SEAT launches pricing and specification for the new Ateca Trim Level "FR"

• New Ateca FR to add a sporty dimension to SEAT’s hugely successful first SUV range
• UK line-up will feature four engines, including new 2.0 TSI 190. Others are: 1.4 Eco TSI 150 turbo petrol, plus, 2.0 TDI 150 and 2.0 TDI 190 turbo diesels
• 4Drive all-wheel drive featured as standard on all 2.0 litre engines
• FR visually differentiated from other Atecas through sport look combining high gloss black front grille, 18-inch ‘Performance’ alloy wheels, body-colour wheel arch surrounds, unique FR front and rear bumpers, dark-tinted rear windows, side skirts, rear spoiler and aluminium roof rails and door mouldings
• Impressive specification also includes SEAT Drive Profile, plus, full complement of exterior and cabin LED lighting, including multi-colour interior illumination
• FR sporting quality reflected in sports front seats with Alcantara upholstery and progressive steering
• Available to order from 3 July 2017, ahead of UK showroom arrival in August. Priced from £24,960 on-the-road (FR 1.4 Eco TSI 150 PS)

Unveiled this week at the Automobile Barcelona show, SEAT UK is now whetting British customers’ appetites with details of specifications and pricing for the sporty FR addition to its Ateca SUV range.

SEAT’s first SUV has already proved a huge hit, both with UK media and in the marketplace, its sales performance since launch last September helping the brand soar to record heights. The new FR will extend its appeal further with an injection of the sporty style and performance that are at the heart of the Barcelona-based brand.

There is a choice of four powerful and efficient engines – two petrol and two diesel, all of them turbocharged. Entry point is the 1.4 Eco TSI 150 PS, available with six-speed manual or DSG-auto transmission. Well worthy of the FR badge, it takes Ateca from rest to 62 mph in just 8.5 seconds and achieve a 125 mph top speed (manual version). Conversely, its official combined fuel economy and emissions figures are impressive at 52.3 mpg and 123 g/km. The brand new 2.0 TSI 190 PS, debuting in Ateca, is offered exclusively with 4Drive all-wheel drive and DSG transmission. Its statistics are 40.4 mpg combined fuel economy and 0-62mph in only 7.9 seconds.

The 2.0 TDI 150 PS also comes with 4Drive for added traction, posting benchmarks of 0-62 mph in nine seconds exactly and 122 mph maximum, with 55.4 mpg average fuel economy and CO2 emissions at 129 g/km.

Topping out the powertrain options is the 2.0 TDI 190 PS with 4Drive and seven-speed DSG transmission. It harnesses that horsepower to carve a second off the 0-62mph sprint (7.5 seconds), with top speed rising to 132 mph. Being a SEAT engine, maybe it’s no surprise that it has only a modest thirst for fuel – an official 53.3 mpg average, with CO2 at 135 g/km.

Styling and equipment

The Ateca’s cool styling gains a number of features that declare its FR designation, including a high-gloss black front grille, aluminium roof rails, window frames and lower door trim, chrome double tailpipes, body colour wheel arch surrounds, side skirts and a roof spoiler. It rides on 18-inch “Performance” alloys, or optional 19-inch “Exclusive” rims with a machined finish.

The FR is not just about sporty looks; it also delivers rewarding handling with progressive steering that weights up pleasingly at speed. Drivers can adjust performance using the SEAT Drive Profile system, putting the emphasis on eco or sportier response, or tailoring steering, throttle and DSG gear shift settings to their individual preference. 4Drive versions additionally provide off-road and snow modes.

LED lighting is used throughout, including headlights (full and dipped beam), daytime running lights, turn indicators and tail lights, plus the distinctive Ateca silhouette welcome lighting projected on the ground from the door mirrors. In FR guise, the cabin adopts the selectable multi-colour ambient illumination for altering the interior to suit your mood.

The FR is fitted with body-hugging sports front seats with Alcantara upholstery and a grippy leather-trimmed steering wheel. SEAT’s “Technology to Enjoy” ethos is reflected in the inclusion of the Media System Plus, accessed through a quick and simple-to-use eight-inch colour touchscreen. 

The infotainment features include a navigation system, USB/Aux-in/SD card connectivity and SEAT’s Full Link smartphone integration, with Mirror Link, Apple Car Play and Google Android Auto. Further tick-list items include dual-zone climate control, rear-view camera and auto-folding door mirrors.

The Ateca is already firmly at the top of the compact SUV class for safety, having earned the top five-star rating from independent testing organisation Euro NCAP. 

