The SEAT Alhambra is a large 5-door minivan that was mass-produced by the Spanish car company SEAT (a subsidiary of the Volkswagen Group) in 1996. The debut of this model took place in 1995 at the Frankfurt Motor Show. This car was named in honor of the famous palace of Alhambra (Alhambra), which is located in the beautiful Spanish city of Granada (Granada). Assembling a minivan SEAT Alhambra engaged in a factory in the city of Palmela (Palmela), Portugal.
The creation of this model is the result of the joint work of Volkswagen and Ford, which created a joint venture called Autoeuropa - Automoveis Lda for the production of minivans in 1991. Ford was responsible for the preparation of production in the small town of Setubal, which is a few kilometers from Lisbon (Portugal), and Volkswagen, in turn, for the development of the car itself. The ceremonial opening of the plant with a capacity of 180 thousand cars a year took place on April 26, 1995. SEAT Alhambra is a close relative of models such as the Ford Galaxy and VW Sharan. He borrowed many elements of the design from them. All three models were produced at one factory in Portugal.
For the minivan was offered five engine options, the list of which included both gasoline and diesel powertrains. Petrol engines include: a turbocharged four-cylinder, 20-valve engine with a 1.8-liter capacity of 148 hp, a four-cylinder two-liter power unit with a capacity of 114 hp. and the six-cylinder 24-valve engine VR6 with a volume of 2.8 liters, whose power is 201 hp. The list of "diesels" includes the following: 4-cylinder TDI engine with a volume of 1.9 liters, whose power varied depending on the version (89 hp , 109 hp, 114 hp, 129 hp, 148 hp) and a two-liter four-cylinder TDI engine with a capacity of 138 hp.
It is worth noting that the manufacturer offers both front-wheel drive and all-wheel drive versions SEAT Alhambra. As for the transmission, there are a choice of: 6-speed manual transmission or 5-speed automatic transmission. Until 2000, the “mechanics” was 5-speed, and the “automatic” had only four gears. In 2000, Alhambra was restyled program. Updates affected both the exterior and interior of the car. The modified front end has got xenon headlights.
The salon has been completely revised. All seats with seat belts are adjustable for the angle of the back and the longitudinal plane. All onboard instrument control keys and instrument cluster were made with a bright red suspension. The car has special versions of a complete set under the names "Sport" and "Signo".
The list of equipment "Sport" and "Signo" includes the following options: front and side airbags, head airbags (curtains), anti-lock braking system ABS, electronic stabilization system ESP, brake force distribution system EBA, adjustable seat height, climate control , front fog lights, adjustable electric mirrors with heating and parking position, power windows, 215/55 tires on 16-inch alloy wheels, four-spoke leather steering wheel, Isofix child seat anchorage system. The main differences of the Sport version include: sports suspension tuning, which is lowered by 25 mm, tinted glass of the rear doors and the Elba radio tape recorder with a removable display and 8 acoustic systems.
The “Signo” version, in turn, adds an on-board computer, parking system, a more functional “Scala” radio with 10 speakers, a 6CD changer, cruise control, heated windshield and interior lighting for reading. Also for the versions "Sport" and "Signo" there are additional options, such as xenon light, Climatronic dual climate control, multifunction steering wheel with audio control and cruise control, telephone training, navigation system, third row of seats, self-aligning front seats , heated seats, cladding Alcantara or combination black and beige leather, powered. The second generation of the model with the factory Mk2 index (Typ 7N) was presented at the Paris Motor Show in October 2010.
Compared with the first generation, the second generation Alhambra is 224 mm longer (4854 mm) and 94 mm wider (1904 mm), and its height has decreased by 40 mm (1720 mm). Wheelbase - 2919 mm, ground clearance 150 mm. The Alhambra 2010 front end got enlarged head optics, grille in the form of an inverted trapezoid, an impressive size bumper with an additional section of the air intake and the "guns" protivotumanok, located on the black inserts on the sides of the front fairing. The profile of the car shows a sloping and short hood, large doors (rear sliding), a large glass area, a high and even roof.
In addition to the logo and model name on the stern, the “Spaniard” has other signs that distinguish it from its predecessor: larger lights and slightly corrected for their “implantation” into the body of the tailgate, bumper and wings. You can get into the car through the front doors that open at a large angle, a pair of sliding "gates" and the tailgate. Ergonomics and quality of materials used at a decent level.
In the first row there are comfortable seats, a stylish steering wheel, a dashboard with two dials and an on-board computer screen, the torpedo passes into the center console with the traditional arrangement of the multimedia system, the air conditioning unit and the interior heating. In the second row there are three separate full-fledged seats, capable of moving in the longitudinal direction independently of each other by 160 mm and providing a comfortable fit, comparable to the front seats. In the third row, it will objectively be convenient only for children. In the basic configuration of the minivan is designed to carry five passengers.
As an option, six or seven local configurations can be ordered. Depending on the fitment formula, the size of the luggage compartment of the Seat Alhambra varies. With seven passengers on board, the boot capacity is only 267 liters. Folding the third row, we get 658 liters when loaded to the glass level, and 1167 liters - under the roof, and with the removal of the second row a flat platform is formed with the ability to load 2297 liters of cargo. In the five-seater configuration (without the optional third row), the trunk is even bigger, from 809 to 2430 liters.
Impressive load figures would not have been possible without the Easy Folding system and folding the seats. Under the Alhambra hood can be installed one of four power units: two petrol TSI with a capacity of 150 and 200 liters. from. and two turbo diesel TDIs, giving out 140 and 170 "horses".
Each of the engines can be paired with a 6-speed manual gearbox or with an automatic preselective DSG. The Spanish minivan with diesel engines will not come to us, as its all-wheel drive version of the Alhambra 4 × 4. Thanks to the start / stop system and the braking energy recovery function, a car with a two-liter 140-horsepower diesel engine consumes an average of 5.5 liters of fuel per 100 km and emits just 143 g of CO2 per kilometer. Seven airbags, electric rear door protection from childish pranks and ESP stability control system with trailer stabilization function and tire pressure monitoring are installed as standard.
For extra money you can get bi-xenon headlights with automatic control of the high beam, rear view camera and parking assistant. Climate control can be ordered 3-zone (optional) and supplement it with a panoramic roof. Since its introduction in 2010, the second generation Alhambra has received deserved recognition in the minivan segment due to its reliability, practicality, excellent fuel economy and modern technologies used in the car.
