At the Geneva Motor Show, SEAT is highlighting the Altea, a model that heralds a new era for the Spanish brand whose design is based on the SEAT Salsa concept car image, which in turn, was exhibited at the same show in 2000. Six months after premiering the Altea Prototipo in Frankfurt, the production version Altea is a reality. Developed at SEAT’s Technical Centre and manufactured at the Martorell factory near Barcelona, this car is the brand’s first creation within the Audi Brand Group since it was established in 2002. The beginning of the new age for SEAT is based on three fundamental pillars – the well-known Ibiza and León, and the new Altea. This model spearheads a new vehicle concept within the range, the MSV (Multi Sports Vehicle), which adds innovative, suggestive styling to compact mono-space values as well as the underlying characteristic of all SEAT models – sporty character and handling.
The Altea features several novelties, including FSI technology, dual-clutch DSG gearbox, a latest generation engine range, each delivering more than 100 hp output, newly designed front suspension, multi-link rear axle, new electro-mechanical steering gear, individual driver and passenger air conditioning, and an exclusive SEAT Altea element – wind-screen wiper blades camouflaged the windscreen’s side pillars (A-pillar).
Design – the new image of SEAT products
The Altea possesses the features that will identify future SEAT products. Thanks to the smoothness of each of the lines that grace its bodywork, the Altea’s design is sporty, innovative and proportionally compact.
The front end features a large radiator grille and expressive headlamps. The Dynamic Line is clearly visible from the side, starting at the front wheel arch and descending gracefully over the doors until the rear wheel. Highlighting the Altea’s profile, this line will be characteristic of all of SEAT’s future production models.
Located in the centre of the rear hatch, the word ALTEA dominates the rear of the vehicle in slightly spaced, capital letters, immediately beneath the large ‘S’ brand symbol that doubles as the boot handle. The taillight design is reminiscent of an iris, with a concentric arrangement of sidelight, brake light and indicator light. The light clusters are located at the outer edge of the body, giving the model a sporty, compact look.
The Altea is 428 cm long, 177 cm wide and 157 cm high, giving exceptional roominess in all five seats. Its two-tiered boot has a capacity of over 400 litres.
Driver oriented cockpit
The driver seat is height and reach adjustable, has a tilting backrest and gives lumbar support, providing an ideal driving position. The three-spoke steering wheel is slightly off-centre and somewhat flattened at the bottom. It is both height and reach adjustable and can include multi-function controls for the audio equipment and navigation system options.
The short, sporty gear lever has a palm-fitting knob for easier handling and shifting.
Another novelty on the Altea lies at the driver’s feet – an accelerator pedal which is hinged to the floor. The design of this element is typical of 60s sports cars and the Altea is the first model of the SEAT range to include it.
The interior of the Altea is roomy and comfortable. All the seats are sculpted and feature attractive upholstery, side support and a long seat cushion which reaches the back of the knees. The rear seat is big enough for three people and becomes a comfortable two-seater when the wide central armrest is lowered.
The boot space behind the rear passengers is the really amazing part of the model. It has a two-tiered floor and there is still enough room beneath it all to house a full-size or emergency spare wheel or the complete puncture repair kit.
The boot’s maximum load capacity of 1,320 litres is achieved when the rear seats are folded and the parcel tray is removed.
The Altea has a storage place for everything besides the boot, with more than 30 compartments here, there and everywhere.
Four engines and four finish levels
There are four engines in the Altea range, two petrol and two Diesel. The petrol range includes the 150 hp (110 kW) 2.0 FSI and the 102 hp (75 kW) 1.6, while the Diesel range features the 140 hp (103 kW) 2.0 TDI and the 105 hp (77 kW) 1.9 TDI versions.
The two-litre FSI and TDI are the most powerful engines, mated to a six-speed gearbox. The FSI is also available with a six-speed automatic and sequential Tiptronic, whereas the new, six-speed DSG gearbox will be available on the 2.0 TDI.
Ranging from 102 to 150 hp, the four engines can combine with four finish levels – Reference, Sport, Stylance and Sport-up.
The entry level Reference features a complete equipment level as standard, including elements such as ABS and TCS, twin front airbag, side airbags and curtain airbag, air conditioning, 16 inch alloy wheels with low profile tyres, front power windows with one-touch and anti-trap systems, remote controlled central locking and folding key, CD radio with six speakers and two-tiered boot, among others.
The Sport finish offers the same equipment level as Reference, adding a sportier character and look – sporty suspension with stiffer coils, specific interior styling and five-spoke, 16 inch alloy wheels.