The new FR model’s safety provisions include SEAT’s Front Assist with City Emergency Braking and pedestrian detection, Tiredness Recognition and Hill Hold Control, in addition to a comprehensive array of seven occupant airbags, ISOFIX child seat fixings, ABS, ASR traction control, ESC and the XDS electronic differential lock

The FR specification need only be the start of the story, with a wealth of options available for customers to equip their Ateca to the max. The choice includes advanced driving, convenience and winter packs, a panoramic sunroof, Connectivity Hub with wireless phone charger, Park Assist and an even more sophisticated navigation package with dynamic route guidance.

The new SEAT Ateca FR will be available to order from 3 July 2017, with first deliveries to UK customers expected from October.

On-the-road prices are as follows: -

1.4 Eco TSI 150 PS (manual) - £24,960

1.4 Eco TSI 150PS (DSG auto) - £26,340

2.0 TSI 190 PS 4Drive (DSG auto) - £29,760

2.0 TDI 150 PS 4Drive (manual) - £28,410

2.0 TDI 190 PS 4Drive (DSG auto) - £30,930

SEAT launches the FR trim level to the hugely popular Ateca Crossover.

• New FR trim level brings fun at the wheel, sportiness and dynamism to the Ateca range, without compromising luxury
• World premiere at Automobile Barcelona 11-21 May 2017
• Ateca FR is further step in SEAT’s largest ever product offensive
• New 2.0 TSI 190PS engine with 4Drive and seven-speed DSG-auto gearbox

Fun at the wheel, luxury and refinement, combined with a stylish and sporty character – SEAT has unveiled the Ateca FR. The latest addition to the brand’s high-selling SUV range will take to the stage at the Barcelona International Motor Show, AUTOMOBILE BARCELONA, from the 11th to 21st May 2017.

The Spanish manufacturer is in the midst of its largest ever product offensive, which has also seen the launch of the Ateca itself, New Leon and All-New Ibiza and soon, in the second half of the year, the new crossover, Arona.

The sporty FR trim has been added to the current UK Ateca range which consists of S, SE and SE Technology, and will sit just below the halo XCELLENCE versions. Since its launch, SEAT has sold more than 40,000 units of the smash-hit Ateca worldwide. 

This model, alongside the success of the Leon, Alhambra and Ibiza, contributed to SEAT achieving an operating profit of 143 million euros in 2016, the highest in the company’s history, and to finishing the year with its fourth consecutive annual sales increase. 

“The Ateca FR adds yet another level of excitement to our first SUV. The agile and precise handling of Ateca is reinforced with a touch of dynamism and fun at the wheel, with the FR trim adding for example Dynamic Chassis Control and progressive steering” commented Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice-President of R&D at SEAT. “It’s a sportiness that adds to all the technology the Ateca has onboard.”

The Ateca FR stands out through exclusive 18-inch ‘Performance’ alloy wheels (19-inch machined optional), combined with body coloured wheel-arches and side skirts that come with an aluminium moulding running along the lower section of the doors. 

The rear window is framed by black spoilers, with the rear spoiler matching the car’s bodywork colour. The rear bumpers are also exclusively designed for the FR and also come in the same hue as the bodywork. 

Typical FR logos also appear front and rear, plus, roof rails and window frames in black. Up close, the grille comes in gloss black, while its LED front fog lights have also received an exclusive FR design treatment.

Inside, the aluminium door strips complete with FR logo are immediately noticeable as soon as the front doors are opened. The logo can also be found on the multi-function, leather sports steering wheel covered, with gloss black insert. 

Sporty cabin touches come by way of standard sports seats in Alcantara® (leather is optional) and the aluminium pedals. Red stitching on the steering wheel, seats and gear lever gaiter, enhance the sporty character of the SEAT Ateca FR still further. 

At the same time, there are elegant details in black that give a luxurious touch to the interior, such as the roof and interior door mouldings, which also come with an exclusive FR finish.

The FR trim level will comprise a range of EU6 petrol and diesel engines, ranging in power from 150PS to 190PS, including a new 2.0 TSI 190 unit. 

A range of manual and DSG-auto transmissions feature. Four-wheel-drive will be available on both 2.0 TDI engines, plus, the new 2.0 TSI. DCC (Dynamic Chassis Control) and progressive steering will also be available.

UK pricing and specification for the Ateca FR line-up will be confirmed closer to launch this summer.

seat Leon Cupra or a pack of Huskey's. which is the best on the frozen lakes of Finland ?

A sled pulled by six Alaskan and Siberian huskies measures up against the Leon CUPRA, driven by racer Jordi Gené, on a frozen lake in Lapland; a fun challenge aimed at bringing out the best in each of them: the endurance of these ancestral breeds, which can run around 130 km in a day, and the 300 horsepower of the brand’s most powerful car.

