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SEAT Altea XL

August 26, 2006 on 2:59 am | In Luxury Cars |

SEAT is continuing to expand its range, this time with the launch of a new model that will round off the manufacturer’s offer in the target segment: the SEAT Altea XL. It boasts the same sporting and innovative style first showcased by its smaller sibling, but is now geared towards families looking first and foremost for a spacious interior and high luggage capacity partnered by a class-beating standard of safety.

The SEAT Altea XL measures 18.7 centimetres longer than the Altea, resulting in superior interior comfort and a larger boot capacity. Consequently, the 409-litre capacity of the Altea’s boot has increased to 532 litres in the Altea XL, while sliding the rear seats forwards by 14 centimetres expands the boot’s volume further to 635 litres, the largest in its class.

Compared to the Altea, the rear seats in the Altea XL can be moved back by an extra two centimetres, meaning additional legroom for passengers travelling in the rear. The fore-aft adjustment range of the rear seats has therefore been extended to 16 cm in the new Altea XL.

As far as styling is concerned, the most significant modifications have been made at the rear of the vehicle where the lines have been softened to reflect the vehicle’s more family-orientated character. The large tail-light units, which are split between the hatch and the vehicle’s flanks, form a particularly eye-catching feature. The addition of two roof-rack rails reinforces the car’s family character yet further.

A number of functional new features can be found inside the SEAT Altea XL, including fold-down tables on the front seat backs, a power socket in the vehicle’s boot and a handy luggage cover. This last feature is premiering a brand new system: instead of the traditional fixed parcel shelf, a pull-out roller-type cover is fitted with a one-touch retracting action.

As a further demonstration of how the models from SEAT are embracing the very latest technologies, the new Altea XL is available with an optional connection for integrating a TomTom navigation system into the vehicle. This connection, which is located on the left of the dashboard, provides a sturdy mount for the portable navigation device, as well as allowing information to be interchanged with the vehicle and powering the device directly. The TomTom 710 navigation system, featuring customised maps with the locations of all SEAT dealerships in Europe, will be available from the SEAT accessories catalogue.

The Altea XL will be launched with a choice of two petrol models – the 102 hp 1.6 and the 2.0 FSI developing 150 hp (only available with the six-speed Tiptronic gearshift) – and three diesel engines: the 1.9 TDI with 105 hp, the 140 hp 2.0 TDI (with the six-speed DSG gearshift as an option) as well as the 170 hp 2.0 TDI. These engines can be combined with three different trim lines: Reference, Stylance and Sport-Up.

The new Altea XL will be built at the SEAT plant in Martorell, one of the most sophisticated and flexible manufacturing facilities in the whole of Europe which also produces the Ibiza, Córdoba, Altea, Toledo and León.