LOOKING at a car’s spec sheet suggests much of what it’s all about, so I thought it was wise to reel off a few facts and stats to kick-start this review: rear-wheel drive; 326bhp; 60mph in 5.6 seconds; 402lb ft of torque; Sabelt seats…

If that doesn’t spark one’s attention, the fact that all that goodness comes in hot hatch-sized dimensions most definitely will. Okay, there’s a catch, but stay with me because the all-electric Cupra Born VZ was quite possibly the most surprising car I’ve tested in several years.

VZ is actually Spanish for ‘veloz’ - fast to you and I - and although Cupra’s made the decision to keep the Born’s styling changes to the absolute bare minimum over its lesser-powered stablemates, what it’s done elsewhere has been remarkable.

Okay, its scarcely believable 1,900kg weight is an all too common drawback with hot EVs, but the under-skin additions most certainly counteract that. While its power has been considerably hiked and the torque figure’s climbed by an astonishing 75 per cent (yes, that’s right - it isn’t a typo) there’s been fundamental changes to its foundations: its suspension, steering and brakes have all been upgraded.

The overhaul of its chassis - arguably the most important in a pure-blooded hot hatch - takes in revised springs and dampers at both the front and rear but chiefly much better anti-roll bars: if anyone’s driven ‘lesser’ Borns, the first thing I noticed when pushing on was its bus-like leaning tendencies, so you’d hope some of that would be reduced by beefing them up in the VZ.

Aside from the fancier wheels and its new ‘Dark Forest’ hue, you’ll be hard pushed to tell that this is the fancier version until you see the VZ badging on its subtle rump; there’s no aero-inspired bumpers or bigger spoilers. Get inside, though, and your eyes are immediately dazzled by some of the best seats this side of a six-figure sports car. You’ll notice they sit lower and they’re more snug around all the places you’d want, but many regular features of ordinary Borns happily remain, such as the brilliant steering wheel and premium materials used on its dashboard or door cards.

I’ll not delve too far into its annoying aspects as the VZ shares much of that with every new car on the planet, mainly because it doesn’t seem to remember its driver’s preferences. Why - in an era of ultra-clever vehicles, some of which can indeed drive and park themselves - can it not remember that I don’t want lane-keeping assist, regenerative braking or pre-collision warnings butting in? From my experience, you have to tailor each to your favoured setting every single time you drive; the only minor plus point to this is that the Born’s infotainment system where this is housed is easy to use and within one or two menus, not buried away like in some.

However, to drive, it truly is a revelation. Sure, the Born’s improved anti-roll bars aren’t able to perform miracles in order to turn a two-tonne car into a Honda Civic Type R rival, but what they do is help to provide a much different - and more entertaining - drive. It’s quite obviously rear-wheel drive: you can feel it nibbling whilst pushing on and in turn that focuses your mind, but it’s more playful instead of like you used to get in, say, a BMW M140i which could be downright terrifying in the wet. Get it on a good, typical Yorkshire B-road and you’ll be pleased with everything from how it rides, its steering, its handling and most definitely its pace.

It’s fast as its name would suggest, the VZ, and you’d have to be in something considerable to keep pace with it to the national speed limit. There’s 326bhp but it’s its huge torque that shoves you back into that gorgeous Sabelt seat.

It’s genuinely a great car to drive. Oh, apart from its brakes, which manage to be overawed very quickly and have the strangest pedal feel I’ve ever encountered. Strangely, though, you’re left feeling that the chassis could cope with much more, so maybe Cupra’s bosses could well be readying a last-of-the-line special.

Here’s hoping because if the £44,000 Born VZ is anything to go by, it’ll certainly be another cracker.