SEAT released all the details about its first crossover, the SEAT Altea Freetrack. The SEAT Altea Freetrack will come with two engine options: a 2.0 liter TSI engine with 200 hp, top speed 214 km/h and will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 7.5 seconds and a 2.0 liter TDI engine with 170 hp, top speed 204 km/h and will accelerate from 0 to 100 km/h in 8.7 seconds.
SEAT Press Release:
SEAT's first ever crossover
The new Altea freetrack was created by taking the family-oriented Altea XL, and blending it with the concept of a crossover vehicle - more specifically, one designed for off-roading
pleasure without sacrificing the tremendous practicality compact cars offer in more urban landscapes. As such, the Altea freetrack offers the maximum possible amount of space for both travelling with the family and enjoying the great outdoors.
Off-road looks
Based on the Altea XL, the first ever crossover vehicle to come from SEAT takes on a distinctly
off-road air, including the trademark plastic guards found on all models of this genre. Far from just adding aesthetic appeal, these guards protect the body against damage when drivers venture off the beaten track.
Further distinguishing features of the Altea freetrack are new 17-inch wheels fitted with special, larger diameter tyres, plus an extra 40 millimetres of ground clearance compared with the Altea XL, further enhancing the new model's crossover capabilities.
The freetrack's interior is characterised by an
appealing two-tone colour scheme. This combines the black that runs throughout the Altea range with a brown that is reminiscent of the type of forest track the new model is destined to tackle.
Four-wheel drive… with a two-wheel-drive version to follow
The Altea freetrack is no pretend crossover - it comes complete with four-wheel-drive. Power is transmitted to all four wheels via a Haldex-type arrangement with a hydro-mechanical connection and
electronic control to ensure that the tractive force is distributed in a progressive and precise manner. Under normal conditions drive power is directed entirely to the front wheels but, when circumstances dictate, as much as 50% can be sent to the rear axle.
Two engines - one diesel and the other one petrol - are available which are both renowned for delivering high performance. After all, they are the same power units encountered in, for example, the León FR: the 170 hp 2.0 TDI and the 2.0 TSI developing 200 hp. With these engines to propel it along, the freetrack can claim to be the sportiest family crossover in its segment.
With the 2.0 TDI unit under the bonnet, top speed
is 204 km/h and the sprint from 0 to 100 km/h is over in 8.7 seconds. Powered by the 2.0 TSI, meanwhile, the freetrack records a top speed of 214 km/h and accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 7.5 seconds.
What's more, a new engine will be added to the Altea freetrack soon: the 140 hp 2.0 TDI which customers will be able to order both in four-wheel-drive and front-wheel drive versions.
Maximised space
Despite all of its performance credentials, the Altea freetrack maintains the outstanding levels of spaciousness and cargo volume associated with the Altea XL. With its 593 litres of boot capacity, the freetrack offers enough room for everything the whole family needs to enjoy their leisure time to the full.
Spaciousness and flexibility are also the order of the day for rear passengers, as the seats can slide backwards by up to 16 centimetres, increasing the amount of rear legroom whilst retaining a more than respectable amount of luggage space.
New multimedia system as standard
Apart from its roomy interior, one of the strongest selling points of the Altea freetrack in its capacity as a family car is the inclusion of a new multimedia system as standard. This system comprises a 7 inch TFT screen housed in the vehicle's roof, along with an RCA connector for linking up a DVD player, games console, laptop or even an MP3 player, as the sound from the connected source is played through the vehicle's own audio system.
This is a novelty not just for this vehicle segment but for the automotive sector as a whole, with such systems normally only ever being available as an option at a considerable cost.
DESIGN
Crossover character
Without losing any of its Altea feel, the freetrack adopts a look which clearly marks it out as a vehicle with a robust and adventurous character. A mere glance at the Altea freetrack is enough to inspire images of excursions into the great outdoors, accompanied by all the family, pets or everything people need to pursue their favourite pastimes. And there's plenty of space for doing just that.
The new crossover vehicle from SEAT exhibits all of the dynamism usually found in the brand's models courtesy of its compact and sporty lines. Yet these characteristics are by no means at odds with an image that radiates such an air of confidence and security that drivers feel the urge to leave the road behind them and go exploring off the beaten track.
One element typical of models of this type - making it an absolute must for the freetrack - is the plastic moulding which protects the sills and wheelarches. These plastic guards are designed to protect the vehicle's bodywork when driving over terrain with loose stones.
The new freetrack model presents an all-new bumper design at both the front and rear. Up front, the air intake is larger than on the Altea XL and is covered by a honeycomb-mesh grille. Attention is also drawn to the recesses for the front fog lights, which are likewise larger in size.
