Seat premiered its el-Born Concept at the Geneva International Motor Show earlier this year. Now, several photos of the pre-production test car have leaked online – and it somehow seems less exciting than its predecessor.
Despite the tricky wrap, some details can be seen rather clearly. For one, the beautiful, futuristic front grille is no longer there, replaced by a simpler, cheaper mesh grille. For another, the previously original taillights now look like what the Volkswagen ID.3 comes with.
Speaking of which, the VW ID.3 measures 4,261 mm (14 ft.) long with 2,765 mm (9.07 ft.) of wheelbase. Given that the vehicles are technically similar, the el-Born can be expected to have comparable dimensions.
The same can be said about its powertrain. Chances are good the el-Born ships with a single, rear-axle-mounted electric motor rated at 204 hp (152 kW) and 310 Nm (230 lb-ft) of torque. Customers will likely be offered three battery sizes (45, 58, and 77 kWh) WLTP-rated between 330 and 550 kilometers (205 – 342 miles) of range.
The MEB architecture the car is based upon theoretically enables it to have a dual-engine version, which means Seat might start shipping it with an added front-axle electric motor in the future. Technically similar concepts recently revealed by other manufacturers had front-axle engines rated at or close to 102 hp (76 kW). However, while the VW ID.3 is almost guaranteed to get such a version, the el-Born is not.
The cabin remains a mystery for now, but we hope it stays true to the concept version.
The production will begin in Zwickau, Germany next year. According to an earlier announcement, the Volkswagen ID.3 costs less then €30,000 in its most basic implementation. The Seat might turn out a bit more expensive due to its higher standard trim configuration and the previously announced ‘premium’ status.