Seat Tango receives the “autonis” design award

The SEAT Tango has been given the prestigious “autonis” award for outstanding car design in its category. The prize was awarded by the German automotive sector specialist magazine “Auto-Strassenverkehr”. Thanks to the votes from more than 34,000 readers of “Auto-Strassenverkehr” who participated in the 37th edition of the “autonis” awards, the SEAT Tango took first place within the concept car category.

Design and overall look of the contending cars were scored by the readers. The SEAT Tango got top marks from 32.6% of the participants, and this percentage made it a hands-down winner among the competing concept cars.

Designed and developed completely by the SEAT Technical Centre in Martorell, the Tango is an interpretation of 50s and 60s convertible sports cars, as seen from the new millennium. Conceived as a true spider, it offers expressive, innovative solutions, where passenger compartment and chassis form a whole, coming together in a compact body with flowing, muscular lines, able to transmit all its power without showing off its technological pulse.

The “autonis” distinctions are the only ones awarded in Germany in relation to automobile design. Last year, the Arosa also won this prize for its first place win in its category.

The official pressrelease about Seat Tango:

Seat Tango – Open-air emotions

Daring, full of vital energy and sporting intensity, the SEAT Tango conveys emotions beyond the impact of technological advances.

With this two-seater, to be unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, the SEAT Technical Centre has evoked the spirit of sporty 50s and 60s convertibles through the use of pure, no compromise, design. The result is a thriller whether it’s being driven gently or its incredible potential is being fully exploited.

Tango has been conceived as a genuine spider – open, minimalist, essential in every detail. It features expressive and innovative solutions based on a structure in which the chassis, body, passenger compartment, engine and structural elements merge to form a whole.

Primary materials and textures blend together, creating a smooth, continuous flow of elements with the aesthetics of the cockpit, for example, exploding onto the outside of the car and back again to the inside. Like a metal skeleton, unpolished aluminium tubes are visible throughout the interior of the cockpit which also plays host to parts of the chassis, while the waterproof leather upholstery also lines the storage compartments behind the seats of this enticing roadster.

Novel lighting solutions are a strong feature of the concept. The SEAT Tango features streamlined headlamps devoid of internal structures, leaving their architecture visible. Both Xenon dipped headlights and sidelights automatically follow the direction of the front wheels

The foglamps are made up of a series of light emitting diodes encased in the central moulding of the grille, while the rear lights use filters lit by fibre optics to create multiple combinations (the entire light strip can be a rear light, a brake light or an indicator).

They are also of variable intensity, automatically adjusting their brightness to the prevailing conditions. This small galaxy of lights is perfectly integrated in the smooth lines of the body, whose only “cosmetic” addition is a small aerodynamic spoiler at the lower rear end.

Sophistication lies beneath. A complex tubular structure (called a Safety Skeleton) intertwines under the muscular shape and is a direct descendent of the World Rally Car safety cage. It houses not only the front MacPherson struts and the rear suspension system which features a degree of self steer, but also the engine, which transmits 180 hp to the front wheels.

At the rear, buttress-like framework is joined to the structure of the seats themselves, distributing tension in several directions. This means the driver’s seat is fixed, so to ensure the perfect driving position the pedal box is adjustable, while both the steering wheel and its integral instrument dials are adjustable for height and reach.