SEAT Alhambra

SEAT Alhambra
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)
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". 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]

Awards

Engines

Second generation (Typ 7N; 2010–present)

SEAT Alhambra Mk2 (7N)
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]

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

Engines

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 :

model1998
[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		 21,30027,44023,92426,52426,30823,69321,58014,90214,35214,24210,2826,21510,02319,99022,612

References

  1. ↑ SEAT Hoy http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-sa-en-cifras-2005-2009.html
  2. ↑ "SEAT Alhambra Ecomotive". Seat.co.uk. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  3. ↑ "Alhambra on SEAT Portugal official site". Seat.pt. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  4. ↑ "New SEAT models for 2010". Media.seat.com. 2010-03-24. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  5. ↑ "New SEAT Alhambra press release". Media.seat.com. 2010-04-19. Retrieved 2012-01-06.
  6. ↑ 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
  7. ↑ "SEAT Alhambra Mk2 Euro Ncap 5-star rating". Euroncap.com. Retrieved 2010-11-24.
  8. ↑ AUTO TROPHY 2010 – DIE SIEGER ALLER KLASSEN http://www.autozeitung.de/leseraktionen/auto-trophy-2010-die-sieger-aller-klassen/VANS-IMPORTSIEGER-SEAT/n390609/22
  9. ↑ 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
  10. ↑ 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
  11. ↑ 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
  12. ↑ 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
  13. ↑ 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
  14. ↑ SEAT Annual report 2009 http://media.seat.com/info2010/annualreport/pantallacompleta.html
  15. 1 2 "Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999" (PDF). Volkswagen AG. 2010-09-13. Retrieved 2010-09-13.
  16. ↑ 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
  17. ↑ 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
  18. ↑ 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
  19. ↑ 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
  20. ↑ 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
  21. ↑ 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
  22. ↑ 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
  23. ↑ 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
  24. ↑ 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
  25. ↑ 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
  26. ↑ 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
  27. 1 2 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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