The Stylance versions are a cut above in equipment level, adding more luxurious elements such as twin climate control, seven-spoke light alloy wheels, leather steering wheel, on-board computer, cruise control, foglamps, ‘Coming Home’ function, etc.
Finally, the Sport-up finish is the sportiest, best-equipped Altea option. Building on Stylance, this finish adds the styling and sporty character of the Sport versions.
Body paint colours
The Altea is available in a range of 13 colours, three pastel tones starring Emoción red and ten metallic hues, featuring the new Tinta black, Mar blue, Lluvia blue and Fresco green. These colours combine with specific upholstery levels for each finish. There are two combinations in grey, one for the Reference versions and another for Stylance; one combination of blue tones for the Costa interior, only available with Stylance and selected exterior colours; leather upholstery available with all Stylance colours and a special black and red combination, exclusively available on Sport and Sport-up and eight colour options.
Options to suit everyone
The list of optional features on the Altea includes elements that aim to personalise the vehicle’s aesthetics and functional properties, as well as improve comfort or safety.
The models offers optional CD radio with eight speakers and steering-wheel mounted controls, CD loader in the central armrest, telephone pre-installation, dynamic navigation system with 6.5 inch screen, twin climate control, electrically adjustable and folding door mirrors, height adjustable passenger seat with lumbar support, volumetric alarm, ESP with EBA, leather upholstery, and coming soon, five-spoke 17 inch light alloy wheels.
Safety – six airbags as standard
All of the Altea units to be sold in the European Union leave the Martorell factory equipped with six airbags – twin front airbags, side airbags and curtain airbag. The model also includes all-round three-point seatbelts, front seatbelts with pyrotechnic pre-tensioners, and rear seats with the Isofix system for child seats.
The SEAT Altea features a comprehensive level of active safety with ABS, TCS and ESP with the built-in emergency braking system. Stability and exceptional road handling are guaranteed on a vehicle with these characteristics thanks to its new electro-mechanical power steering and a newly designed chassis, which includes the well-known Agile Chassis technology developed at SEAT’s Martorell Technical Centre.
Trademark elements
Windscreen wiper system, electro-mechanical steering, twin climate control, audio equipment, navigation system and DSG clutch are some of the trademark Altea components that warrant special attention.
First in a SEAT model is a windscreen wiper system that is camouflaged in the A-pillar at both sides of the windscreen in a vertical position, with a top to bottom sweeping motion.
The large windscreen surface area required a specific wiping system, and a ‘butterfly’ design proved to be the most adequate from the beginning. It also made it possible to apply the idea put forward on the Salsa concept car, with the wiper blades camouflaged in the windscreen’s A-pillars and run by their own electrical motor that synchronises their movement.
The new electro-mechanical steering system gives the most adequate level of assistance at all times to driving needs, performing both when the steering wheel is turned and when it returns to its initial position.
The powerful twin climate control system with dual controls for both driver and passengers adapts itself to the Altea’s interior volume.
The driver and passenger only have to select the desired temperature, with a difference between both sides of two degrees. The remaining functions are automatic; the controlling sensors and an electronically regulated compressor maintain the chosen temperature in each area.
The Altea’s new, exclusively designed audio system is perfectly integrated in the central console and easy to use. The audio equipment features a large central screen. Above it is a CD slot and below it are six buttons whose functions are shown on the screen, which vary depending on the audio selection made (radio, CD, CD loader, etc).
The dynamic navigation system, with its 6.5 inch colour screen (16:9 format), features navigation guidance through on-screen maps or icons and voice messages. The navigator is even able to automatically recalculate driving routes based on traffic information received by the TMC Traffic Message Channel. This component includes audio, radio and CD player and loading equipment, eight speakers, multi-function controls on the steering wheel and telephone pre-installation.
New DSG transmission
The 140 hp 2.0 TDI engine features a new, six-speed DSG clutch system. Although to all practical effects the DSG can be considered an automatic gearbox without a clutch pedal, it is actually a combination of two, three-speed gearboxes and two multi-disc clutch mechanisms whose pinions alternate.
For example, when the gear has shifted into second and near its rev limit, the second clutch begins to engage the third gear. The transition between both gears is immediate – the first engages the clutch and the second declutches at the same time. Since the changeover is so fast, 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time is faster than on the same 2.0 TDI engine without DSG.
The DSG system provides a more economical fuel consumption rate than a conventional automatic gearbox and increased driving pleasure without any torque or acceleration loss, thanks to the absence of a torque converter.
[source: seat.com]
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