Posts Tagged ‘SEAT TDI’

SEAT ALHAMBRA SCOOPS COVETED WHAT CAR? MPV TITLE


SEAT is celebrating a winning start to 2011 with news that its all-new Alhambra has scooped the MPV title at this year’s What Car? Awards.

The flexible full-size seven seater took the coveted honour at last night’s ceremony with the judges highlighting its appealing mix of generous passenger and luggage space, ingenious features and refined driving experience.

The largest member of the growing SEAT range went on sale here in November last year and is already securing significant interest from eager buyers keen to get their hands on this elegant, flexible and luxurious MPV.

The annual What Car? Awards, established more than 30 years ago and acknowledged as being among the UK’s most influential motoring honours, were once again staged at London’s landmark Grosvenor House hotel.

Commenting on SEAT’s winner What Car? editor-in-chief, Steve Fowler, said: ‘The new SEAT Alhambra is a brilliantly-conceived people mover. Space is key, but so are the clever features like the folding seats and sliding doors.

‘However, it’s the way the Alhambra drives that impressed us most – particularly its comfort and refinement, and that it feels like a small family car on the road.’

Available in S, SE or top spec’ SE Lux trim and priced from just £22,800 RRP, the award-winning Alhambra is offered with a choice of modern turbocharged petrol or diesel powerplants. All engines can be paired with either a crisp six-speed manual or smooth six-speed DSG auto that offers the extra flexibility of sequential manual operation via the standard steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts.

As befits a class leader, all Alhambras boast a high level of standard equipment. Among the highlights available across the range are sliding rear doors (optionally available with electric operation); fuel-saving Stop/Start and Brake Energy Recovery systems; integrated Bluetooth hands-free phone connection; three-zone climate control and front and rear parking sensors.

Move up to SE and you can look forward to such luxuries as auto lights and wipers, auto-dimming rear view mirror; 17-inch alloys; High Beam Assist and cruise control among a raft of added equipment.

SE Lux buyers, meanwhile, enjoy a fittingly luxurious Alhambra experience. Black leather upholstery; power operated rear side doors and tailgate; panoramic glass sunroof; rear view camera and satellite navigation are among the extensive list of standard-fit equipment.

Retail and small fleet buyers energised to enquire about SEAT’s What Car? winner will also be happy to hear that they can benefit from the Spanish brand’s current ½ VAT offer, which effectively brings the newly-increased Value Added Tax down to its original 1973 level of ten per cent. The Alhambra offer runs throughout the first quarter of 2011, ending 31 March this year, and applies to eligible retail customer cars registered before this date.

SEAT UK Managing Director Peter Wyhinny collected the Alhambra’s award at the Grosvenor. He said: ‘On behalf of SEAT UK, and all our colleagues in both Martorell and Palmela where the Alhambra is built, I’m thrilled to accept this MPV title.

‘This important endorsement by the What Car? judges underlines my firm belief that the new Alhambra is clearly the most attractive full-size MPV on the market today.’

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Posted in Diesel News, TDI Owners

SEAT – WORLD TOURING CAR CHAMPION ONCE AGAIN!

TDI SEAT

SEAT is World Touring Car Champion for the second year in succession, following the culmination of the WTCC season in Macau. And the celebrations don’t end there – just like last year one of its drivers is again World Champion though, this time, outgoing champ Yvan Muller is pipped to the post by team-mate Gabriele Tarquini.

The SEAT Sport team achieved all of its goals at the urban racetrack, not only clinching the Manufacturers’ World Championship and Drivers’ World Championship, but also the Independents’ Trophy. Dutchman Tom Coronel took the Independents’ title, meaning that SEAT has triumphed with two different cars – the diesel Leon TDI and petrol Leon WTCC – in turn beating BMW, Chevrolet and Lada in the manufacturers’ championship.

SEAT is celebrating this triumphant finish at the end of a difficult season, caused by regulatory changes made during the year which at times limited the potential for the Leon TDI. However, these challenges did not ultimately affect the Spanish manufacturer’s victorious climax to the season, thanks to the hard work and close co-operation of the entire SEAT Sport team.

This winning spirit proved essential during an extremely challenging weekend in Macau. On Friday, leading drivers Gabriele Tarquini and Yvan Muller finished the qualifying session in hospital following a serious accident which left both their cars heavily battered. Only through the sterling efforts of SEAT Sport’s mechanics were the two cars ready in time for the race. In addition, all five SEAT Sport drivers carried out a perfect strategy to secure the double victory.

In the first race, an impeccable start by Tiago Monteiro, Jordi Gené and Gabriele Tarquini allowed the SEAT drivers to take firm control of the race from second, third and fourth positions, without taking unnecessary risks to secure the Manufacturers’ trophy. Tarquini finished the race second, ahead of Gené, with Yvan Muller fifth and Monteiro sixth. This result meant one of the two SEAT drivers was mathematically sure of the title.

The second race was even more tactical with Yvan Muller in third position, followed by Monteiro and Gené, and with Gabriele Tarquini eventually moving up to fifth. An accident at the back of the pack forced the race to be red-flagged two laps before the finish, thus confirming SEAT’s and Tarquini’s triumph.

In the Independents’ Trophy, Tom Coronel won the first race and that was enough for him to take the title, his second success in this class with SEAT.

With his victory, Gabriele Tarquini becomes the seventh Italian WTCC world champion in history 18 years after Teo Fabi. He follows in the tyre tracks, too, of Nino Farina, Alberto Ascari, Mauro Baldi, Roberto Ravaglia and Massimo Biasion. He has also set a spectacular record since, at 47 years of age, he is the most senior champion in motorsport history, passing even Juan Manuel Fangio.