Power and endurance: While the Leon CUPRA is characterised by its performance, accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in 4.9 seconds, huskies are known for their endurance, although they are considered among the 20 fastest dog breeds. They make five-day journeys, reach a maximum speed of 40 km/h and each pull their own weight of around 30 kilos.

1 metre thick ice beneath the wheels: Nearly a metre of ice blankets Lake Pikku-Nissi, one of the 188,000 there are in Finland, and enables cars and dogsleds to cross it without any problems, from the end of the year until well into April.

Leader mentality: Mamba and Mustys are the two lead dogs that guide the team while sledding. Their trainer, Susi Normand, claims that they become leaders of the pack instinctively: “They have to be mentally strong and brave”. “Just like race drivers," smiles Jordi.

On any surface: The grip of their paws enables them to run over ice or snow at the same speed. Gené also takes full advantage of the Leon CUPRA’s 4Drive and snow tyres with special studs for extreme driving on ice.

25 ºC below zero: For the huskies, the -5 ºC displayed on the thermometer is typical of a balmy day; the ideal temperature for them is between -10 and -25 degrees. The same way their fur enables them to withstand the cold, cars can also endure very low temperatures. In fact, they are tested at temperatures ranging from -40 ºC to 110 ºC to guarantee their quality remains the same no matter what the weather conditions are like.

Brakes to match their power: Just as the CUPRA features four-pot Brembo brake callipers, the sled is equipped with a clawed metal bar. Both require a brake to match their performance. In fact, the dogs pull so hard that the musher has to step on the brake with both feet to prevent an excited team from taking off before the order is given. While on the move, it stabilises the seat and prevents the sled from swinging when taking curves. “We both take bends in a similar way: we brake before the curve to position the vehicle and ride it out correctly,” says Jordi.

Purebred champions: Huskies participate in several dogsled competitions all over the world, such as the European Championship or the End of the World Race in Argentina. On the other hand, the CUPRA have also achieved impressive successes in their lifetime, especially two record times on the Nürburgring, where both the Leon ST and the 5-door Leon set a lap time of under 8 minutes.

Seat launches an all new super fast and powerful 300ps Leon Cupra model from march 2017.

• Latest version of SEAT’s iconic Leon CUPRA to boast 300PS and 380Nm; the most powerful SEAT road car in the brand’s history
• 4Drive all-wheel-drive system and DSG-auto gearbox for ST version
• In UK SEAT showrooms from March 2017

The Leon CUPRA has always stood out for its scintillating performance, striking design and alluring price and quality. All of these have now been taken to the next level with the launch of the Leon CUPRA 300 range, which hits UK showrooms in March.

It’s not just about power either. The new Leon flagship, available in three bodystyles; SC, five-door and ST, also offers a highly rewarding driving experience and the safest, most reliable, functional and advanced technology. 

Among its features are driver assistance systems such as Traffic Jam Assist, Lane Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control and Pedestrian Protection, plus, Electric Parking Brake and KESSY (Keyless Entry and Start). 

The integrated Media System Plus infotainment system with its eight-inch screen is the highlight of the new-generation, and, is the very first time that the Leon CUPRA has a Connectivity Hub that comprises a smartphone wireless charger and a GSM antenna amplifier for areas with low signal coverage.

With its newly uprated 2.0 TSI engine putting out 300PS, the new Leon CUPRA is its most powerful roadcar yet. The figures related to this achievement in engine power deserve a special mention. Not only is the engine 10PS more powerful than before (up from 290 to 300), but, more importantly, it’s maximum torque has increased from 350Nm to no less than 380Nm, across an impressive range too, from 1800 to 5500 rpm. With such a wide band, the result is a convincing and powerful response, from the engine barely ticking over, all the way up to hitting the rev limiter.

Harking back to its roots with the 2000 launch of the Leon CUPRA with all-wheel-drive, the SEAT Leon CUPRA 300 will also now boast a similar set-up, with 4Drive traction on the ST version, allied to a double-clutch automatic gearbox (DSG).  

To get the most out of such a potent machine, the Leon CUPRA also comes with dynamic chassis control (DCC), a progressive steering system and electronic self-locking differential as standard. The dynamic qualities of the CUPRA can be adapted to the drivers’ tastes thanks to CUPRA Drive Profile too. There are four modes to choose from - Comfort, Sport, Individual and logically, CUPRA mode. This mode is the ultimate in hot hatch performance and takes the driving experience to another level.

UK pricing, specification and full technical information for the Leon CUPRA 300 range will be confirmed shortly ahead of order books opening ahead of its March 2017 showroom launch.