CUPRA Terramar Full scale Clay Model
7Every car starts with a simple idea. For the CUPRA Terramar, that idea began with a sketch on a blank piece of paper. Alberto Torrecillas, the exterior designer at CUPRA, carefully drew the first lines of what would eventually become the brand’s first electrified sport utility vehicle. But turning those lines into reality is a long process, involving countless adjustments and creative refinements before the final design is locked in. “We begin by sketching the essence of the vehicle. Then we move into digital renderings to explore its dimensions, but to really get a feel for its surfaces and proportions, we need a full-scale model,” explains Alberto. That is where the magic of clay modeling comes into play.
Inside a secure room at CUPRA’s Technical Center, a life-size clay model of the Terramar begins to take shape. On one side, the model looks like a completed vehicle, wrapped in vinyl that mimics paint. On the other side, however, the raw clay reveals its handcrafted origins. Sculpted from more than five thousand kilograms of clay, the model undergoes precise milling followed by manual polishing to achieve every curve and line down to the smallest detail. “Proportions are everything,” Alberto says. “We can draw them on paper, but the clay model allows us to really see and feel them in three dimensions.” For the CUPRA Terramar, a focus on the vehicle’s athletic design and generous four-and-a-half-meter length was essential. By highlighting the body’s colors and refining the contours, the team ensured the sport utility vehicle balanced its robust size with a sleek and sporty appearance.
Although technology plays a major role in car design today, the value of clay models cannot be overstated. Digital tools are essential for visualizing and testing designs, but clay allows designers to validate those ideas in a tangible way. “Clay is such an interesting material because it lets us study how the lines, light, and shadows interact with the surfaces,” Alberto explains.
One of the biggest advantages of creating a full-scale clay model is the ability to touch and feel the vehicle’s surfaces. “Every contour and line on a car has a purpose,” Alberto says. “By running our hands over the clay, we can immediately sense whether the design works as intended or if adjustments are needed.”
Another reason clay remains essential is its flexibility. Designers can make changes in real time, reshaping details and instantly seeing the results. For example, the lines on the bonnet of the CUPRA Terramar are a signature feature that frame the brand’s logo. “Using the clay model, we could refine those lines and ensure they created the strong, bold look we were aiming for,” Alberto adds.
This combination of paper sketches, advanced digital tools, and traditional clay craftsmanship results in a sporty, electrified sport utility vehicle that captures CUPRA’s bold design philosophy. The Terramar is poised to make a statement in the growing European sport utility vehicle segment, where its athletic proportions and innovative design language set it apart.
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