New SEAT Ateca
SEAT has finally added an SUV in its
range, the all-new Ateca that was officially presented to its first
public outing at next month’s Geneva Auto Show.
With the SUV market booming in Europe
and SEAT looking for ways to become profitable, the Ateca was a no brainer for
the Spanish carmaker, which is also planning to add a smaller crossover based
on the next Ibiza while also mulling a larger one, possibly with seven seats.
Aimed squarely at the popular compact
SUV segment with rivals such as the Renault-Nissan group’s Nissan Qashqai and
Renault Kadjar, the Mazda CX-5, Hyundai ix35 and the Ford Kuga, as well as the
likes of the closely related new VW Tiguan, the Seat Ateca rides on the German
group’s modular MQB platform.
It shares a similar footprint with the
Leon measuring 4.36 meters long, 1.84 meters wide and 1.6 metres tall, riding on the
same 2.64 metres wheelbase, and boasting a respectable boot size of 510 liters in its
standard front-wheel drive configuration and 485 liters when equipped with
all-wheel drive.
When it reaches European showrooms in
September, it will be available with a variety of powerplants – all
turbocharged, including an entry level 1.0-liter three-cylinder petrol
producing 115 PS, a 150 PS 1.4-liter petrol with cylinder
deactivation tech, and three diesels, a 115 PS 1.6L TDI, and a 2.0L TDI
in 150 PS and 190 PS guises.
All engines will be connected to a standard
six-speed manual, with high-end models offering an optional seven-speed
dual-clutch transmission.
Seat’s first SUV will come with a
comprehensive suite of safety and tech features, including the Traffic Jam
Assist that brakes the car in heavy stop-start traffic Emergency Assist, and
the Emergency Assist function that provides support with speed control and lane
keeping by monitoring the driver and which can bring the car to a halt if
there’s no reaction after prolonged warnings. ACC with Front Assist, Traffic
Sign Recognition, Blind Spot Detection, Rear Cross Traffic Alert and Top View
Camera are also on offer.
