SEAT Alhambra explained

SEAT Alhambra
Manufacturer:SEAT
Production:1996–2020
Assembly:Portugal: Palmela (Autoeuropa)
Class:Large MPV (M)
Layout:Front-engine, front-wheel-drive/four-wheel-drive
Body Style:5-door multi-purpose vehicle
Aka:Volkswagen Sharan
Ford Galaxy (1996–2006)

The SEAT Alhambra is a seven-seater minivan that was built from 1996 to 2020. It was manufactured under the SEAT brand from June 1996 onwards at the Volkswagen Group's AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal. It shares the same platform with the Volkswagen Sharan, and the first generation was also related to the Ford Galaxy. The vehicle is named after the Alhambra of Granada, a famous monument in Spain. It is considered in the motor industry to be a large multi-purpose vehicle (MPV).

First generation (Typ 7M; 1996)

SEAT Alhambra Mk1 (7M)
Aka:Volkswagen Sharan
Ford Galaxy (before 2006)
Production:1996–2010
Engine:Petrol engines:
1.8 L I4 20V Turbo
2.0 L I4
2.8 L VR6 24v
Diesel engines:
1.9 L I4 TDI
2.0 L I4 TDI
Transmission:6-speed manual
5-speed automatic
5-speed Tiptronic automatic
Wheelbase:28351NaN1
Length:46341NaN1
Width:18101NaN1
Height:17621NaN1
Weight:1599kg-1709kgkg (3,525lb-3,768lbkg)

A prototype of the first generation SEAT Alhambra was presented at the 1995 Geneva Salon International de l'Auto. The following year the production Alhambra was launched at the same motor show and went on sale in June.[1] The Alhambra shares most of its components and design with the VW Sharan Mk1 and Ford Galaxy Mk1. However, the Alhambra has more options fitted for a given price range. The Alhambra has seven seats—the five rear seats can be folded down or unclipped and removed completely. When removed the seats leave a flat-floored load space, a unique feature for SEAT vehicles at that time. The load volume varies, from 256l with seven seats, to 852l with five seats, and 2610l with only the two front seats fitted.

The Alhambra was essentially unchanged from 1996 to 2010 but a major restyling in the year 2000 reflected the new SEAT image. Even so, the Alhambra remained faithful to the original design produced under the Volkswagen Group and Ford technology sharing agreement. When Volkswagen and Ford lost market share to other manufacture's MPVs, including the Toyota Previa and Mitsubishi Space Wagon, they changed the design of their versions.

The Alhambra, Sharan, and Galaxy were built on the same production line at the joint venture AutoEuropa plant in Palmela, Portugal, and were essentially the same but with different engine options and interiors. Ford has now withdrawn from the collaboration, and the Galaxy Mk III and the S-Max (a seven-seater based on the Mondeo Mk IV platform) are built in Genk, Belgium, alongside the Mondeo. The AutoEuropa plant did produce the VW Scirocco III from 2008 to 2017.

Introduced in 2009, the SEAT Alhambra Ecomotive is fitted with the 2.0 TDI 1400NaN0 engine producing 159 g/km emissions.[2]

Awards

Engines

Second generation (Typ 7N; 2010)

SEAT Alhambra Mk2 (7N)
Aka:Volkswagen Sharan
Production:2010–2020
Platform:Volkswagen Group A6 (PQ46)
Engine:Petrol engines:
1.4 L 1100NaN0 TSI
2.0 L 1470NaN0 TSI
Diesel engines:
2.0 L 1030NaN0 TDI
2.0 L 1250NaN0 TDI
Length:48501NaN1

The second generation SEAT Alhambra went on sale in October 2010.[4] At 4.85m (15.91feet) long, it is 22 cm longer than the first generation: it is also 9 cm wider. Like the new Sharan, access to the middle row of seats is via sliding doors.[5]

In February 2013 SEAT presented the Alhambra four-wheel-drive version featuring a permanent all wheel drive combined with the 2.0 TDI 1030NaN0 diesel engine and a manual six-speed gearbox.[6]

In September 2015 the UK diesel models of the Alhambra were revised to meet the Euro 6 standards and the power outputs increased from 1030NaN0 to 1100NaN0 and from 1300NaN0 to 1350NaN0.

In March 2020 SEAT announced production of the Alhambra would end that month.[7] [8]

Safety

Euro NCAP

2010

In 2010, the safety of the second generation SEAT Alhambra was assessed under the Euro NCAP scheme; it achieved a 5-star overall rating:[9]

TestScorePoints
Overall:N/A
Adult occupant:96%34
Child occupant:80%39
Pedestrian46%16
Safety assist:71%5
2019

The Alhambra in its standard European market configuration received 4 stars from Euro NCAP in 2019.[10]

Awards

Engines

Sales

Since 1996, almost 500,000 SEAT Alhambra have been sold.[16] In the year 2009, the total annual retail sales number of SEAT Alhambra cars was 6,215 vehicles.[17] The total production per year of Alhambras is shown below:

