CUPRA Tindaya Showcar Debuts at IAA Mobility 2025
CUPRA takes the stage at IAA Mobility 2025 and unveils the CUPRA Tindaya Showcar, a bold embodiment of the brand’s vision and the home of its future design language. "The CUPRA Tindaya Showcar is not a dream, not even an ambition. This is our CUPRA statement, and it’s going to be a reality," said Markus Haupt, Interim CEO of CUPRA. "While many move away from the driver, we double down on what matters most – the connection behind the wheel. Our focus will always be on the emotion of driving", he added.
The name Tindaya comes from a volcanic mountain on Fuerteventura in the Canary Islands, where copper-toned rock mirrors CUPRA’s signature and the raw form connects with the materials and textures that inform the design language. The CUPRA Tindaya Showcar channels this dramatic character with an exterior and interior shaped by a radical yet simple idea: "No Drivers, No CUPRA". The show car maximises driver focus and delivers a unique experience that heightens emotion at the wheel.
CUPRA positions the Tindaya Showcar as a revolution in the brand’s DNA. Unfiltered and unconstrained, it exists to elevate emotions. It captures CUPRA’s rebellious spirit, a core element of the design philosophy, and turns it into a driver-centred statement fit for a concept car that previews tomorrow’s CUPRA design.
Everything starts and ends with the illumination of the CUPRA logo, the car's soul. The logo ignites within the front black mask and comes alive. Light expands across the front to the sides to the rhythm of a living breath, forming the pupil of Tindaya’s eyes through three triangles as if the vehicle were awakening. Energy rises to sleek headlights on the bonnet, where three progressive triangular lights reveal a new iconic signature for the Tindaya Showcar. It marks a clear transition from digital to physical.
The front end presents a pronounced shark nose flanked by aerodynamic keels that guide airflow into side intakes. The recognisable front black mask defines expression and mood, clearly reflecting CUPRA DNA. Its constant illuminated motion echoes the steady breath of the show car. A power dome surrounds the logo, with two sharp, sculpted lines linking it to the roof rack, and slots highlighting the front luggage compartments.
From the side, striking proportions take over. The contrast between a compact cabin and muscular body, with a pushing-forward stance and sculpted flanks, sets a bold character at 4.72 m in length. This vehicle features large 23-inch wheels, a one-third cabin-to-two-thirds body ratio, and high ground clearance, defined by progressive wheel arch trim and a lower rocker panel. The car projects a rugged presence. A fastback silhouette, paired with the compact cabin and athletic body, shapes the Tindaya Showcar’s personality.
A sharp wedge line runs from the front bumper along the side to create an athletic shoulder that catches light and contrasts with the sculpted surfaces. This line forms carved air channels behind the front wheels and ends against the rear shoulders, compressing the body before the shoulder swells again. Pronounced rear shoulders, enhanced by a new graphic signature, appear to cut the skin to reveal the fibre beneath, drawing inspiration from the human body.
The roof carries a ‘ýpsilon’ shaped central structural spine that visually connects with the bonnet lines. It serves as the architectural focal point of the vehicle’s character, like a skeleton revealed under the skin, and supports two detachable roof panels. The rear completes the narrative with a prominent double spoiler that extends from the cabin, signalling speed and blending shooting brake and fastback cues. Lines flow from the rear shoulder to frame the lights within a coast-to-coast digital mask. Advanced technology makes the rear lights appear to float, with sharply cut forms and a sculpted triangular cut-out housing an inner light source. The rear bumper replicates the side keels and integrates them with air channels, creating a unified, performance-driven finish. A bold diffuser accentuates aerodynamics and adds a powerful closing touch.
Inside, CUPRA puts the driver at the centre with the same radical simplicity of "No drivers, No CUPRA". The cockpit draws inspiration from motorsport and incorporates cutting-edge technology to create a fully driver-centric architecture. At its heart sits the Driver Axis, a sculpted dashboard in layered structural forms that frames a 24-inch freeform display. A racing and gaming-inspired steering wheel adds satellite buttons for total control with zero distraction. An elevated centre console acts as the backbone of a tactile, functional mono cockpit.
