SEAT has unveiled its first SUV at the Geneva Motor Show 2016.
The new Ateca is a unique combination of distinctive design, dynamic driving fun, urban versatility and compelling utility. First-class connectivity, innovative assistance systems and highly efficient drives are among its technology highlights and make the Ateca one of the most innovative SUVs in the segment. Outstanding quality, precision production and very attractive value-for-money make it a true SEAT, and something that will make every day and every mile that little bit more enjoyable.
The new SEAT Ateca is named after a Spanish town to retain the tradition and to give true brand and authentic Latin flavour, character and personality.
The Ateca’s design is utterly unmistakable. As an SUV, too, the typical SEAT design language is a striking combination of dynamism and functionality. Many elements, like the trapezoidal grille, the side blisters with their sharp creases, plus the triangular light signatures, are typical of brand icons, such as the Leon. Yet every single detail has been carefully developed to the next level for the Ateca.
The large, high grille brims with confidence, while the sharply defined lights and substantial air intakes leave no doubt as to the Ateca’s dynamic credentials. At the same time, the SEAT SUV maintains a broad, muscular stance that exudes solidity and reliability.
Typical SEAT features include the optional full-LED headlamps with their desirable glow and excellent luminance. Combined with the triangular signature of the daytime running lights, the overall impact is utterly unmistakable. In the Ateca, the indicator lamps are also an integral part of this signature.
State-of-the-art technology and an emotional experience go hand-in-hand in the SEAT Ateca. One example is the “welcome” experience. As soon as you unlock the doors, LEDs in the door mirrors illuminate the area close to the doors, like puddle lighting, projecting the Ateca name onto the ground.
The side profile clearly conveys the dynamics and performance of the new SEAT. The precise lines with sharp creases interact with flowing forms, such as those around the lower door section, demonstrating not only the designers’ fine feel for form, but also the expertise of SEAT’s toolmakers and production specialists. Slightly rectangular wheel arches framed in black provide an imposing setting for wheels measuring up to 19 inches in diameter. Meanwhile, the window line framed in chrome and with a kink along the rear edge of the side window gives the car an even longer and more elegant line. The door mirrors sit on the door shoulders – a detail usually seen only on sports cars.
The interior harmonises perfectly with the exterior design. The interior, too, combines a refined, yet dynamic character with that unique feeling of solidity and safety so highly prized by SUV drivers. Key factors are the raised seating position, as well as the clearly visible bonnet and solid door strips.
The cockpit has been designed wholly around the driver. The controls are grouped closely together, while the read outs, such as the infotainment display measuring up to 8 inches, are just a brief glance away. The high centre console is a further example of how well the Ateca combines the SUV sense of proximity and solidity with the sporty feeling of a shortened gearstick. Light is another special feature of the interior. The new ambient lighting with “waterfall” look in the doors gives passengers a choice of eight different colours to adapt according to their mood and personal preferences.
The Ateca’s all-wheel drive is among the most modern and efficient systems of its kind in the world. SEAT uses a newly developed multi-plate coupling with hydraulic actuation and electronic control – a fifth-generation Haldex coupling. It reacts extremely quickly to all imaginable drive situations to deliver a clear benefit in active safety and handling.
The SEAT Ateca will be available before the summer in Germany and Spain and progressively after in other markets, including the UK in September. It will come with petrol and diesel engines ranging from 115 PS to 190 PS, 2WD and 4WD versions, and manual and DSG gearboxes. The extensive array of technology options extends from full-LED headlights to a broad portfolio of assistance systems, like an innovative Traffic Jam Assist and new Emergency Assist, to a package of latest-generation infotainment systems with eight-inch touchscreens and Full Link connectivity. Three trim levels offer colours and top-quality materials to suit every taste.