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A radical new SEAT, conceived to
run on electric power or a
conventional petrol engine, has
been unveiled in Spain. The
green-minded Leon Twin Drive
Ecomotive prototype made its
debut at the SEAT Technical
Centre in Martorell, near
Barcelona.
The ultra-low emissions concept
was unveiled in front of Spanish
Government minister Miguel
Sebastián, as well as Catalan
and local government
representatives. As its name
suggests, the innovative Twin
Drive concept is being developed
to pioneer important advances in
hybrid technology.
The initial aim is for Twin
Drive-equipped SEATs to run on
electricity in urban areas,
switching seamlessly to
conventional petrol or diesel
power for longer trips out of
town. So-called ‘plug-in’
hybrid propulsion, as well as
the eventual phasing out of the
internal combustion engine in
future Ecomotive models, is also
on the agenda for SEAT.
SEAT’s ambitious Twin Drive
development plan, which
stretches to 2014, focuses on
creating a whole range of
Ecomotive vehicles with
exceptional fuel economy and
dramatically reduced CO2
emissions.
The car shown at Martorell
features an electric motor
powered by lithium-ion
batteries. There has been
extensive modification of the
gearbox, brakes, heating and
cooling systems, while major
changes to the vehicle’s
electronics have also been
carried out.
The prototype will allow
engineers at the Spanish brand’s
state-of-the-art technical
centre to research advanced
electrical propulsion
techniques, battery recharging
and vehicle range.
As things stand, of course, SEAT
is already at the forefront of
low emissions, high economy
motoring with models such as the
new generation Ibiza Ecomotive,
current Leon Ecomotive and
Alhambra Ecomotive all leading
the way in their respective
segments of the market.
The forthcoming new Ibiza
Ecomotive, for instance, is
capable of 76.3 mpg on the
combined cycle (94.2 mpg extra
urban), with joint best-in-class
CO2 emissions of just
98 g/km. |