Advanced phygital interaction elevates the experience. At the core sits The Jewel, a sensory and symbolic interface that awakens the vehicle, adjusts driving modes and transforms the atmosphere through lighting, sound and ambient responses. A projection band at the base of the windscreen, haptic controls, and a high-fidelity sound system, created with Sennheiser, transform the cabin into an immersive, resonant space. The interior features a 2+2 layout with saloon-style opposing doors and new-generation CUPBucket seats, a modern interpretation of the classic Eames Lounge that combines sustainable materials, high-performance ergonomic features, and enveloping ambient light. The CUPRA Tindaya Showcar stands as a new icon for a new era, true to CUPRA DNA, with a muscular, emotional, and tech-driven design that invites touch, emotion, and driving pleasure on every surface.
Innovative materials and colours deepen the concept. A matte body colour shifts from front to rear, flowing from a deep metallic grey that evokes the Atlantic Ocean to a soft beige that merges with earthy and warm mountain tones. Crystal-clear, transparent elements integrate seamlessly into the body and glow subtly in digital copper, projecting a progressive aura without disturbing the calm surroundings. On the roof, 3D-printed aluminium structural parts allow the design to adapt organically to the flowing lines.
Bcomp flax fibre, dyed to match the beige bodywork, adds sustainable sophistication and performance while reinforcing a commitment to environmentally respectful mobility. Beneath the surface, parametric cladding resembles organic leaf veins, lending the Tindaya Showcar an animated, living quality. Inside, seats and the centre console are crafted from sustainable, bio-attributed leather that follows the parametric curves of the under-skin texture, revealing a pulsing creature that responds to both the environment and the driver. The central console transitions from soft to hard materials towards the rear, following the natural flow of the design. Waxed bronze microfibre warms the interior with depth and refinement, while structural elements in 3D-printed aluminium continue the exterior’s theme for visual continuity and solidity. The true heart remains The Jewel, a glass prism that acts as a sensory link between driver and car, opening access to exclusive CUPRA experiences where driving modes, light, sound and touch unite holistically. Glass interior parts shimmer with a copper glow and evolve CUPRA’s signature copper application.
Digitalisation amplifies the concept, much like a dormant creature that awakens phygitally, merging digital graphics with striking physical elements. Dynamic exterior lights guide the way into a spacious interior. A large central display aligns with the driver’s axis and pairs with CUPRA Monitor+, which moves secondary content along the windscreen. A yoke steering wheel keeps key visuals and shortcuts always in view, highlighting emblematic satellite buttons and the novel layout. The Jewel remains the interface for physical engagement with vehicle behaviour and the key to unlocking new driving experiences, as light, sound, and digital visuals work in seamless concert. Evolving digital content provides a progressive touch, with main content, side shortcuts and CUPRA Monitor+ adapting to the driver’s needs in every moment.
Three selectable modes heighten emotion and place critical information exactly where needed on the high-definition displays. Immersive Experience focuses on pure driving and removes distractions to forge a deep connection with the vehicle through digital physicality. Striking graphics and a minimalist layout keep only the essentials on screen, leaving space for refined visuals that respond to the rhythm of the car’s core. Rider Experience targets thrill-seekers with performance inspired by CUPRA DNA. It groups key information at the top and opens a dynamic digital surface that reacts to vehicle dynamics. G-forces and speed are optimised in CUPRA Monitor+, while side shortcuts adapt to keep essential functions within a single tap. Tribe Experience showcases smart connected mobility with AI-powered recommendations and a direct link to the CUPRA Tribe. CUPRA Monitor+ extends sideways to show connected content and a wide 3D ADAS view alongside informative widgets on the main display. With a quick activation of CUPRA Radar, drivers access a curated feed of personalised experiences as Monitor+ shifts into a gateway for Tribe engagement and interaction.
The CUPRA Tindaya Showcar at IAA Mobility 2025 presents a driver-focused show car that previews CUPRA’s future design language, blends phygital technology with sustainable materials and turns the emotion of driving into its core message.