For the Spanish make, this is the fifth manufacturer world title following those achieved in rallying in 1996, 1997 and 1998 with the Ibiza Kit Car and the four manufacturer and driver World Touring Car Championship titles clinched in 2008 and 2009 with the Leon TDI WTCC.

World Champion Gabriele Tarquini was ecstatic about the weekend’s results: ‘It is amazing to clinch the title after such a long sports career.

‘I started the weekend with some trouble, but I was able to recover and the extraordinary work of my mechanics made it possible for me to take part in a race that meant a unique opportunity for me which I simply could not miss.

‘It’s been a very hard championship, very intense, and in order to win over two rivals who are as strong as Yvan Muller and Augusto Farfus, it’s been essential to score many points in all races.’

Jaime Puig, SEAT Sport Director, added: ‘Winning two championships for the second year in a row is the reward for a fantastic year and I want to thank the whole team for their effort, their great capacity for work and their solidarity.

‘The races in Macau have shown that we are a team in which everybody works for everybody. After the two championships achieved last year, we wanted to take at least one of the titles this year, and we took them both. It’s been an extraordinary result.’

Manufacturer standings: 1. SEAT, 314 points; 2. BMW, 311 points; 3. Chevrolet, 215 points; 4. Lada, 83 points

Driver standings: 1. G.Tarquini (SEAT) 127 points; 2. Y.Muller (SEAT) 123 points; 3. A.Farfus (BMW) 113 points; 4. A.Priaulx (BMW) 84 points; 5. R.Huff (Chevrolet) 80 points; 6. Y.Muller (BMW) 76 points; 7. R.Rydell (SEAT), 64 points; 8. J.Gené (SEAT) 48 points; 9. T.Monteiro (SEAT) 44 points; 10. A.Menu (Chevrolet) 39 points

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Posted in TDI Owners

SEAT EXTENDS ITS ULTRA-GREEN ECOMOTIVE LINE-UP

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  • New Altea and Altea XL Ecomotive models with only 119 g/km of CO2 emissions
  • New Leon Ecomotive slashes its CO2 emissions to just 99 g/km
  • 105 PS 1.6-litre TDI CR engine with new Auto Start/Stop and energy recuperation

Next week’s Frankfurt Motor Show will see a major expansion of SEAT’s ultra-green Ecomotive offering as the Spanish brand debuts low CO2 versions of the recently-revised Altea, Altea XL and Leon.

The three newcomers, which join class-leading Ecomotive versions of the slick Ibiza supermini and practical Alhambra seven-seat MPV, are the latest offerings in the Spanish maker’s mission to produce among the world’s most environmentally responsible vehicles.

All three new models feature significant economy-minded improvements to further boost their frugality and reduce harmful exhaust emissions.

The modified versions of the new Altea and Altea XL on show in Germany have a lot to live up to, as SEAT’s existing Ecomotive models are among the ‘greenest’ cars in their respective classes.  Today’s Ibiza Ecomotive, for instance, emits a joint best-in-class
98 g/km of CO2, while the capacious and ultra-practical seven-seat Alhambra Ecomotive registers a remarkably low 159 g/km of CO2.

The three newcomers making their public debut in Frankfurt all feature the very latest
105 PS 1.6-litre TDI CR engine, and boast both a DPF particulate filter and cutting edge common rail fuelling technology as standard.  Together, these features help to considerably improve both fuel consumption and emissions.

The new Altea Ecomotive and Altea XL Ecomotive record official emissions figures of just 119 g/km CO2 making them among the most environmentally responsible models in their segment.

Meanwhile the new, second generation, Leon Ecomotive improves significantly on its previous already impressive CO2 performance:  at only 99 g/km in official tests, the new model is a full 20 g/km better than its predecessor thanks to the addition of Auto Start/Stop and energy recuperation functions, allied to the engineering advances provided by the 1.6-litre common rail diesel engine.

Integral to the new SEATs’ exceptional economy is the Spanish brand’s use, for the first time, of Auto Start/Stop technology.  When the car comes to a halt, at a red traffic light for example, the driver selects neutral and lifts his foot off the clutch.  At this point the Start/Stop system kicks in and automatically switches off the engine.  When the driver depresses the clutch again the engine seamlessly starts up, and when a gear is engaged the car can be driven off as usual.

The new Ecomotives are also equipped with SEAT’s clever energy recuperation function which recycles energy coming from the alternator when the driver takes his foot off the accelerator or steps on the brake.  The engine work is reduced, so fuel consumption decreases.

Modifications to the five-speed gearbox of SEAT’s greenest new models also contribute to improving the fuel consumption figures still further.  In addition, all three new cars are fitted with SEAT’s handy recommended gear indicator device, located in the instrument binnacle, which displays the most appropriate gear for the driving conditions.

The Altea, Altea XL and new Leon Ecomotive models also feature special low friction tyres that contribute not just to their economy but also to their impressive performance.

With such a broad offering of green cars now available, SEAT is confident buyers can easily find a model in the new Ecomotive range to suit their precise needs.  The new Leon, for instance,  features a distinctly sporty body coupled with extremely low fuel consumption figures and emissions levels, while the new Altea and Altea XL offer outstanding driving comfort combined with a spacious, practical yet stylish and sporty look.

The trio of new Ecomotive models are expected to make their debut on UK roads early in 2010, with precise pricing and specification details being confirmed closer to their official on-sale dates.

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Posted in Diesel News, Diesel Owners Club