► Seat Ateca Cupra prototype spotted in Barcelona
► Expected to come with AWD as standard
► Rumoured to be powered by 286bhp 2.0-litre petrol
New spy shots have revealed Seat’s upcoming Ateca Cupra, a performance-focused SUV with a 286bhp punch, undergoing on-road trials in Barcelona.
Previously, the same undisguised ‘prototype’ of the Seat Ateca Cupra was also spotted in Barcelona, yards from where the launch of the facelifted Seat Leon was taking place.
Seat officials stressed that the car seen at the launch event was only a mule, yet the car in question looked very close to being the finished article. It was also being driven by Dr. Matthias Rabe, head of research and development at Seat.
What’s different about the Cupra version of the Ateca?
The prototype features a number of distinguishing features, including a matt grey finish, quad exhausts and Brembo brakes. Inside, the speedo goes up to 300km/h (186mph) – further setting this apart from regular Ateca variants, which only read up to 160mph.
This prototype features a rapid-shifting DSG – but it’s not known if this will be the sole transmission option for the Ateca Cupra.
Seat’s Ateca Cupra SUV is expected to go on sale in 2017.
Read more about the Seat Ateca
