What is it?
The arrival of the Cupra Ateca marks a significant moment for the Spanish arm of the VW Group as it delivers on a promise to promote Cupra from its position on the sidelines, as Seat’s performance division, to the more prominent role of standalone brand.
Cupra was first introduced in the mid-1990s and has since become synonymous with go-faster Seats, but from this moment on it will be recognised as a car maker in its own right. It isn’t just about performance; individuality and sophistication will also be core attributes, apparently.
At least, that is the ambition. Its first model is a 296bhp version of Seat’s SUV with uprated suspension and styling revisions. The new Cupra models will be built alongside their Seat counterparts at the Martorell factory on the outskirts of Barcelona and they will be sold through selected Seat dealerships, albeit by dedicated staff.
As is the way with the VW Group the Cupra Ateca is less a ground-up engineering exercise and more a cherry-picking one, for it plucks from the enormous VW Group toolkit every item of hardware that’s needed to turn a family SUV into a sporting one. The 2-litre turbo engine, seven-speed DSG gearbox, Haldex four-wheel drive system, MQB architecture and plenty more besides are all shared with other Seats, VWs, Skodas and Audis. Cupra is the first brand in the group to bring all of those bits and pieces together to build a fast SUV, but no individual element is in any way unique to the Ateca.
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xxxx
Just don't get, and I won't!
They've taken the best bits of a S3 put them in a cheap THB (Tall Hatch Back) expecting it to top a new highly profitable 'Hot' segment which doesn't really exist.
Just a mismash of VAG parts that don't gel.
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
3mocion
They're attempting to profit from a new sub market
When Toyota created the crossover with the RAV 4 in the 90's the crossover segment was in its infancy and was allmost not existent. Move forward 10 years and the Nissan Qashqai popularised the segment with almost with very few rivals. Today, the market is so saturated with crossover vehicles that almost all manufacturers are making them because their popularity will not diminish anytime in the near future. Infact it will continue to increase because simply that's what people want these days. So why did BMW design the X6? Why did Nissan design the Juke? Why did Porsche design the Cayenne? Why did SEAT design Cupra Ateca? It's simple really. If your first to an exclusive market and everyone else plays catchup. The Cupra Ateca has no rivals at it's price point and whilst you may not like it, if it sells and establishes a Hot compact SUV/crossover then it makes money for the brand which in Cupra's case can eventually enable them to risk a low production sports car. Taking the various parts from VAG brings costs down dramatically and enables maximum profit to be made. In design talk it's called adding value. That is Cupra's goal. To enable higher profit margins than it's parent brand SEAT. So what's not to get? Whilst i'd never buy one myself, i can see that it can easily become a desirable product to the family man who wants fun and practicality, and if it is successful, you'll see others follow.
FMS
xxxx wrote:
Clearly you see the pitfalls of a mishmash of parts, by looking in the mirror every morning. You still do not understand the automotive business and how it communicates with customers...why not?...because you have not been, are not now and will never be in a position to take part in the decision making process, make a short list based on needs, budget, running costs, depreciation, etc and then go on to buy a modern car.
You the automotive towering intellect, will NO DOUBT continue to post from your decrepit sofa and I will continue to rebuke you and your idiotic mutterings. TwIT, the w is silent, as you should be.
jason_recliner
FMS wrote:
Sucks to be you, FMS!
xxxx
FMS, you really must be the ...
..saddest little person on the internet, unfortunately this is probably an achievment in your book!
It's like you just lurk in the shadows ready to troll, have you ever posted a opinion of your own?
Twat
typos1 - Just can’t respect opinion
Marc
xxxx wrote:
I don't think they have ever posted an opinion on anything, just arsehole comments and asking what people do and drive. So come on FMS, you sad little TWAT. What is you do and what do you drive, other than your mum's Micra?
jason_recliner
VAG in a Hole
Thekrankis
Damned with faint praise...
......you really put the boot in on this one Autocar......
Daniel Joseph
Confused?
"The next model in the Cupra era, the Seat Leon Cupra R ST estate (which will still be badged a Seat, unlike this Ateca) will almost certainly be faster, more engaging to drive and not a whole lot less usable."
How will this make any sense? Seat will be undermining their new sporting sub-brand if they do this.
The Apprentice
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For Caravan Clubber in a hurry to be first to the dogging site.
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