no ? And if you can drive and know your car, you dont need park assist, you dont need Electric steering etc…
“Could Go Electric To Attract Younger Buyers”
I hate electric cars.. They repel me..
I have another reason for not buying new cars.. But that’s a different discussion :P
I dont mind these electricity bullshit as long petrol engines are there as an option