SEAT EV due in NZ

Barcelona automotive manufacturer SEAT expects to have its first electric vehicle based on the Volkswagen Group MEB platform, the SEAT el-Born, in New Zealand by about 2021 or 2022.

The el-Born concept had its public debut at the 2019 Geneva International Motor Show in March.

SEAT (Sociedad Española de Automóviles de Turismo) New Zealand’s distributor confirms its intent to sell the electric hatch here, Stuff reports.

The el-Born has a 62kWh battery, 420km range (WLTP) and can reach 100km/h in 7.5 seconds.

With 100kW DC fast-charging capability, the battery can get to 80% in 47 minutes.

It has an advanced thermal management system to maximise vehicle range in extreme conditions.

The el-Born incorporates autonomous functionality to support the driver as well as a host of assistance systems. These are mainly autonomous level two systems, giving partial automation to the vehicle so it can control steering, acceleration and deceleration, along with intelligent park assist.

Designed and developed in Barcelona, the el-Born will be made at the Zwickau plant in Germany and is expected to be on the market – in Europe especially – by 2020.