Eye-catching features of the rear bumper include its twin chromed tailpipes and the same aluminium-effect trim strip along the bottom that can also be seen on the front bumper.
Just like the Altea XL, the freetrack comes with silver-coloured roof rails as well as substantial door mirrors, whose housings are painted dark grey to match the protective mouldings and bumpers.
Size 225/50 tyres with a larger diameter are yet another element which underlines the new vehicle's 4x4 status. The tyres are mounted on 17-inch five-spoke wheels which are exclusive to the freetrack.
Finally, the Altea freetrack can also be distinguished from the Altea XL by its extra 40 millimetres of ground clearance. Quite apart from reinforcing the freetrack's robust, all-terrain aspect, this increases the new model's angles of approach and departure as well as its breakover angle, further adding to its off-road prowess.
New two-tone interior
Once inside the Altea freetrack, one of the innovations that immediately stands out is the two-tone finish of its dashboard, steering wheel and door panelling. Instead of the usual light grey found in the Altea, Altea XL and Toledo ranges, passengers are greeted by a shade of brown that conjures up images of the dirt tracks that the newcomer is made for powering along. This tone combines with the black to underline the new model's adventurous character.
Another noteworthy detail is the new design of the seat upholstery, which combines a variety of textures in both the backrest and the seat cushion. In keeping with the freetrack's sporty character, the front seats have are designed to offer their occupants optimum lateral support. With their more powerfully contoured side bolster cushions, they are not dissimilar to seats seen in models such as the FR.
INTERIOR CONCEPT
Room for enjoying family time and free time
The Altea freetrack serves up a veritable wealth of virtues. This single vehicle combines the sportiness generated by a 170 hp diesel and a 200 hp petrol engine, the all road abilities offered by four-wheel drive, plus - as if that was not already enough - the interior space and sense of roominess encountered in a compact family car such as the Altea XL.
The new model from SEAT offers 490 litres of boot space, which can be expanded to as much as 593 litres without having to sacrifice any of the five seats, thanks to the rear seats having a fore-and-aft adjustment range of 16 centimetres. Furthermore, load capacity can be increased again to 1,562 litres by folding the rear bench seat flat.
From these figures, it is quite obvious that the Altea freetrack allows all the family to travel in comfort together with either their luggage or everything needed to enjoy their open-air hobbies to the full.
One of the fortes of the Altea freetrack's interior is its tremendous practicality and functionality. For example, SEAT is premiering handy overhead storage spaces in its new model which run lengthways and also house the 7-inch TFT screen mentioned earlier (and discussed in greater depth in the section on equipment).
Window blinds in the rear, with a facility that allows them to be stored within the doors when not in use, are also included as standard. Another feature included as standard, and bound to be appreciated by families with pets, is the partition net. This net separates the passenger compartment from the luggage compartment and can easily be removed whenever it is not required.
Everything in its place
It goes without saying of course that, quite apart from these innovative new elements, the freetrack also comes with the handy solutions familiar from the Altea XL. One that deserves particular mention is the parcel shelf system. With just one touch the shelf rolls up so that you can make the most of the boot's load capacity. This makes dismantling the shelf easier and above all reduces the size of the shelf for storage.
Passengers travelling in the rear will also find two trays fixed onto the back of the front seats, which can be used as drink rests (the trays come complete with recesses for this) or for holding any other items.
And to make sure that there really is a place for everything, the freetrack includes many other spaces for keeping all those little oddments, besides the overhead compartments.
The following stowage spaces are all within easy reach of the driver and front passenger: a glasses holder, a large glove compartment facing the front passenger seat, an oddments tray and two cup holders below the central console, storage drawers beneath each front seat and a large storage area in the front door panels with enough space for a 1.5l bottle. The front armrest also has a two-level glove compartment, with the top level for smaller objects and the bottom level for larger ones or the iPod or USB connection. The front passenger seat also has a door-side compartment which offers enough space for storing a drinks can.
Passengers travelling in the rear of the vehicle can use the following stowage facilities: a tray on the side of each seat, storage in the door panels (with enough space for a 1l bottle), a storage pocket on the back of each front seat, a storage area at the end of the central tunnel and a stowage tray, plus two cup holders in the armrest when it is folded down.
TRANSMISSION
Four-wheel drive
Far from being content with merely looking like an crossover, the Altea freetrack seeks to offer all of the benefits associated with genuine four-wheel-drive vehicles. In order to transmit drive power to the rear wheels too, the new SEAT model employs a hydraulic system that is controlled electronically by means of a Haldex coupling.
