SEAT Ateca

SEAT Ateca

SEAT Ateca in Andorra la Vella (Andorra)

The SEAT Ateca is a mid-size SUV produced by the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT since 2016. It is the first SUV model in the brand’s lineup, slotting in between the SEAT Arona and SEAT Tarraco.

The name “SEAT Ateca” comes from the Spanish municipality of Ateca, which is part of the municipality of Calatayud and is located in the province of Zaragoza, in the Aragon region.

Ateca’s competitors include the Citroën C5 Aircross, Ford Kuga, Honda CR-V, Hyundai Tucson, Kia Sportage, Mazda CX-5, Nissan Qashqai, Opel Grandland X, Peugeot 3008, Renault Kadjar, Toyota RAV4, as well as the Škoda Karoq and the short-wheelbase version of the Volkswagen Tiguan, with which it shares a platform.

Presentation

The SEAT Ateca (model KH7/575) was officially presented to the press on 10 February 2016 and officially debuted at the 2016 Geneva Motor Show, with sales starting in June of the same year.

This model is based on the Volkswagen Group’s MQB platform, which is also used in the third generation SEAT León. It has very similar characteristics and equipment.

Production takes place at the Kvasiny plant in the Czech Republic, where the Škoda Kodiaq and Škoda Karoq are also produced. These cars are also built on the same platform and even share some panels, as the Škoda is to some extent based on the Ateca.

The SEAT Ateca X-Perience Concept will be presented at the 2016 Paris Motor Show (France). This car differs from the production model by being taller, and by the presence of new wings, a spoiler, rear deflectors and chrome side trim.

Before the official name of the model was announced, the press put forward many guesses. At first, the most popular name was “Tecta”, but then the president of SEAT confirmed that the car would be named after a Spanish city or would be related to the country’s geography. Among the options proposed were:

“Aran or Pyrenees” – names related to the mountains or valleys of Spain;
“Tajo or Duero” – names related to rivers;
“Zaragoza or Aranjuez” – names of cities.

The use of geographical names is a hallmark of the SEAT brand.

The new SEAT model includes the following functions: Traffic Jam Assist, Emergency Assist, 8-inch touchscreen, multi-colored ceiling light, LED interior lighting, exterior mirrors with illuminated door zones and projection of the ATECA name on the ground, electric gates, 360° camera with four cameras in the front, rear and mirrors, panoramic roof, wireless smartphone charging unit on the center console for phones with Qi technology, electric handbrake and others.

CUPRA Ateca

In 2018, SEAT introduced its new sports sub-brand called Cupra with a new logo and typography.

The CUPRA Ateca is the first model to represent the line and has a sportier appearance. The most noticeable changes are at the front and rear: new bumpers, wide air vents with Cupra lettering. The rear includes a glossy black diffuser with dual exhaust pipes. The interior is similar to the Xperience plus and FR, only the upholstery changes: leather fabric with a carbon effect and Alcantara with white embroidery. Bucket front seats with gray Alcantara upholstery are available as an option.

As for the engines, there is only one engine for Cupra – 2.0 TSI with 300 HP, to which you can add Brembo brakes and discs with copper parts. In 2023, the 1.5 TSI with 150 HP and 2.0 TSI with 190 HP will appear.

A limited edition Cupra Ateca was presented at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show, available only in Graphene Grey and with new elements: extended wheel arches, spoiler, mirrors and diffuser in carbon fiber, copper Cupra letters, 20-inch wheels, Akrapovic dual exhaust and bucket seats with blue Alcantara upholstery. A total of 1,999 units were produced, of which 350 were for the Spanish market.