CUPRA Ateca: SEAT launches its sporty brand

Redacción 26 February 2018 5 min.

SEAT’s first SUV also becomes the first CUPRA model. The Cupra TCR also arrives, the first competition model.

What is CUPRA?

“CUPRA is a great opportunity for SEAT”, with these words Luca de Meo, president of SEAT, presented the new sporty brand of the Spanish manufacturer. CUPRA is born to win the hearts of SEAT’s most sporty customers. It will be integrated into the brand, but with total independence. A new brand for lovers of sportiness.

But CUPRA will not only be sportiness; SEAT announces something more. Much more. An “elite” brand that, judging by its first model, promises to be much more than youthful design and racing accents. To give us an idea, the intentions with which CUPRA is born are to double the sales of its models. And the benchmark is the more than 10,000 SEAT Cupra sold in Europe during 2017. Will they achieve it?

Under the premises of originality, sophistication and performance, SEAT is betting on it. And they are not bluffing, since they already announce their own alliances with design studios and collaborators (RAKATAN and FABIKE, DAINESE or NINCO, among others) to develop the identity of their upcoming models.

CUPRA Ateca: a 300 CV SUV

The new era begins along the same path SEAT took in 2016, that of SUVs. The Ateca became SEAT’s first crossover and will become the first vehicle of CUPRA. This new model of the SUV will surpass the FR version in every way we knew until now. More power and a more aggressive design to demonstrate that the CUPRAs are on another level.

It becomes the sportiest SUV in its segment, based on the engine of the current SEAT León Cupra. Thus, we have a 2.0 TSI engine with 300 CV, combined with a newly developed seven-speed DSG gearbox. In addition, the CUPRA Ateca incorporates the 4Drive all-wheel drive system, optimized to work in all driving modes: Normal, Sport, Eco, Individual, Snow, Off-Road and CUPRA.

This CUPRA mode carries the most dynamic parameters of the Ateca. That is, stiffened suspension, louder exhaust sound and engine and gearbox response tuned to the maximum.

The performance figures of the CUPRA Ateca are up to expectations. The SUV will be capable of accelerating from 0 to 100 km/h in just 5.4 seconds and would reach a top speed of 245 km/h. In addition, to comply with emissions regulations, a new particulate filter for Otto-cycle engines has been incorporated.

A CUPRA interior

The new performance era implemented by CUPRA is in tune with the design package. Both the exterior and interior breathe that CUPRA essence they want to convey. Sporty touches everywhere and premium elements for a sophisticated and distinctive cabin.

We start with the exterior, where the front of the Ateca plays a leading role. New grille with honeycomb structure crowned by the new CUPRA logo in the center and the CUPRA letters engraved in aluminum at the bottom. Glossy black details will highlight the new image of the Ateca, with the CUPRA emblem engraved on the rear tailgate and 19” wheels, in addition to a sporty bumper and four exhaust pipes at the end of the rear diffuser.

Inside, top-quality elements. The Alcantara upholstery is incorporated into the door panels and the sport seats. Sport steering wheel and gear lever in leather with grey stitching and aluminum-finished pedals. With a wide predominance of the CUPRA logo, engraved on the steering wheel, the floor mats and when the touchscreen of the multimedia system starts. An 8” screen with a complete infotainment system crowns the central console of the cabin, divided into 3 spaces to make it easier to operate.

As an option, the Performance package stands out. The kit includes Brembo brakes, carbon fiber for the rear spoiler and the side mirror housings, and more carbon fiber for the dashboard trim. In addition to the seats and, in mid-2019, the possibility of exclusive CUPRA bucket seats.

CUPRA today and tomorrow

The arrival of CUPRA brings its new models, with their own identity. The first of them, this new Ateca. Although it does not come alone. We also know CUPRA’s first competition model. It is the CUPRA TCR that will compete officially in the TCR Series championship this 2018 season.

Certainly, CUPRA’s intentions go further. And we can already start speculating about upcoming models. For now, the new brand has wanted to demonstrate its possibilities with two design exercises and has unveiled two possible new CUPRAs: the Ibiza and the Arona. SEAT’s compact par excellence will undoubtedly have its CUPRA version. The question is when.

And from the future to the present. SEAT currently has two models Cupra, both belonging to the SEAT León range. The first is the SEAT León Cupra with a 2.0 TSI engine of 300 CV, presented in 2017 with 3-door (SC), 5-door or estate (ST) body options. And the second, the SEAT León Cupra R, the most radical version of the current SEAT León range. The 5-door version of the compact mounts the same engine as the Cupra, but reaches 310 CV with the manual gearbox and its production is limited to 799 units.

Is anything missing? Yes, the new SEAT León Cupra R in ST version. The León family model will also have its most radical version, arriving at the end of 2018.