In other four-wheel-drive systems power is only split according to the difference in rotational speeds between the axles, normally by mechanical and/or hydraulic means. The prime benefit of the Haldex coupling lies in its capacity for electronic control, enabling it to select from countless different possibilities the optimum power split for the dynamic conditions at any particular moment.
The Haldex coupling is basically a multi-plate clutch system which governs the difference in rotational speed between an input and an output shaft. The shaft which leads from the gearbox serves as the input shaft, while the output shaft is connected to the rear axle via a propshaft.
The electronic control is programmed so that under normal driving conditions the freetrack behaves like a conventional front-wheel-drive vehicle, which has a positive effect on fuel consumption. However, the values of multiple dynamic parameters (difference in rotational speed between the shafts, signals from the ABS/ESP sensors, torque and rev speed variables, etc.) set in progress the electronic control for the distribution of drive. So they are permanently monitored to allow the distribution of drive power to be adapted to any driving conditions, with up to 50% of total power able to be directed to the rear wheels.
Maximum convenience
Unlike other systems which require the driver to manually select the type of traction desired, control of tractive power is handled automatically in the Altea freetrack. This guarantees the best possible traction in all driving conditions and boosts convenience for drivers by taking care of everything for them whenever there is a change in the terrain.
In order to accommodate this four-wheel-drive system without impinging on the spaciousness of the vehicle interior, it was necessary to adapt both the rear axle and the rear axle suspension. It was also necessary to modify the fuel tank, although the capacity of 55 litres is unchanged from that of the Altea XL.
Thanks to this system of power transmission and the higher ground clearance compared with a standard Altea XL, the freetrack achieves an angle of approach of 17.6 degrees and an angle of departure of nearly 23 degrees.
CHASSIS
Compact car handling
The crossover character of the Altea freetrack does not by any means conflict with the ease of driving expected of compact cars. The new crossover from SEAT offers the ideal credentials for exploring all road, but it also proves to be the perfect partner for navigating through a very different type of "jungle" too: the urban jungle!
The new Altea freetrack would not be complete without the Agile Chassis (DSR) that has seen SEAT models coming out on top in handling comparisons time and time again. This system delivers more agile response and provides greater control, which logically translates into a benefit in terms of safety. As a consequence, Altea freetrack drivers can count on astonishing turning speed as well as minimal roll when cornering, despite the relatively high body.
These handling characteristics are down to the spring and shock absorber settings, combined with an electromechanical power steering system whose level of power assistance is adapted to the driving conditions.
The McPherson front suspension positions the springs at an ideal operating angle, while extremely rigid silent-blocks are also included to provide tremendous stability in any situation, from sudden load shifts through to braking in corners. The silent-blocks reduce the longitudinal forces acting in an axial direction (braking and accelerating) at the same time as minimising the transverse forces in a radial direction (roll).
A multi-link suspension is used at the rear of the Altea freetrack. Wheel guidance is the task of four links (three transverse and one longitudinal). The optimum set-up of these components reduces both understeer and the slip angle.
New suspension
The suspension of the Altea freetrack furthermore features shock absorbers with a larger reservoir of oil than those fitted in the XL. This allows the suspension to handle more severe operating conditions without any alarming increase in temperature.
As far as the braking system is concerned, both the diesel and petrol versions of the Altea freetrack are equipped with disc brakes measuring 312x25 at the front wheels and 286x12 at the rear.
The Altea freetrack is equipped as standard with TCS traction control which intervenes in the engine management to prevent the wheels from spinning when accelerating on slippery surfaces. The latest generation of ESP (Electronic Stability Program) also makes up part of the standard specification. This teams up with the Driving Steering Recommendation (DSR) system, which detects the quality of braking at each axle and takes corrective action where required, by transmitting a small impulse to the steering wheel to keep the vehicle on the correct course. EBA (Emergency Brake Assistance) can likewise come to the driver's aid by boosting the brake pressure to system capacity during emergency braking.
Last but not least, the ESP system fitted to the new freetrack also incorporates the TSP Trailer Stability Program, which is specifically designed to enhance vehicle safety when towing a trailer. TSP helps to stabilise the trailer should it ever jeopardise the vehicle's safe handling as a result of, for example, adverse weather conditions, a poor road surface or emergency braking.
To sum up, the freetrack offers an extensive range of systems for giving both the driver and passengers complete peace of mind out on the road.
