Spanish car brand SEAT celebrates its 70th anniversary. In this period, it has also produced cars for celebrities, special occasions or just authentic inventions. Here are the cars included in the "SEAT Heritage Collection" ...
Spanish brand SEAT, one of the most important automobile manufacturers in the world, exhibits a special collection for the 70th anniversary of its establishment. For the past 70 years, the collection consists of products dedicated to a celebrity or a special occasion besides mass production, and there are models that have marked the development of the brand and the automotive world.
An electric Toledo
An electric car accompanied the Olympic torch at the Opening Ceremony of the Barcelona 92 Olympics. This was an electric SEAT Toledo. The car had 1.015 lead batteries that increased the weight of the vehicle from 1.545 to 16 kilograms, so it could travel 55 km. This meant that the electric SEAT Toledo could get enough range to give way to athletes during the marathon race on the final day of the Olympics. Each of the 22 athletes who won medals on behalf of Spain at the Olympics was presented with the SEAT Toledo Podium car specially developed for them.
Special for visitors: SEAT 1400 Visitas
In 1956, a new model was developed based on the first SEAT model: SEAT 1400 Visitas (Visit). The 1400 Visitas, which has no doors and ceilings, was ideal for visitors to tour the SEAT Factory. The 1400 series, produced by personnel working at the SEAT Factory, was renewed in 2005. The innovation was also a single car, this time created through the 'Assembly' of two 1400 series cars by retired production personnel.
Open top minivan: SEAT Savio
The SEAT 1964, which was used until 600 to show the officials visiting the factory, also formed the basis of SEAT Savio: Italian company Carrozzeria Savio implemented Pietro Frua's amazing design. The SEAT Savio, a minivan with three rows of seats over an axle distance of just 2 meters, allows the Savio to easily maneuver along assembly lines, and the glass roof takes visibility to a higher level.
Papamovil to the Pope's visit
For the Pope's 1982 visit to Spain, a car smaller than his own was needed. The fact that the official car cannot pass through the entrance gates of Real Madrid CF and FC Barcelona stadiums, which are the main visiting venues, created this need. Zona Franca Factory employees developed the SEAT Panda "Papamóvil". By completely eliminating the roof and glass details of the car, a supported structure was created at the rear where the Pope could stand and greet the public.
Worthy of a king: SEAT Ibiza Rey
In 1986, SEAT became the current King of Spain VI. He designed a special Ibiza for Felipe's 18th birthday. The car was named SEAT Ibiza Rey. The Ibiza Rey has taken the technical features of the Ibiza SXI, which will go into mass production two years later, one step further: From a mechanical perspective, a 100 PS injection engine and double brake system with cooled discs, as well as a special steering wheel, Recaro seats and air conditioning in the interior. This car was immediately recognizable by its gold color and enlarged rear flanks.
From Shakira's foundation to Leon CUPRA Pies Descalzos
The foundation that Colombian singer Shakira founded for displaced children in Latin America became a name for a SEAT Leon CUPRA. Named SEAT Leon CUPRA “Pies Descalzos” (Turkish: Barefoot), bearing Shakira's signature on the hood, the car is also known as SEAT Leon Shakira due to the design of both the body and interior in lilac color according to the singer's taste. While one of the two cars produced remained in the SEAT Heritage Collection, the other found its owner in a raffle between the foundation's donors: the lucky student was a student who donated 1 Euro via SMS.
The millionth SEAT: SEAT 124
16 years after starting automobile production, SEAT 124, the 'One Millionth SEAT', was untapped for the last time and used by the Minister of Industry of the time. This special car found its owner with the drawing made among the employees. However, the winning employee chose to return the car to SEAT for an equivalent amount of money due to his lack of license and being newly married.
Court model: SEAT Ronda
In 1982, it introduced the SEAT Ronda, a SEAT Ritmo-based model that it developed largely with Rayton Fissore. However, a plagiarism case was filed against this car. Considering the difficulty of persuading the court, SEAT presented a black SEAT Ronda, in which the parts of the model used in the model were painted yellow. Thanks to these most visible exterior design differences between Ronda and Ritmo, the court, like everyone else, acknowledged the SEAT Ronda as a true SEAT car.
A record holder: SEAT Leon CUPRA
In 2014, the SEAT Leon CUPRA SC 280 “Nürburgring record” emerged as an iconic car. For the first time in history, a front-wheel drive production car completed the tour under the 8-minute limit on the legendary Nürburgring track (7: 58.44).
Power of creativity Ibiza Bimotor and Ibiza 1,5 × 1,5
SEAT Ibiza "bimotor", the rally car named after the Spanish word 'Twin Engine', was a good option for the Rally. In 1986, SEAT Ibiza won first place in the 4 × 4 outdoor rally championship. This model, in which an Ibiza engine is placed on each axle and each engine is connected to its own gearbox, was named 1.5 × 1.5 due to the volume of its engines. The power achieved was almost 300 PS.
Snow experience
When it comes to traction, the SEAT Ateca Mattracks is worth mentioning. Prepare for a media showcase for the SEAT Ateca Snow Experience in 2017 Mattracks, although its natural habitat is snow, it later gave way to the Ateca 2.0 TDI 190 PS 4Drive and took its place on the streets.
A cool Ibiza
SEAT developed the SEAT Ibiza Convertible based on the first generation Ibiza. The purity of the lines of this 2 + 2-seat car without a safety bar stems from the Ital Design studio, the company of Giorgio Giugiaro at the time responsible for Ibiza's design. Launched in 2014, the SEAT Ibiza Cupster was an eye-catching and elegant speedster with a low windshield and integrated design at the rear. Despite the launch of the SEAT 1969 Spider in 850, SEAT is right to go into mass production of an open-top model. zamhe believes the moment is not coming.
And a Pick-up
SEAT has also produced a Pick-up in its 70-year history: Marbella Pick Up. The most striking element of this model, which is a simpler and more practical version than the Marbella Playa concept car, which was not mass-produced, was the separation of the closed roof rack from the cabin only by a protective grille.
An artistic camouflage
Finally, the SEAT Leon Trencadis, one of SEAT's personal designs: The car covered with foil reminds the decorative mosaic 'trencadís', which Gaudí transformed into art using broken tiles, and the model is in the final development phase of the fourth generation SEAT Leon. It was an artistic camouflage applied.
Hibya News Agency
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