Seat Altea TDI
The SEAT Altea is a compact multi-purpose vehicle (MPV) produced by the Spanish automaker SEAT since 2004. The vehicle was designed by the Italian Walter de Silva and launched in 2004, as the first example of SEAT's new corporate look. The third-generation Toledo was identical, except for the addition of a larger boot.
Another extended version, the Altea XL, is also available (having been first presented at the 2006 Paris Motor Show). In 2007, the Altea Freetrack, with 4WD and higher suspension, was released.
On 21 August 2015, SEAT announced that the Altea and Altea XL had been discontinued. Although no direct replacement for the Altea is planned, SEAT is following the global shift from MPVs to SUVs by launching its own SUV model based on the SEAT León. In 2016 the Ateca was launched, which was the successor to the Altea according to CEO Luca de Meo: "For us the Ateca is the replacement of the Altea." SEAT sold a total of 439 Altea models in the United Kingdom during 2014, and 445 Altea XLs.
The Altea was released a few years after many of its competitors arriving on the scene, but it was expected to sell well. However, it exceeded expectations and 31,223 Alteas were sold within the first year.
It is a family-oriented five-seater, which attempts to portray a more sporty image than most of its rivals. The car is based on Volkswagen Group's A5 (PQ35) platform. An unusual design feature is the 'vertical parked' windscreen wipers, which are designed to improve pedestrian safety. They disappear in to the window surround either side of the screen. The effect is a completely cleanly swept windscreen but does mean the 'A pillars' are rather wide and cause a blind spot.
There are six trim levels: Essence (no longer available in the United Kingdom), Reference, Reference Sport, Stylance, Sport (no longer available in the United Kingdom) and FR. Internal combustion engines are available, with the range-topping 2.0 FR Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) delivering 125 kilowatts (170 PS; 168 bhp), available since April 2006. There are four gearboxes available (depending on market and engine); five or six-speed manual, five-speed tiptronic automatic, and six or seven-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox.
It is named after the Spanish city of Altea.
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