CUPRA has shown a CUSTOM CUPRA by ABT version of its Raval electric hatch in Paris, though the brand has yet to say what the package actually changes.
CUPRA’s smallest electric car now has a sportier version. At the Paris Motor Show, the brand revealed the Raval CUSTOM CUPRA by ABT, a collaboration aimed at sharpening the look and feel of its compact hatch.
The Raval shared the stand with the CUPRA KIRO Formula E team. That pairing tells you plenty about the image CUPRA wants for its entry-level EV.
What CUPRA Has Confirmed
CUPRA describes the project as bringing together design, racing DNA and craftsmanship. The aim is to boost the sporty character of what the brand calls its “urban electric hero”.
That is about as far as the official detail goes. The announcement lists no changes to power, chassis, wheels or bodywork, and it gives no pricing or availability. Until CUPRA publishes those details, we can’t tell whether this is a cosmetic kit or something more substantial.
The approach itself isn’t new. CUPRA previously launched a CUSTOM CUPRA by ABT pack for the Formentor and Leon at the Red Bull Ring. The Raval is now part of that programme.
A Strong Start for the Raval
CUPRA has good reason to expand the Raval range early. The brand says the hatch is its most successful launch so far, with more than 50,000 customer orders since it went on sale in April.
The car also has a five-star safety result under the new 2026 assessment protocol. That puts it alongside the Leon, Formentor, Born, Tavascan and Terramar, all of which also hold five-star ratings.
Production takes place at the SEAT and CUPRA plant in Martorell, near Barcelona. The factory builds the Raval alongside the Volkswagen ID. Polo. Martorell also recently won the 2026 Automotive Lean Production Award in the OEM category.
Leaning on Motorsport
The Formula E link continues beyond the show stand. Pepe Martí has extended his contract with CUPRA KIRO for the 2026/27 ABB FIA Formula E World Championship. It will be his second season with the team and the first of the GEN4 era.
Taken together, the announcements show CUPRA linking its road cars more closely to its racing programme. A sporty-looking small EV with a Formula E team next to it is an easy sell. Still, a slogan like “racing DNA” is no replacement for actual specifications.
Why It Matters
Small electric cars are usually sold on price and practicality rather than personality. CUPRA is trying to make the Raval feel special as well as sensible, and with 50,000 orders already in, it can afford to try.
Enthusiasts will want the details CUPRA hasn’t released yet: what ABT has changed and what the package costs. Those two numbers will show whether this Raval is a sportier car or mainly a new look.
