The strategy had already been announced: by 2021, we will see six plug-in electric and hybrid models between SEAT and CUPRA. We already know the Mii electric, and we got to know, still as prototypes, the plug-in hybrid CUPRA Formentor and the electric SEAT el-Born. Now it's time to meet what will be SEAT's first plug-in hybrid, the Tarraco FR PHEV.
What hides the new SEAT Tarraco FR PHEV? Being a plug-in hybrid, we found two engines to motivate it, a 1.4 l gasoline engine, turbo, with 150 hp (110 kW) and an electric engine with 116 hp (85 kW), totaling 245 hp (180 kW) of power and 400 Nm of maximum torque.
With these numbers it becomes the most powerful SEAT Tarraco so far and also the fastest, as it can accelerate to 100 km/h in just 7.4s and reach a top speed of 217 km/h.
The flip side of this plug-in hybrid is its efficiency. Equipped with a 13 kWh battery, the SEAT Tarraco FR PHEV announces an electric autonomy of more than 50 km and CO2 emissions below 50 g/km — the numbers are still tentative, awaiting certification.
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FR arrives in Tarraco
The other new addition to the first SEAT plug-in hybrid is the introduction of the sportier FR level in the Tarraco range.
In the case of the SEAT Tarraco FR PHEV, emphasis is placed on the extensions of the wheel arches that accommodate 19″ alloy wheels with an exclusive design of 19″ or optionally machined wheels of 20″; the specific front grille; and perhaps the most intriguing detail of all, the model's identification with a new handwritten font. The tone of the bodywork is also new, Gray Fura.
Inside, we have aluminum pedals and a new FR sports steering wheel, as well as electrically adjustable sports seats covered in leather and in a material with the appearance of neoprene.
In addition to the sportier appearance, the Tarraco FR PHEV introduces more equipment. We have a new trailer maneuvering assistant with static heating for the engine and vehicle (Parking Heater) — ideal for cold climates. We also find the latest generation SEAT infotainment system, which includes navigation and a 9.2″ screen.
It will be presented at the next Frankfurt Motor Show as a showcar, in other words, essentially a production model “in disguise”, and will be introduced on the market during the year 2020.