ModelSEAT Alhambra
Total annual production
1996[18] 10,513
1997[19] 16,503
1998[20] 21,300
199927,440
200023,924
2001[21] 26,524
2002[22] 26,308
2003[23] 23,693
2004[24] 21,580
2005[25] 14,902
2006[26] 14,352
2007[27] 14,242
2008[28] 10,282
2009[29] 6,215
2010[30] 10,023
2011[31] 18,139
2012[32] [33] 19,393
2013[34] [35] 19,990
2014[36] [37] 22,612
2015[38] 27,925
2016[39] 31,214
2017[40] 33,638
2018[41] 19,588
2019[42] 23,015
2020[43] 14,672
Total497,987

External links

Notes and References

  1. SEAT Hoy http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-sa-en-cifras-2005-2009.html
  2. Web site: SEAT Alhambra Ecomotive . Seat.co.uk . 2012-01-06.
  3. Web site: Alhambra on SEAT Portugal official site . Seat.pt . 2012-01-06.
  4. Web site: New SEAT models for 2010 . Media.seat.com . 2010-03-24 . 2012-01-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120223013552/http://media.seat.com/es/noticias-seat/584-seat-invirtio-510-millones-de-euros-en-2009.html . 2012-02-23 .
  5. Web site: New SEAT Alhambra press release . Media.seat.com . 2010-04-19 . 2012-01-06 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20120223013627/http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/597-nuevo-seat-alhambra-mas-funcional-y-eficiente.html . 2012-02-23 .
  6. Even more versatile with all-wheel drive http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/746-seat-presentara-el-nuevo-alhambra-4-en-el-salon-de-ginebra.html?g2_language=en_GB
  7. Web site: Allan . Lawrence . Seat Alhambra taken off sale but VW Sharan sticks around . Autocar . 2 April 2020 . en . 27 March 2020.
  8. Web site: Seat Alhambra taken off sale . www.expressandstar.com . 2 April 2020 . en . 27 Mar 2020.
  9. Web site: SEAT Alhambra Mk2 Euro Ncap 5-star rating . Euroncap.com . 2010-11-24.
  10. Web site: Official SEAT Alhambra 2019 safety rating. www.euroncap.com.
  11. AUTO TROPHY 2010 – DIE SIEGER ALLER KLASSEN http://www.autozeitung.de/leseraktionen/auto-trophy-2010-die-sieger-aller-klassen/VANS-IMPORTSIEGER-SEAT/n390609/22
  12. The SEAT Alhambra wins in best imported MPV category at annual auto motor und sport awards http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/741-el-seat-alhambra-mejor-monovolumen-importado-segun-los-lectores-alemanes.html
  13. Car of the Year awards 2011 - MPV winner http://www.whatcar.com/car-news/what-car-car-of-the-year-awards-2011/mpv-winner/254786
  14. New awards for the SEAT Alhambra in Spain and Europe http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/793-nuevos-premios-para-el-seat-alhambra-en-espana-y-europa.html
  15. The SEAT Alhambra voted ‘MPV of the Year’ in Portugal http://media.seat.com/en/seat-news/748-el-seat-alhambra-monovolumen-del-ano-en-portugal-.html
  16. Seat prevé caídas mensuales de ventas por encima del 30% hasta final de año http://www.elpais.com/articulo/economia/Seat/preve/caidas/mensuales/ventas/encima/final/ano/elpepueco/20100906elpepueco_13/Tes
  17. SEAT Annual report 2009 http://media.seat.com/info2010/annualreport/pantallacompleta.html
  18. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1996 . 6 July 2019.
  19. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1997 . 6 July 2019.
  20. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 1999 . Volkswagen AG . 2010-09-13 . 2010-09-13.
  21. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2000 . PDF . 2012-02-06.
  22. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2001 . PDF . 2012-02-06.
  23. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2002 . PDF . 2012-02-06.
  24. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2003. PDF . 2012-02-06.
  25. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2004. PDF . 2012-02-06.
  26. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2005 . PDF . 2012-02-05.
  27. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2006 . PDF . 2012-02-05.
  28. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2007 . PDF . 2012-02-05.
  29. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2008 . PDF . 2012-02-05.
  30. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2010 . PDF . 2012-02-05.
  31. Web site: Seat mejora sus ventas mundiales un 3,1% en 2011 . Elpais.com . 2012-02-05.
  32. Web site: Skoda Annual Report 2012. PDF . 2019-06-29.
  33. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2012. PDF . 2019-06-28.
  34. Web site: Skoda Annual Report 2013. PDF . 2019-06-29.
  35. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2013. PDF . 2019-06-28.
  36. Web site: Skoda Annual Report 2015. PDF . 2019-06-29.
  37. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2014. PDF . 2019-06-28.
  38. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2015. PDF . 2019-06-28.
  39. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2016. PDF . 2019-06-28.
  40. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2017. PDF . 2019-06-28.
  41. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2018. PDF . 2019-06-28.
  42. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2019. PDF . 2020-03-17.
  43. Web site: Volkswagen AG Annual Report 2020. PDF . 2021-05-02.