SEAT Alhambra

SEAT Alhambra

Manufacturer	SEAT
Production	1996–present
Assembly	AutoEuropa, Palmela, Portugal
Class	large MPV
Body style	5-door 7-seat MPV
Layout	Front engine
Related	Volkswagen Sharan

The SEAT Alhambra is a large 7-seat MPV produced by the Volkswagen Group, sold under the SEAT brand. Two generations of Alhambras have been produced since 1996; both of them are built at the AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal. The vehicle is named after the Alhambra of Granada, a famous monument in Spain.

First generation (Typ 7M, 1996–2010)

SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M)

Production	1996—2010
Assembly	AutoEuropa, Palmela, Portugal
Layout	Front engine, front-wheel drive / four-wheel drive
Engine	Petrol engines: 1.8L I4 20V Turbo 2.0L I4 2.8L VR6 24V Diesel engines: 1.9L I4 TDI 2.0L I4 TDI
Transmission	6-speed manual 5-speed automatic 5-speed Tiptronic automatic
Wheelbase	2,835 mm (111.6 in)
Length	4,634 mm (182.4 in)
Width	1,810 mm (71.3 in)
Height	1,762 mm (69.4 in)
Curb weight	1,599–1,709 kg (3,530–3,770 lb)
Related	Volkswagen Sharan Mk1 Ford Galaxy Mk1

A prototype of the first generation SEAT Alhambra was presented at the 1995 Geneva Salon International de l'Auto. Next year the production Alhambra was launched at the same motor show. The Alhambra shares most of its components and design with the VW Sharan Mk1 and Ford Galaxy Mk1. However, the Alhambra has more options fitted for a given price range. The Alhambra has 7 seats—the 5 rear seats can be folded down or unclipped and removed completely. When removed the seats leave a flat-floored load space, a unique feature for SEAT vehicles at that time. The load volume varies, from 256l with 7 seats, to 852l with 5 seats, and 2610l with only the 2 front seats fitted.

The Alhambra was essentially unchanged from 1996 to 2010 but a major restyling in 2000 reflected the new Seat image. Even so, the Alhambra remained faithful to the original design produced under the Volkswagen Group and Fordtechnology sharing agreement. When Volkswagen and Ford lost market share to other manufacture's MPVs, including the Toyota Previa and Mitsubishi Space Wagon, they changed the deign of their versions.

The Alhambra, Sharan, and Galaxy were built on the same production line at the joint venture AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal, and were essentially the same but with different engine options and interiors. This led to the three vehicles being referred to collectively as the "Sharalaxy" or "Shalambraxy". Ford have now withdrawn from the collaboration, and the Galaxy Mk III and the S-Max (a seven-seater based on the Mondeo Mk IV platform) are built in Genk, Belgium, alongside the Mondeo. The AutoEuropa plant now produces the VW Scirocco III.

The environmentally friendly SEAT Alhambra Ecomotive is fitted with the 2.0 TDI 140 PS (103 kW) engine producing 159 g/km CO2 emissions.

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  SEAT Alhambra first generation pre-facelift

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  SEAT Alhambra first generation pre-facelift instrument panel

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  SEAT Alhambra first generation pre-facelift

Awards

• 'Monovolume do Ano' award in 1997, in Portugal

Engines

• Petrol
  • 1.8L I4 110 kW (150 PS) 20V Turbo
  • 2.0L I4 85 kW (116 PS)
  • 2.8L VR6 150 kW (204 PS) 24V

• Diesel
  • 1.9L I4 66 kW (90 PS) TDI
  • 1.9L I4 81 kW (110 PS) TDI
  • 1.9L I4 85 kW (116 PS) TDI
  • 1.9L I4 96 kW (131 PS) TDI
  • 1.9L I4 110 kW (150 PS) TDI
  • 2.0L I4 103 kW (140 PS) TDI
    

Second generation (Typ 7N, 2010–)

SEAT Alhambra Mk2 (7N)

Production	2010–present
Assembly	AutoEuropa, Palmela, Portugal
Class	large MPV
Layout	Front engine
Platform	Volkswagen Group A5 PQ46
Engine	Petrol engines: 1.4L 110 kW (148 hp) TSI 2.0L 147 kW (197 hp) TSI Diesel engines: 2.0L 103 kW (138 hp) TDI 2.0L 125 kW (168 hp) TDI
Transmission	manual DSG automatic
Length	4,850 mm (190.9 in)
Related	Volkswagen Sharan Mk2

The second generation SEAT Alhambra was announced on 19 April 2010 and went on sale in October 2010. At 4.85m long, it is 22 cm longer than the first generation: it is also 9 cm wider. Like the new Sharan, access to the middle row of seats is via sliding doors.

In February 2011 SEAT presented the Alhambra 4-wheel-drive version featuring a permanent all wheel drive combined with the 2.0 TDI 103 kW diesel engine and a manual six-speed gearbox.

Safety

In 2010, the safety of the second generation SEAT Alhambra was assessed under the Euro NCAP scheme; it achieved a 5-star overall rating  :

Test	Score	Points
Overall:		N/A
Adult occupant:	96%	34
Child occupant:	80%	39
Pedestrian:	46%	16
Safety assist:	71%	5

Awards

• ‘Auto Trophy’ 2010 for the imported MPV category, by the German car magazine Autozeitung
• ‘Best imported MPV’ in 2011, by the readers of the German car magazine 'Auto motor und sport'
• ‘Best MPV on the market’ award in 2011, by the British magazine 'WhatCar?'
• ‘Best MPV’ in 2011, at the UK Fleet World Honours
• ‘Best MPV’ in 2011, by the British motoring magazine 'Diesel Car'
• ‘MPV of the Year’ award in 2011, by panel members of the Portuguese ‘Car of the Year – Crystal Steering Wheel Trophy’
• ‘Best MPV’ in 2011, at the second edition of the Ecomotor Awards organised by the Spanish newspaper 'El Economista'

Engines

• Petrol
  • 1.4L 110 kW (148 hp) TSI
  • 2.0L 147 kW (197 hp) TSI

• Diesel
  • 2.0L 103 kW (138 hp) TDI
  • 2.0L 125 kW (168 hp) TDI
    

Sales and production figures

Since its launch in 1996, more than 250,000 SEAT Alhambras have been sold.

In the year 2009, the total annual retail sales number of SEAT Alhambra cars was 5,923 vehicles,

The total production per year of SEAT Alhambra cars, manufactured in SEAT and other Volkswagen group's plants, is shown in the following table :

model	1998	1999	2000	2001	2002	2003	2004	2005	2006	2007	2008	2009	2010
SEAT Alhambra Total annual production	21,300	27,440	23,924	26,524	26,308	23,693	21,580	14,902	14,352	14,242	10,282	6,215	10,023

External links

• SEAT Alhambra official website