Seat’s electrification roll-out has begun with a plug-in hybrid Tarraco, which will make its public at next month’s Frankfurt motor show.
Available to order in the first half of 2020, the petrol-electric large SUV will be the first launched by any of the Volkswagen Group’s non-premium brands. That includes the Volkswagen brand itself, which revealed a Tiguan GTE back in 2016 that never made production.
The Tarraco PHEV makes use of a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine, putting out 148bhp. This is mated to a 113bhp electric motor fed by a 13kWh lithium ion battery. The total system output is quoted at 242bhp and 295lb ft. It's a similar powertrain to that in the Volkswagen Passat GTE, albeit with a chunk more power, meaning it becomes the most powerful version of the Tarraco.
The powertrain is sufficient to enable a top speed of 135mph and a 0-62mph time of 7.4sec for the five-or-seven-seat SUV. Official fuel economy has yet to be quoted prior to homologation, but CO2 emissions are said to be less than 50g/km. Seat claims an electric-only range of “more than” 31 miles. The model will go on sale in the first half of 2020.
Seat has also taken the opportunity to debut a new FR trim level for the Taracco with the PHEV variant. Expected to roll out across the range at the same time as the hybrid, it brings sporty styling details including a bespoke grille and bumpers, wider wheelarches housing FR-specific 19 and 20in wheels, a restyled rear end and new badging.
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PHEV :- Hard work and...
Tax breaks.
Not on Boris Johnson’s watch!
Yep, no doubt you’ll have seen his latest Professor Frink idea?, well, Tax breaks might be different by then, along with our lives to.
5 years late to the party
Knock off Outlander?
Except for being both PHEV SUVs, how is it a knock off Outlander?
Advantages of the Outlander: a bit of 4x4 capability thanks to electrically driven rear axle; this Tarraco and the various PSA Group PHEVs are pure FWD.
Advantages of the Tarraco:
1) 1.5 turbo engine, lighter, more powerful and more efficient than the outdated, wheezy aspirated 2.4
2) Efficient DSG to keep the engine in its optimal rev range as opposed to one fixed direct gear
3) Optional third row of seats, which is not available in Outlander PHEV
4) Decent interior
5) Much better performance and economy once the (comparable) all-electric range is finished. These PHEVs are essentially taking advantage of a loophole that in most Countries makes them legally equivalent to EVs but in most cases, people will just treat them as hybrids and seldom be bothered to plug them in. With this kind of use, the Tarraco promises way better economy and running costs.
The Apprentice wrote:
Apprentice by name, same by ill informed and lazy post...see also rebuttal by another sensible contributor. What have you done to further the cause of automotive landmarks?.