Where we stand: August 2010
Spain may not be world renowned for its car manufacturing industry but in SEAT it boasts a brand that is becoming increasingly significant as more car buyers look towards environmental solutions.
The company, which is a wholly owned subsidiary of the German Volkswagen Group and is a member of the Audi brand, launched its Ecomotive range of vehicles in 2008 and boasts several models with class-leading fuel economy and emission figures. Indeed SEAT has also set its sights on a zero emission future.
SEAT today
SEAT first went down the green route with the introduction of several flexible-fuel vehicles. Known as the MultiFuel range, the company introduced bio-ethanol technology into the SEAT Leon MultiFuel, the SEAT Altea MultiFuel and the SEAT Altea XL MultiFuel. The 1.6MPI MultiFuel engine is capable of producing exactly the same horsepower as the equivalent petrol engine.
However, where SEAT really made its mark in the green car industry was with the introduction of the Ecomotive range. Nearly every SEAT model now has an Ecomotive derivative with a host of green features including low rolling resistance tyres, new aerodynamics, tweaks in the suspension, a maintenance free diesel particle filter and a reduction in weight. The Ecomotive range also benefits from an engine start/stop system and an energy recuperation system helping to drive down both fuel consumption and emissions.
At the head of the pack is the SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive 1.4TDI (see article) which has emissions at just 98g/km and yet manages to travel faster from 0-100km/h than the conventional version. In 2008, the Ibiza Ecomotive was featured at the top of the Verkehrs Club Deutschland’s 2008/2009 “environmentally beneficial vehicle” category; while the same car also won the Ecobest 2008 award.
In 2009, the SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive set a new world record on fuel saving with a single tank achieving the equivalent of 120mpg over a distance of 1,910km from Cieszyn in Poland to Frankfurt in Germany (see article). Remarkably, the vehicle was actually beating its own record set earlier in the same year (see article).
In addition, SEAT has made a number of other green commitments. It is involved in the SEAT al Sol project which involves the use of solar power through a system of photovoltaic panels that generate electricity in its factory in Martorell; while it is also playing a key role in the SEAT Autometro project which involves the construction and management of a rail link service between its factory and the Port of Barcelona.
Greenest models on sale:
The following are the greenest models of all SEAT cars available now in the UK:
SEAT Alhambra – Greenest Model: 2.0 TDI 140PS Ecomotive with combined mode fuel consumption of 47.1mpg and CO2 emissions at 159g/km.
SEAT Altea – Greenest Model: 1.6 TDI 105PS Ecomotive with combined mode fuel consumption of 62.8mpg and CO2 emissions at 119g/km.
SEAT Altea XL – Greenest Model: 1.6 TDI 105PS Ecomotive with combined mode fuel consumption of 62.8mpg and CO2 emissions at 119g/km.
SEAT Exeo – Greenest Model: All models with 2.0 TDI CR 120PS with combined mode fuel consumption of 54.3mpg and CO2 emissions at 136g/km.
SEAT Exeo ST – Greenest Model: All models with 2.0 TDI CR 120PS with combined mode fuel consumption of 53.3mpg and CO2 emissions at 139g/km.
SEAT Ibiza SC – Greenest Model: 1.4 TDI Ecomotive with combined mode fuel consumption of 76.3mpg and CO2 emissions at 98g/km.
SEAT Ibiza 5dr – Greenest Model: 1.4 TDI Ecomotive with combined mode fuel consumption of 76.3mpg and CO2 emissions at 98g/km.
SEAT Ibiza ST – Greenest Model: 1.2 TDI CR Ecomotive 75PS (S A/C and SE) with combined mode fuel consumption of 80.7mpg and CO2 emissions at 92g/km.
SEAT Leon – Greenest Model: 1.6 TDI Ecomotive with combined mode fuel consumption of 74.3mpg and CO2 emissions at 99g/km.
SEAT tomorrow:
SEAT is playing a key role in the Cenit VERDE programme which is supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation and brings together 16 technology companies and 16 universities with the aim of developing components and infrastructure for hybrid and electric cars.
As part of the project, SEAT is working on its own concepts including the plug-in hybrid SEAT Leon Twin Drive and the SEAT IBE Concept, which is a zero emissions vehicle that was first presented as part of the Geneva Motor Show 2010 (see article).