SAFETY
Supreme protection
Drivers of the new Altea freetrack benefit from the very latest safety measures to keep themselves and their families protected as effectively as possible, both on the road and off it. It was not for no reason that the Altea XL served as the platform for SEAT's crossover model.
As far as passive safety is concerned, the new freetrack offers the option of installing up to eight airbags. Apart from the six standard airbags fitted throughout the range (driver, front passenger, front side airbags, plus curtain airbags), customers can also add side airbags in the rear without affecting the rear bench seat's fore-and-aft adjustment. In addition, Isofix anchorage points for firmly attaching child seats to the vehicle's structure are incorporated into each of the rear seats.
On the active safety side, the freetrack places all of the usual control systems at the driver's disposal, as described in the previous section: ABS, TCS and ESP + DSR with EBA.
Another key factor with regard to safety is the vehicle's bodyshell. The freetrack has been structured as a protective cell. In the event of an impact, the thoroughly tested "programmed crumple zones" deform in a predetermined manner, so as to maximise energy absorption and occupant protection.
Three protection rings act as the rollover cage and as the principal structural support element. The first ring starts at the top of the windscreen frame and continues downward through the A-pillars and the front section of the door frame. The second links the central B-pillars to the longitudinal roof reinforcements and the platform running boards (forming a horizontal H at each side). And the third is formed by the C-pillars, the boot hatch frame and the rear cross member. This robust enclosed ring is one of the fundamental structural characteristics of the current generation of SEAT models.
Diagonal reinforcement bars in the form of high-strength struts have also been inserted into the doors, in addition to the horizontal bars positioned at waistline height. Besides these protective bars, the doors are filled with dense foam which helps absorb side impacts, whilst also improving soundproofing and eliminating vibrations inside the vehicle.
ENGINES
Sports car performance
One of the factors which gives the Altea freetrack an edge over its rivals is the choice of engines it goes on sale with: cue the 2.0 TDI with 170 hp and particulate filter and the 200 hp 2.0 TSI. A very clear declaration of intent from a vehicle which succeeds in juggling ample load space, plenty of room for all the family, as well as genuine sporty performance.
In diesel guise, the Altea freetrack comes with the top-of-the-range engine fitted in the León, Altea, Altea XL and Toledo models. The 170 hp 2.0 TDI employs a system of diesel direct injection. It also comes with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) which absorbs other particulates generated during the combustion process.
The 200 hp 2.0 TSI petrol engine, on the other hand, is a four-cylinder, 2.0-litre model featuring FSI direct-injection technology. It is boosted by a turbocharger that is integrated into the exhaust manifold, while additional features include an intake system with continuously variable distribution and internal exhaust-gas recirculation. Among the engine's most noteworthy characteristics are its free-revving nature, its tremendous flexibility and its operating economy.
Both engines are partnered by six-speed manual gearboxes.
EQUIPMENT
Multimedia system as standard
The Altea freetrack is going on sale in a single trim level that boasts an exhaustive standard specification, in terms of both safety equipment - as already described - as well as comfort features.
In the case of the latter, the highlight is without doubt the multimedia system, an item that is generally only available in other cars as an option at a considerable additional cost.
The Altea freetrack rounds off its multimedia package by supplementing the 7-inch screen with an RCA socket in the rear section of the central tunnel. When any audiovisual device is connected up to the socket, such as a portable DVD player, a games console or even an MP3 player, the video signal is relayed to the overhead screen and the sound is transmitted to the Altea freetrack's own speaker system. What's more, if the driver doesn't wish to listen to the dialogue of a movie, for example, the occupants in the rear can listen through wireless headphones while the driver can still use the in-car radio/CD system as normal.
The multimedia system's screen is housed in the overhead storage space nearest the rear seats, and completely disappears from sight when not in use by folding up into the said space.
Other items which can be found in the Altea freetrack as standard include twin-zone climate control, automatic headlight activation and rain sensor, parking sensor, cruise control, trip computer, as well as a radio/CD system with MP3 and steering-wheel audio controls. On the safety front, meanwhile, the ESP electronic stability program, six airbags, electromechanical power steering (EPS) and a tyre pressure warning lamp are just some of the features that come as standard.
Yet another less usual feature included as standard in the Altea freetrack are the electrical pre-fittings for a trailer hitch. These pre-fittings include a connection for the TSP system that combines with the ESP to help stabilise the trailer.
Customers can also choose from an extensive list of optional extras for the Altea freetrack:
- Dynamic navigation system with 6.5" colour screen
- Bluetooth telephone preparation
- AFS bi-xenon directional headlights
- Side airbags in the rear
- Dark-tinted rear windows
- Heated seats
