When is a Born not a Born

[Walkingxray]

Evening all

This one has been baffling me all day. On the way to work this morning and I was behind another Cupra, but I couldn't quite work out what it was.

Looked very much like a Born, but had different rear bumper, very similar to a Leon. It had what looked like copper exhausts, but no steam being emitted (and it had the green stripe plates so it should have been electric). Got a glimpse of the front when I turned off and that was more like the Formentor style bumper.

So, is this a face-lift Born, or something someone has pulled together to stand out from the crowd (and is it someone on here)? Have to say the rear end did look really good.....

 

[H Rafiq]

I’ve seen some Priuses with the green EV stripe on their number plates, but they’re not EVs, they’re hybrids… Anyone can put any plate on their car at the end of the day. Depends how long it takes to get caught. Don’t think the police will be putting a lot of time n effort in to stopping people with EV plates on non-EV cars…

 

[SRGTD]

I’ve seen some Priuses with the green EV stripe on their number plates, but they’re not EVs, they’re hybrids… Anyone can put any plate on their car at the end of the day. Depends how long it takes to get caught. Don’t think the police will be putting a lot of time n effort in to stopping people with EV plates on non-EV cars…

Agree - it was probably someone chancing their luck with a ‘green’ marker on their non-EV car.

I doubt it was a facelift Cupra Born - when manufacturers are road testing facelift and next generation models before launch, they keep them disguised in camouflage vinyl wrap until very close to the launch date. If there was a facelift Born close to launch, I think the motoring press would’ve reported on it and published the usual spy shots - AFAIK, this hasn’t happened.

The Cupra Born hasn’t been on sale that long (launched in 2021). The car it’s based on - VW‘s ID.3 was launched back in 2019, so based on VAG’s usual 8 year (or thereabouts) model lifecycle, I suppose it’s conceivable we might see a facelift ID.3 towards the end of this year or during the first half of next. If this happens, and if Cupra follows the usual model lifecycle (lots of ‘ifs’ ), then we may see a facelift Cupra Born sometime during 2025.

 

[Worc1]

Hot Cupra Born VZ in the works | Auto Express

A punchier Cupra Born will get 237bhp and special paint, paving the way for future hot Cupra models

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[martin j.]

What advantage does one gain by having the green stripe on the reg plates? Is it an offence to have plates with this on an ice powered car? I seen ev’s without the green marker.

 

[H Rafiq]

What advantage does one gain by having the green stripe on the reg plates? Is it an offence to have plates with this on an ice powered car? I seen ev’s without the green marker.

EVs don’t have to have the green stripe. But only EVs can have the stripe on their plates.

A DVLA Spokesperson said: 'It is illegal for motorists to incorrectly display a number plate and those breaking the law could be fined up to £1,000.

 

[martin j.]

What advantage does the green give?

 

[H Rafiq]

Extra 10bhp

 

[Seastormer]

What advantage does the green give?

Think it's so in ULZ's the car can be reconised as an EV and enter without getting a automatic charge or fine.

 

[martin j.]

Ta, don’t have ULZs here to worry about.

 

[C_ED_99]

Think it's so in ULZ's the car can be reconised as an EV and enter without getting a automatic charge or fine.

Shouldn't ULZ use ANPR and charge based on what data the DVLA hold? Seems like the sensible way to do things, so it might not be how it's done

 

[Seastormer]

Shouldn't ULZ use ANPR and charge based on what data the DVLA hold? Seems like the sensible way to do things, so it might not be how it's done

I think the ANPR method is correct, but the strip is to make people aware it is a full electric car just by looking at it. There are supposed to more uses like free parking etc in the future.