Business Travel
Sector Focus SUV strengthens the SEAT brand By Sue Cooke
SEAT, the Barcelona-based marque, says its model range in 2018 will be a very different one to now with a new range of desirable models. At the launch of the Ateca, the
company’s first ever SUV, Juliet Carrington, head of press and public relations, told me: “We are on the cusp of our largest ever product offensive and this is a new and growing segment for us. The best-selling Leon is three to four years old and there will be a face lift in January next year. “Look forward to an all-new Ibiza
in the Summer of 2017, but sales of both these segments are shrinking so the Ateca, our compact SUV, is our most crucial car ever. Next year we will launch the AO Cross, the baby brother to the Ateca which is the first of the quartet of new models to be launched over the next 18 months.” The Ateca has opened its
honours account in style, already claiming the Best Crossover title on its first appearance in the Auto Express New Car Awards and achieving Euro NCAP five-star rating. Packed with new technology
such as Kessy, Full Link and Top View Camera, the Ateca is impressively priced from £17,990 and hit showrooms in September. The Ateca is built on parent
company, VW’s MQB A platform and the glitzy launch in Manchester was more like the launch of a new film as with perfect good looks and a hint of the Leon styling, the Ateca made its debut to UK motoring journalists. In keeping with authentic Latin
flavour, character and personality, Ateca derives its name from the Spanish village of the same name which lies to the west of Zaragoza. There are five trim levels including First Edition. There is a choice of five engines, two petrol and three diesel. Most popular with retail customers will be the two-litre diesel and 1.4 litre petrol. There is an innovative high tech
package of safety features, new electric power steering and a choice of two or four-wheel drive. An impressive residual value forecast means equally strong UK finance offers. The compact SUV market is a car
segment you can’t ignore and launching the Ateca at this time will help the brand take a further step forward in terms of image.
Ale aboard for a birthday celebration
Britain’s longest urban bus route, Birmingham’s famous number 11, is celebrating its 90th birthday with an anniversary Ale Trail and a locally brewed commemorative beer. Transport for West Midlands and
National Express West Midlands have been working with the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and Bus Users UK to highlight 11 great pubs on the city’s celebrated outer circle route. And Birmingham’s Two Towers Brewery
Facts at a glance
Model: SEAT Ateca SE Price: £21,015 otr Engine: 1.4 EcoTSI 150 PS 6 speed manual Performance: 0-62mph in 8.5 seconds, top speed 125mph CO2 emissions: 122 g/km Combined fuel consumption: 53.3mpg
has produced a specially commissioned No.11 beer, described as “a very pale, straw- coloured ale, with light fruit flavours suggesting the sunshine that the ale appears to project, sitting on top of biscuit malt and slight nutty hints.” This special ale is on sale at Billesley’s Hungry Horse, the Inn on the Green in Acocks Green, The Yardley arms and Erdington’s Village Green. National Express managing director Peter Coates said: “Let us be your
On the buses: The number 11 is now an Ale Trail
designated driver for the number 11 Ale Trail. “The number 11 bus runs every eight minutes and all the stops by the 11
Ale Trail pubs have real-time information screens so you don’t waste valuable drinking time.” People can collect a special stamp from each of the 11 pubs on the Ale Trail
and when they have all 11, they can enter a monthly prize draw. The number 11 service first ran on the Outer Circle on 26 April 1926. Since then, it has been immortalised in song (by The Woodbines in
1999), in dance (Kenneth Reid from the Birmingham Scottish country dance group created a dance based on the Outer Circle) and in at least one novel (it features in West Midlands author Jonathan Coe’s recent satirical bestseller ‘Number 11’).
November 2016 CHAMBERLINK 53
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