SEAT Altea

SEAT Altea
Altea (2004–2009)
Overview
Manufacturer	SEAT
Production	2004–2015 [1]
Assembly	Martorell, Spain
Designer	Walter de Silva
Body and chassis
Class	Compact MPV (M)
Body style	5-door multi-purpose vehicle
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform	Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35)
Related	Audi A3 Mk2 Audi TT Mk2 SEAT León Mk2 SEAT Toledo Mk3 Volkswagen Golf Mk5 Volkswagen Golf Mk6 Volkswagen Golf Plus Volkswagen Touran Škoda Octavia Mk2
Powertrain
Engine	Petrol engines: 1.2 L I4 TSI 1.4 L I4 1.4 L I4 TSI 1.6 L I4 1.8 L I4 TSI 2.0 L I4 FSI 2.0 L I4 TSI GAS/LPG engines: 1.6 L LPG Diesel engines: 1.6 L I4 TDI 1.9 L I4 TDI 2.0 L I4 TDI 2.0 L I4 TDI DPF
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 5-speed tiptronic Automatic 6-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox 7-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,580 mm (101.6 in)
Length	4,280 mm (168.5 in)
Width	1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height	1,560 mm (61.4 in)
Chronology
Successor	SEAT Ateca SEAT Leon X-PERIENCE

The SEAT Altea is a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) produced by the Spanish automaker SEAT from 2004 to 2015. The vehicle was designed by the Italian Walter de Silva and launched in 2004, as the first example of SEAT's new corporate look. The third generation Toledo was identical, except for the addition of a larger boot. It was launched at the 2004 Geneva Motor Show.

Another extended version, the Altea XL, is also available (having been first presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show). In 2007, the Altea Freetrack, with 4WD and higher suspension, was released.

On 21 August 2015, SEAT announced that the Altea and Altea XL had been discontinued.^[2] Although no direct replacement for the Altea is planned, SEAT is following the global shift from MPVs to SUVs, by launching its own SUV model based on the SEAT León.

In 2016, the Ateca was launched, which was the successor to the Altea according to CEO Luca de Meo: "For us, the Ateca is the replacement of the Altea."^[3] SEAT sold a total of 439 Altea models in the United Kingdom during 2014, and 445 Altea XLs.^[1]

Overview

The Altea was released a few years after many of its competitors arriving on the scene, but it was expected to sell well. However, it exceeded expectations, and 31,223 Alteas were sold within the first year.^[4] It is a family oriented five seater, which attempts to portray a more sporty image than most of its rivals. The car is based on Volkswagen Group's A5 (PQ35) platform.

An unusual design feature is the 'vertical parked' windscreen wipers, which are designed to improve pedestrian safety. They disappear in to the window surround either side of the screen. The effect is a completely cleanly swept windscreen, but does mean the 'A pillars' are rather wide and cause a blind spot.

There were six trim levels: Essence, Reference, Reference Sport, Stylance, Sport (no longer available in the United Kingdom) and FR. Internal combustion engines are available, with the range topping 2.0 FR Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) delivering 125 kilowatts (170 PS; 168 bhp), available since April 2006.

There are four gearboxes available (depending on market and engine); five or six speed manual, five speed tiptronic automatic, and six or seven speed Direct-Shift Gearbox. It is named after the Spanish city of Altea.

In March 2014, Auto Express reported that SEAT were working on a family of SUVs, with an estimated release date of 2016, to be based on the same platform as the SEAT León.^[5] This proved to be exact, with the launch of the SEAT Ateca SUV in 2016.

Gallery

• 
  2004-2009
• 
  2009-2015
• 
  2009-2015

Safety

In 2004, the SEAT Altea was tested for its safety performance under the Euro NCAP assessment scheme and it achieved a five star overall rating:^[6]

• Adult occupant
• Child occupant
• Pedestrian

Awards

• "Red dot: best of the best" design award, from the Nordrhein Westfalen (Germany) Design Centre^[7]
• 'The World's Most Beautiful Automobile 2004', in Milan^[8]
• 'Autonis' Design Award, by the Auto-Strassenverkehr and MOT magazines
• 'Best Concept Car in 2003', by the Designers (Europe) organisation (for the SEAT Altea Prototipo)^[9]
• 'Towncar of the Year' Award, by Caravan Club in collaboration with the English magazine What Car?
• 'Auto Trophy' 2004 and 2005, by the German car magazine Autozeitung^[10]
• “XII Edición de los Premios del Motor” 2005 award by the Spanish magazine Telva^[11]
• 'Coche de Flotas del Año' 2005 award by the Spanish magazine Flotas
• 'Ampe' award in 2005 in the Internet category^[12]

Powertrain

The following powertrain specifications are available:

A flexible-fuel vehicle model is also on offer under the label "MultiFuel", featuring the 1.6 MPI E85 102 bhp engine.^[15]

