Seat, Volkswagen’s Spanish brand, has confirmed its first plug-in hybrid Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive and all-electric Altea XL Electric Ecomotive are scheduled for launch within the next few years.
Like other manufacturers in various countries, Seat is being held-back by a lack of re-charging infrastructure.
Nevertheless Seat says examples of Spain’s first hybrid and all-electric vehicles will shortly commence real-world test programs with government institutions in Madrid and Catalonia.
The plug-in hybrid version of Seat’s handy Leon has a full-electric range of 52kms with a top speed of 120km/h or - in combined mode – 170km/h.
Seat’s all-electric Altea XL mounts its batteries under the rear seat for minimum intrusion into either passenger or luggage areas and uses photovoltaic cells on the roof power the ventilation system when parked – so less power is consumed on start-up just to optimize the cabin temperature . Seat says its first production electric vehicle delivers 85kW of power and peak torque of 270Nm for a limited top speed of 135km/h.
While the plug-in hybrid Leon is due for market launch in 2015,followed in 2016 by the all-electric Altea XL, Seat is planning to launch four new models within the next 12 months, commencing with its all-new Mii urban compact.
