AUTOBEST, with 31 countries represented in the jury, names SEAT Ateca as 'Best Buy Car of Europe in 2017'

The award, the first major international title for the high-selling Ateca, is testament to the considerable efforts put into consolidating SEAT's presence in one of the most important markets. It's also ideal timing, as the Barcelona-based brand ramps up its largest ever product offensive. Ateca is already selling exceptionally, and is soon to be joined by three further model launches in the next 12 months: New Leon, reaching showrooms in early 2017, the fifth-generation of the Ibiza and the new SEAT Arona crossover, which will also be coming next year.

'Ateca is meant to create an inflection point for SEAT. We are entering a new segment with a product that offers an excellent mobility experience for our customers and truly represents our very DNA. Ateca is positively contributing to taking the brand to the next level. This award confirms that we are on the right track,' says Luca de Meo, SEAT President.

In its sixteenth edition, the AUTOBEST jury pinpointed several factors that make the Ateca stand out, principally; design, comfort, easy to drive, value for money and quality sales and service network.

After testing in Italy at the end of November, the Ateca was chosen as the winner over the four other finalists by a jury of specialised journalists representing 31 countries in the final vote of these influential European awards.

The Ateca, also leader in urban mobility

SEAT's first compact SUV is currently exceeding all expectations and is a crucial model for the brand, not only because it has opened the door to one of the largest market growth segments, but because it is the vehicle the company aims to use in facing such important challenges as the future of urban mobility, which will require new solutions and technologies.

Wide range for all needs

The Ateca range's versatility was one of the most highly rated factors by the AUTOBEST jurors. Its petrol turbo TSI and diesel turbo TDI engines offer between 115 PS and 190 PS, allied to manual or DSG-auto gearboxes, plus, the option of SEAT's 4Drive four-wheel-drive system. The numerous options across the line-up include Full LED headlights, to a wide variety of driver assist systems, such as Traffic Jam Assist, and new Emergency Assist and Front Assist, plus, state-of-the-art infotainment with eight-inch touchscreens and Full Link connectivity.

SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 75 countries. In 2015, SEAT's turnover amounted to over 8.3 billion euros, the highest in its history, and the company achieved worldwide sales of more than 400,000 units for the first time since 2007.

SEAT Group employs more than 14,000 professionals at its three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon. Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia.

The multinational has a Technical Centre, which operates as a knowledge hub that brings together 1,000 engineers who are focused on developing innovation for Spain's largest industrial investor in R&D. SEAT already features the latest connectivity technology in its vehicle range and is currently engaged in the company's global digitisation process to promote the mobility of the future.

Photo credit: SEAT
posted on conceptcarz.com

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