Seat Altea XL/Freetrack

SEAT Altea XL Seat Altea Freetrack
2006-2009
Overview
Manufacturer	SEAT
Also called	SEAT Altea 4 Seat Altea XL Stationwagon (The Netherlands)
Production	2006−2015 (XL) 2007−2015 (Freetrack)
Assembly	Martorell, Spain
Body and chassis
Class	Compact MPV (M)
Body style	5-door multi-purpose vehicle
Layout	Front-engine, front-wheel-drive
Platform	Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35)
Related	Audi A3 Mk2 Audi TT Mk2 SEAT León Mk2 SEAT Toledo Mk3 Škoda Octavia Mk2 Volkswagen Golf Mk5 Volkswagen Golf Mk6 Volkswagen Golf Plus Volkswagen Touran Volkswagen Tiguan
Powertrain
Engine	petrol engines: 1.4 L I4 1.4 L I4 TSI 1.6 L I4 1.8 L I4 TSI 2.0 L I4 TSI diesel engines: 1.9 L I4 TDI 2.0 L I4 TDI DPF 2.0 L I4 TDI 2.0 L I4 TDI DPF 2.0 L I4 TDI CR DPF
Transmission	5-speed manual 6-speed manual 6-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox 7-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox
Dimensions
Wheelbase	2,578 mm (101.5 in) — XL 2,576 mm (101.4 in) — Freetrack
Length	4,467 mm (175.9 in) — XL 4,493 mm (176.9 in) — Freetrack
Width	1,768 mm (69.6 in) — XL 1,788 mm (70.4 in) — Freetrack
Height	1,576 mm (62.0 in) — XL 1,622 mm (63.9 in) — Freetrack
Kerb weight	1,330 kg (2,932 lb) - 1,586 kg (3,497 lb)

SEAT Altea Freetrack

SEAT Altea Freetrack prototype

The SEAT Altea XL^[16] is an 18.7 centimetres (7.4 in) longer variant of the normal SEAT Altea, a five door five seat compact multi purpose vehicle (MPV), with increased luggage capacity compared to the standard Altea.

The SEAT Altea Freetrack^[17] is dimensionally similar to the Altea XL, but is designed as compact sport-utility vehicle (SUV). It features raised suspension for increased ground clearance and larger plastic bumpers, and plastic wheel arch and sill extensions, which all increase its exterior dimensions.^[18]

All versions of the Freetrack, except the 2.0 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) 2WD, are equipped with a Haldex Traction based on demand four-wheel drive (4WD). The 4WD versions are also called Seat Altea 4. In Mexico and Russia, the SEAT Altea Freetrack is marketed simply as the SEAT Freetrack.

Although the Freetrack is available with 4WD, it is not marketed by SEAT as an "SUV". However, the Freetrack could be seen as a competitor for small SUVs from other marques. The possible internal combustion engine choices are almost the same as for the normal Altea. When the car was launched, it was available in a very uncommon intense yellow. This colour was also seen on models in several promotional brochures. The colour scheme was no longer available by August 2010.

Gallery

• 
  2006-2009
• 
  2009-2015
• 
  2009-2015

Awards

• Altea 2006 award, by the Asociación de Telespectadores de la Comunidad de Andalucía^[19]

Powertrain

The following powertrain options are available, with certain configurations utilising Volkswagen Groups highly regarded Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG):^[20][21]

all available internal combustion engines are inline four cylinder designs
model	displacement, valvetrain, fuel system	max power at rpm	max torque at rpm	transmission(s)	XL	Freetrack
petrol engines all fuel injected
1.4	1390 cc, 16v DOHC multi-point fuel injection	63 kW (86 PS; 84 bhp) @ 5,000	132 N·m (97 lbf·ft) @ 1,500	5-sp manual
1.4 TSI	1390 cc, 16v DOHC Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection	92 kW (125 PS; 123 bhp) @ 5,000	200 N·m (148 lbf·ft) @ 1,500−4,000	6-sp manual
1.6	1595 cc, 8v SOHC multi-point fuel injection	75 kW (102 PS; 101 bhp) @ 5,600	148 N·m (109 lbf·ft) @ 3,800	5-sp manual
1.8 TSI	1798 cc, 16v DOHC Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection	118 kW (160 PS; 158 bhp) @ 5,000−6,200	250 N·m (184 lbf·ft) @ 1,500−4,500	6-sp manual 7-sp DSG
2.0 TSI	1984 cc, 16v DOHC Turbocharged Fuel Stratified Injection	155 kW (211 PS; 208 bhp) @ 5,300−6,200	280 N·m (207 lbf·ft) @ 1,700−5,200	6-sp DSG 6-sp DSG		2WD & 4WD
diesel engines all Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI)
1.9 TDI (from Sept '09)	1896 cc, 8v SOHC "Pumpe Düse" (PD) unit injection	66 kW (90 PS; 89 bhp) @ 4,000	210 N·m (155 lbf·ft) @ 1,800	5-sp manual
1.9 TDI	1896 cc, 8v SOHC "Pumpe Düse" (PD) unit injection	77 kW (105 PS; 103 bhp) @ 4,000	250 N·m (184 lbf·ft) @ 1,900	5-sp manual
1.9 TDI DPF	1896 cc, 8v SOHC "Pumpe Düse" (PD) unit injection, diesel particulate filter	77 kW (105 PS; 103 bhp) @ 4,000	250 N·m (184 lbf·ft) @ 1,900	5-sp manual 6-sp manual 4WD 6-sp DSG
2.0 TDI	1968 cc, 16v DOHC "Pumpe Düse" (PD) unit injection	103 kW (140 PS; 138 bhp) @ 4,000	320 N·m (236 lbf·ft) @ 1,750−2,500	6-sp manual 6-sp DSG
2.0 TDI DPF	1968 cc, 8v SOHC "Pumpe Düse" (PD) unit injection, diesel particulate filter	103 kW (140 PS; 138 bhp) @ 4,000	320 N·m (236 lbf·ft) @ 1,750−2,500	6-sp manual 6-sp DSG		2WD & 4WD
2.0 TDI CR DPF	1968 cc, 16v DOHC common rail, diesel particulate filter	125 kW (170 PS; 168 bhp) @ 4,200	350 N·m (258 lbf·ft) @ 1,750−2,500	6-sp manual		4WD

A flexible-fuel vehicle model was also on offer, under the label "MultiFuel", featuring the 1.6 MPI E85 102 bhp (76 kW; 103 PS) engine.^[22]

References

External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SEAT Altea XL.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SEAT Altea Freetrack.

Wikimedia Commons has media related to SEAT Altea.

• Official website