•    Spanish company displays new hybrid León Twin Drive model in San Sebastián

SEAT was present at the informal meeting of ministers with responsibility for competitiveness (Industry and Research) held at San Sebastián, where today’s final deliberations before closure centred on the electrically-powered car in Europe. The Spanish car manufacturer was one of the brands participating with its hybrid León Twin Drive model in the exhibition at the San Sebastián conference centre (Kursaal) of electrical vehicles.

The conference centre provided the showcase for the most representative electrically-powered vehicles on the market, under the watchful eyes of the highest representatives of the European delegations. The visit was headed by the Spanish Minister for Industry Miguel Sebastián, who was accompanied by Francisco Javier García Sanz, president of ANFAC, (Spanish Vehicle Manufacturers’ Association), and also Chairman of SEAT’s Board of Directors and Vicepresident of the Volkswagen consortium. SEAT President James Muir presented the León Twin Drive.  

The SEAT León Twin Drive combines electrical power with traditional internal combustion propulsion, the former for in-city driving and the latter for longer out-of-town journeys. With a top speed of 190 kph and a range in electric mode of up to 50km., it represents the stage just prior to the totally electrical vehicle, awaiting the creation of a denser recharging network and a reduction in the price of key elements such as batteries.

The progress SEAT is making in the field of electrical vehicles can also be seen in its leadership within Cenit VERDE, a strategic, ground-breaking project supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation, aimed at developing key technologies and components so that hybrid and electrically-powered cars become a reality in Spain.

SEAT is also providing official cars for the Spanish Presidency of the European Union. It has made available a fleet of 230 vehicles from its model range, for use in transporting political representatives to and from meetings held within Spain.