We may have first seen the Ateca more than seven months ago, but Seat is still conducting tests and recently hit the desert regions of Spain.
Battling with temperatures of up to 45 degrees Celsius, a fleet of 40 Atecas were taken to their limits in three weeks of punishing tests designed to test out the vehicles in the harshest possible conditions.
Among the most vital tests conducted related to the Ateca’s Hill Descent Control and traction control systems which allows the SUV to safely drive down declines of up to 35 per cent without the driver having to use the brake pedal.
Another test conducted is the dust intake test. In this test, a lead car drives through the desert leaving a cloud of dust in its wake. Another Ateca then follows closely behind to determine the service life of the air filter as it is hit with a wall of dust.
Although European order books for the Ateca opened a few months ago, it’s not yet known when the first customer deliveries will commence. Nevertheless, we do know that prospective owners will have a choice between two petrol and two diesel engines, delivering between 115 and 190 PS.
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