SEAT Alhambra
SEAT Alhambra | |
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Overview | |
Manufacturer | SEAT |
Production | 1996–present |
Assembly | Palmela, Portugal (AutoEuropa) |
Body and chassis | |
Class | Large MPV (M) |
Body style | 5-door multi-purpose vehicle |
Layout | Front-engine, front-wheel-drive |
The SEAT Alhambra is a large multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) designed to compete with the Renault Espace, the Citroën C8 and the Peugeot 807. It is manufactured under the SEAT brand since 1996, at the Volkswagen Group's AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal. It shares the same platform with the Volkswagen Sharan, and the first generation was also related to the Ford Galaxy. The vehicle is named after the Alhambra of Granada, a famous monument in Spain.
First generation (Typ 7M; 1996–2009)
SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M) | |
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Overview | |
Also called | Volkswagen Sharan Mk1 Ford Galaxy Mk1 |
Production | 1996–2009 |
Body and chassis | |
Related | Volkswagen Sharan Mk1 Ford Galaxy Mk1 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Petrol engines: 1.8 L I4 20V Turbo 2.0 L I4 2.8 L VR6 24v Diesel engines: 1.9 L I4 TDI 2.0 L I4 TDI |
Transmission | 6-speed manual 5-speed automatic 5-speed Tiptronic automatic |
Dimensions | |
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 (3,525–3,768 lb) |
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.[1] 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 seven seats—the five 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 seven seats, to 852l with five seats, and 2610l with only the two 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 design 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"[who?]. Ford has 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.
Introduced in 2009, the environmentally friendly SEAT Alhambra Ecomotive is fitted with the 2.0 TDI 140 PS (103 kW) engine producing 159 g/km CO2 emissions.[2]
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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[3]
Engines
- Diesel
Second generation (Typ 7N; 2010–present)
SEAT Alhambra Mk2 (7N) | |
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![]() | |
Overview | |
Also called | Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 |
Production | 2010–present |
Body and chassis | |
Platform | Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ46) |
Related | Volkswagen Sharan Mk2 |
Powertrain | |
Engine | Petrol engines: 1.4 L 110 kW (148 hp) TSI 2.0 L 147 kW (197 hp) TSI Diesel engines: 2.0 L 103 kW (138 hp) TDI 2.0 L 125 kW (168 hp) TDI |
Dimensions | |
Length | 4,850 mm (190.9 in) |
The second generation SEAT Alhambra was announced on 19 April 2010 and went on sale in October 2010.[4] 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.[5]
In February 2011 SEAT presented the Alhambra four-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.[6]
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SEAT Alhambra second generation rear doors now slide open rather than being hinged.
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:[7]
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[8]
- ‘Best imported MPV’ in 2011, by the readers of the German car magazine Auto, Motor und Sport[9]
- ‘Best MPV on the market’ award in 2011, by the British magazine What Car?[10]
- ‘Best MPV’ in 2011, at the UK Fleet World Honours[11]
- ‘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’[12]
- ‘Best MPV’ in 2011, at the second edition of the Ecomotor Awards, organised by the Spanish newspaper El Economista
- ‘Best MPV on the market’ award in 2012, by the British magazine What Car?
- ‘Best MPV on the market’ award in 2013, by the British magazine What Car?
Engines
- Petrol
- 1.4 L 110 kW (150 hp) TSI
- 2.0 L 147 kW (200 hp) TSI
- Diesel
- 2.0 L 103 kW (140 hp) TDI
- 2.0 L 130 kW (177 hp) TDI
Sales and production figures
Since its launch in 1996, more than 250,000 SEAT Alhambras have been sold.[13]
In the year 2009, the total annual retail sales number of SEAT Alhambra cars was 5,923 vehicles,[14]
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 [15] |
1999 [15] |
2000 [16] |
2001 [17] |
2002 [18] |
2003 [19] |
2004 [20] |
2005 [21] |
2006 [22] |
2007 [23] |
2008 [24] |
2009 [25] |
2010 [26] |
2013 [27] |
2014 [27] |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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 | 19,990 | 22,612 |
References
- ^ SEAT Hoy http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-sa-en-cifras-2005-2009.html
- ^ "SEAT Alhambra Ecomotive". Seat.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "Alhambra on SEAT Portugal official site". Seat.pt. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "New SEAT models for 2010". Media.seat.com. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ "New SEAT Alhambra press release". Media.seat.com. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
- ^ Even more versatile with all-wheel drive http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/746-seat-presentara-el-nuevo-alhambra-4-en-el-salon-de-ginebra.html?g2_language=en_GB
- ^ "SEAT Alhambra Mk2 Euro Ncap 5-star rating". Euroncap.com. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
- ^ AUTO TROPHY 2010 – DIE SIEGER ALLER KLASSEN http://www.autozeitung.de/leseraktionen/auto-trophy-2010-die-sieger-aller-klassen/VANS-IMPORTSIEGER-SEAT/n390609/22
- ^ The SEAT Alhambra wins in best imported MPV category at annual auto motor und sport awards http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/741-el-seat-alhambra-mejor-monovolumen-importado-segun-los-lectores-alemanes.html
- ^ Car of the Year awards 2011 - MPV winner http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/what-car-car-of-the-year-awards-2011/mpv-winner/254786
- ^ New awards for the SEAT Alhambra in Spain and Europe http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/793-nuevos-premios-para-el-seat-alhambra-en-espana-y-europa.html
- ^ The SEAT Alhambra voted ‘MPV of the Year’ in Portugal http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/748-el-seat-alhambra-monovolumen-del-ano-en-portugal-.html
- ^ Seat prevé caídas mensuales de ventas por encima del 30% hasta final de año http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/Seat/preve/caidas/mensuales/ventas/encima/final/ano/elpepueco/20100906elpepueco_13/Tes
- ^ SEAT Annual report 2009 http://media.seat.com/info2010/annualreport/pantallacompleta.html
- ^ a b "Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999" (PDF). Volkswagen AG. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2000 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2001/03/Annual_Report_2000.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/VW_GB_2000_e.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2001 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2002/03/annual_report_2001.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20020312_GB_2001_e.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2002 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2003/03/annual_report_2002.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/vw_gb_2002_en.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2003 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2004/03/annual_report_2003.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/20040309_gb2003_e.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2004 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2005/03/annual_report_2004.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Gbericht_2004_en.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2005 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2006/03/Volkswagen_AG__Annual_Report_2005.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/gesch%C3%A4ftsbericht_2005_english.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2006 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2007/03/Geschaeftsbericht_2006.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Annual_Report_2006_e.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2007 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2008/03/Annual_Report_2007.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/VW_AG_GB_2007_en.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2008 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2009/03/GB_2008.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Y_2008_e.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2009 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2010/03/Annual_Report_2009.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/Y_2009_e.pdf
- ^ Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2010 http://www.volkswagenag.com/vwag/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2011/03/Volkswagen_AG_Geschaeftsbericht_2010.-bin.acq/qual-BinaryStorageItem.Single.File/GB_2010_e.pdf
- ^ a b Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2014 http://www.volkswagenag.com/content/vwcorp/info_center/en/publications/2015/03/Y_2014_e.bin.html/binarystorageitem/file/GB+2014_e.pdf
External links
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