When devotion to thrill meets the commitment to safety, a new era of motoring unfolds. Let’s venture into this unique intersection where performance and responsibility harmonise, courtesy of the CUPRA Born, the brand’s first all-electric model.
The Silent Road Warrior
The CUPRA Born, now available for order in the UK, is setting a new standard in the automotive landscape, blending its sporty characteristics with technology aimed at reducing pedestrian and cyclist casualties on UK roads, a perennial issue that claimed 430 lives in the last year alone.
The Power of Sound
While all-electric vehicles must emit sound when travelling at less than 12mph through the Acoustic Vehicle Alerting System (AVAS), CUPRA Born goes a step further. It has a specially designed AVAS sound perceptible at impressive speeds exceeding 25mph, almost double the legal requisite. This exceptional feature enhances awareness for pedestrians and cyclists, ensuring they are alerted to the car’s presence from a distance, thereby reducing potential collision risks.
Advanced Technology for Increased Safety
CUPRA Born’s technological prowess extends beyond sound. With a suite of Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (ADAS), it encompasses safety features like Front Assist and Exit Warning system, which serve to decrease pedestrian and cyclist incidents. The Front Assist system, complete with emergency braking, can detect pedestrians, cyclists, and other vehicles, providing a visual and audible warning to the driver when a collision appears imminent. Night or day, obscured by parked cars or not, this system offers an added layer of protection for vulnerable road users.
Exit Warning technology alerts car occupants before they exit the vehicle, especially critical in potentially preventing ‘car dooring’ incidents involving passing cyclists.
Adapting to New Highway Code Norms
With recent changes in the Highway Code designed to protect pedestrians and cyclists, the Front Assist and Exit Warning systems could offer invaluable support to drivers adapting to these new regulations.
The Silent Guardian in Numbers
The CUPRA Born may be all about safety, but it doesn’t compromise on performance. As we delve into the specifics of this model’s charging capabilities, battery power, acceleration, and mileage, it becomes apparent that the Born is as much about performance as it is about safety. (Note: Detailed performance figures for the CUPRA Born can be referenced from the official CUPRA website)
While the CUPRA Born is visibly redefining the electric vehicle landscape with an emphasis on protecting vulnerable road users, it’s crucial to remember that technology isn’t infallible. It’s there as a significant, but not the only, player in the drive towards safer roads. Both drivers and pedestrians have an indelible role in this endeavour, with technology like that onboard the CUPRA Born acting as an invaluable assistant rather than a replacement for vigilance.
The CUPRA Born is a striking example of how auto manufacturers can innovatively align with the growing societal awareness towards road safety. It’s more than a car; it’s a testament to the transformative power of technology when steered by ambition and empathy.
