SEAT’s new ATECA receives the FR treatment
Published Date: 6th Apr 2017
Seat will put the new Ateca FR on show to the public at the 2017 Automobile Barcelona, the sow starts on the 11th of May through to the 21st.
The FR trim will slot in just below the Ateca Xcellence and above the S, SE and SE technology levels. Petrol and diesel is available in manual and DSG automatic.
The new Sporty SUV will also get the power to go with the looks with a 190ps 2.0 litre TSI turbocharged four cylinder petrol available in four wheel drive and seven speed DSG automatic. A 150ps 2.0 litre diesel and we may even see the 190ps diesel also.
Seat Ateca FR
The Volkswagen owned Spanish manufacturer is right in the middle of its largest model offensive ever with the new Ateca, new Leon, new Ibiza and will be followed up by the all new compact crossover rumoured to be called the Arona. We may see a sneak peak of the Arona leading into the second half of the year.
Since the launch last September, Seat has managed to build and sell over 40,000 Atecas in all markets.
The forward thinking in the recent offensive has led to a successful year in 2016 with all the new models contributing to an operating profit of 143 million euros in 2016. This was the highest in the company’s history and made the fourth consecutive year of increased annual sales.
“The Ateca FR adds yet another level of excitement to our first SUV. The agile and precise handling that the Ateca offers is reinforced with a touch of dynamism and fun at the wheel that the FR trim adds for example with the DCC and the progressive steering” commented Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice-President of R&D at SEAT. “It’s a sportiness that adds to all the technology the Ateca has onboard.”
The Ateca FR will feature 18 inch ‘Performance’ alloys exclusive to the FR trim with 19 inch machined alloys as an optional extra. Body coloured bumpers will be standard with an aluminium side trim running underneath the doors.
The window trims and framework will be all black, setting the car apart from the Xcellence trim where all chrome can be found, the rear spoiler will also match the cars body colour.
FR logos can be found on the exclusively designed rear bumper, gloss black front grille, steering wheel and also on the interior aluminium scuff plates.
Also making up the interior FR changes will be red stitching on the steering wheel, gear lever and sports seats trimmed in either alcantara or leather. Aluminium pedals will also set the car apart from the rest of the line-up.
The FR will certainly be more appealing to those in the market for a mid size SUV as not everyone likes the appearance of dark grey unpainted bumpers running full circle around the car. This could also be a preview for the upcoming Cupra version that may be in the works, rumoured to feature the 300ps petrol turbocharged engine that can be found in the Leon Cupra.