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el-Born idea turns into a Cupra manufacturing mannequin quickly |
Being so reliant on European markets – particularly Spain, Germany and the UK – SEAT has been onerous hit by Covid-19. Manufacturing on the firm’s Martorell base fell by virtually a 3rd final yr and for numerous causes the file half one million automobiles produced in 2019 is unlikely to be damaged in 2021. Nonetheless, the model’s line-up is contemporary, Cupra as a high-margin spin-off is working and the longer term automobiles cabinet is the very reverse of naked.
Cupra
SEAT’s first totally electrical manufacturing mannequin could be getting into manufacturing in 2020, the corporate introduced in June 2017. Talking on the occasion in Barcelona, the agency’s head of R&D mentioned the automobile could be based mostly on the Volkswagen Group’s MEB structure. It was to be across the identical measurement because the Leon and have a spread of as much as 500 km.
The EV, which is able to now be a Cupra quite than a SEAT, will probably be referred to as el-Born and carefully associated to the Volkswagen ID.3. Firm executives nonetheless will not say whether or not or not a SEAT el-Born will comply with at a later date.
The bodystyle was confirmed as being a crossover at a SEAT occasion in March 2018. The el-Born idea, a preview of the manufacturing mannequin, and named after a stylish district of Barcelona, was on the Geneva motor present in March 2019. The identify can be a play on phrases as it’s meant to counsel ‘electric-born’.
Regardless of being labelled as a crossover, the el-Born idea is clearly a five-door hatchback and even seems to be just like the VW ID.3, additionally a small hatchback. Official photographs and a launch date must be introduced this quarter. As for the place of manufacture, that will probably be at Volkswagen’s Zwickau (Mosel) manufacturing facility.
The Formentor could be put into manufacturing, SEAT confirmed in March 2019, and likewise be out there as a plug-in hybrid. This coupé-crossover was a PHEV idea on the 2019 Geneva motor present. Whereas construct of the Formentor commenced on the finish of September 2020, the PHEV wouldn’t be out there till early 2021, a Cupra press launch acknowledged in February final yr. Manufacturing has simply began.
The powertrain is similar because the Golf GTE’s: a 1,395 cc four-cylinder petrol turbo TSI engine and motor, with vitality saved in a 13 kWh lithium-ion battery. Energy and torque are 110 kW (150PS) and 250 Nm from the engine and 85 kW (115 PS) from the motor, making a mixed 180 kW (245 PS) and 400 Nm.
The Formentor line-up is cut up between variants referred to as merely Formentor (energy of <245 PS) and Formentor VZ (quick for Veloz in Spanish, which means quick).
The 4 decrease energy variants are:
- 110 kW (150 PS) 2.0 TDI
- 110 kW (150 PS) 1.5 TSI, handbook or DSG
- 140 kW (190 PS) 2.0 TSI, DSG 4Drive
- 150 kW (204 PS) e-Hybrid, DSG
The Veloz variants are:
- 180 kW (245 PS) VZ 2.0 TSI
- 180 kW (245 PS) VZ e-Hybrid
- 228 kW (310 PS) VZ 2.0 TSI, DSG 4Drive
All variations of the Formentor must be facelifted in three years’ time with the second era mannequin resulting from arrive in mid-2027.
The Tavascan Electrical could be a big future SUV coupé for Cupra. Such a automobile might have been heralded by the Tavascan Electrical Idea. This was powered by two motors with a mixed output of 225 kW (306 PS) and a 77 kWh battery pack. The prototype premiered on the Frankfurt IAA in September 2019.
Some sources imagine that SEAT has delayed this challenge till 2023 or 2024 from the unique 2021/2022.
SEAT
Ought to there be a successor for the Mii electrical, it might probably be a part of a challenge to create a spread of small electrical automobiles. Initially led by SEAT engineers, the division misplaced management through the first quarter of 2020 however the automobile programme stays energetic, with 2022/2023 believed to be the launch date for the primary mannequin. Which means a life cycle lasting till 2030/2031.
It’s identified that sub-20,000 euro EVs for a number of Volkswagen Group manufacturers are being developed, each based mostly on a brand new model of MEB, the group’s electrical automobiles platform. SEAT had been tasked with engineering the structure, the corporate’s then CEO introduced in March 2019. There must be automobiles for VW, Škoda and Jetta too.
The subsequent Ateca is not due till the third quarter of 2023. The platform must be MQB A/B Evo, and there’s mentioned to be a chance that SEAT will add an SUV-coupé by-product.
The second era of this SUV wouldn’t be in-built the identical plant as the present one, Volkswagen introduced in November 2018. It ought to have been manufactured in a manufacturing facility which the Group had meant to have in-built Turkey. For numerous causes, this challenge was cancelled final yr.
The fourth era Leon was proven to the media a yr in the past this month, changing into out there within the second quarter. A plug-in hybrid by-product referred to as Leon eHybrid can be a part of the line-up.
In contrast to the prior era, this one comes solely in five-door hatchback and property (ST: Sportstourer) types. This follows a call to drop the SC (three-door) from the prior era throughout 2018 because it wasn’t promoting effectively.
The hatchback is 4,368 mm lengthy (+86), 1,800 large (-16) and 1,456 excessive (-3) with a 2,686mm wheelbase (50 greater than the third era Leon). Equal dimensions for the ST are 4,642 mm lengthy (+93), 1,800 large (-16) and 1,448 excessive (-3). The wheelbase is equivalent to that of the five-door. Boot capacities are 380 and 617 litres.
Engines are abbreviated as follows: TSI (petrol), TDI (diesel), TGI (Compressed Pure Gasoline), eTSI (mild-hybrid) and eHybrid (plug-in hybrid). All are turbocharged:
- 66 kW (90 PS) three-cylinder 1.0 TSI
- 81 kW (110 PS) three-cylinder 1.0 TSI
- 81 kW (110 PS) three-cylinder 1.0 eTSI (48V starter-generator and 48V lithium-ion battery)
- 96 kW (130 PS) four-cylinder 1.5 TSI
- 110 kW (150 PS) four-cylinder 1.5 TSI
- 110 kW (150 PS) four-cylinder 1.5 eTSI (48V starter-generator and 48V lithium-ion battery)
- 140 kW (190 PS) four-cylinder 2.0 TSI with customary DCT
- 85 kW (115 PS) four-cylinder 2.0 TDI, handbook transmission solely
- 110 kW (150 PS) four-cylinder 2.0 TDI, handbook or DSG transmission
- 110 kW (150 PS) four-cylinder 2.0 TDI, DSG gearbox and 4Drive system (ST solely)
- 96 kW (130 PS) four-cylinder 1.5 TGI (3 CNG tanks with a complete web capability of 17.3 kg)
The previous Leon Cupra has been changed by the Cupra Leon. All these variants can have a styling refresh in the direction of the top of 2023. The fifth era, which might be offered solely in battery type, is not resulting from arrive till 2027 so SEAT has some years but to resolve how will probably be powered.
SEAT added the Tarraco to its mannequin vary in late 2018. There are five- and seven-seat variants and these are aimed on the Land Rover Discovery Sport, Kia Sorento and Hyundai Santa Fe. The general public debut was on the Paris motor present in October 2018, manufacturing commencing later the identical month. A plug-in hybrid powertrain would even be half the line-up, SEAT instructed the media in March 2019.
The PHEV, the primary such automobile for SEAT, was then introduced in August 2019 simply forward of a prototype’s public premiere on the following month’s Frankfurt IAA. This, essentially the most highly effective Tarraco within the SEAT line-up, has mixed energy of 180 kW (245 PS) because of its 110 kW (150 PS) 1.4-litre turbocharged gasoline engine and a 85 kW (116 PS) motor. The vary is as much as 50 km, whereas the battery pack has an output of 13 kWh.
The variant on the 2019 Frankfurt motor present was the top-spec Tarraco FR PHEV however the plug-in powertrain can be out there in lesser trim ranges. SEAT quietly acknowledged on 10 September 2019 (through the first press preview day of the Frankfurt motor present) that the PHEV would not develop into out there till “late 2020”. Manufacturing began in November 2020 and the identify is Tarraco eHybrid.
Volkswagen builds all variants of this 4,735 mm lengthy mannequin in Wolfsburg on the identical line because the Tiguan and Tiguan Allspace. There must be a spread facelift within the second quarter of subsequent yr with the subsequent era mannequin due in late 2025.
Stories for a lot of different producers’ future fashions are grouped within the OEM product technique summaries part of just-auto.com.
Future platform intelligence
Extra element on previous, present and forthcoming fashions may be present in PLDB, the longer term automobiles database which is a part of GlobalData’s Automotive Intelligence Middle. That features Cupra and SEAT fashions not reported on above.
That is the seventh report in a sequence which highlights sure present and future fashions from the passenger automobile divisions of Volkswagen Aktiengesellschaft. It follows a have a look at VW automobiles; VW SUVs, MPVs and pick-ups; Audi automobiles; Audi SUVs; Porsche; and Škoda. Options on Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti will probably be revealed quickly.
