SEAT S.A. is taking the lead on improvement of a brand new entry-level electrical automobile (EV) platform for the Volkswagen Group, and its boss has steered it may incorporate all-wheel drive if the enterprise case stacks up.
Whereas the bigger MEB structure utilized by varied Group manufacturers helps each rear- and all-wheel drive, the primary MEB Entry (aka MEB-21) fashions have been confirmed to function front-wheel drive.
“I believe for the smaller vehicles, significantly in an city metropolis surroundings, I believe a front-wheel drive automobile might be the most suitable choice. Nevertheless, essentially the most thrilling factor for me and Cupra is neither the rear-wheel nor the front-wheel, however the 4 wheel,” mentioned Wayne Griffiths, CEO of SEAT S.A. which incorporates each the SEAT and Cupra manufacturers.
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Cupra UrbanRebel idea
“That may be the one to get to, as a result of then you possibly can actually have enjoyable and the factor does drive like a go-kart.
“In order that’s one thing I’ve all the time been pushing and I haven’t managed to but, as a result of it’s very tough on the MEB 21 platform to get a four-wheel drive, however that’s one thing I might actually be desirous to have.”
He mentioned it’s technically possible, however a enterprise case must be made.
“It must be one thing at a Group degree that different manufacturers need to use as effectively, I believe as a result of for us on our personal to afford that improvement can be tough,” he added.
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Volkswagen ID.2all idea
“And the platform has not been laid out to do this, as a result of one among our greatest goals with that platform has been to make electrical vehicles accessible by way of worth degree.
“And to do this, you clearly need to make some compromises,” he continued, indicating the platform has been developed with “inexpensive city mobility” entrance of thoughts.
“We’ve got to make the Cupra model out of that as very like an electrical go-kart as we will. Whether or not we’d like all-wheel drive to do this, I don’t know.
“We’ll see how far we will get with the front-wheel drive, however I might hold it open as one thing we have to have a look at over time. 4-wheel drive might be fascinating.”
Cupra isn’t any stranger to scorching front-wheel drivers, nonetheless. Its Leon hatch vary is obtainable completely with front-wheel drive, whereas some Formentor fashions drive the entrance wheels solely.
The MEB Entry platform has been confirmed for each the manufacturing UrbanRebel, due right here in 2025, and the manufacturing model of this yr’s Volkswagen ID.2all idea.
The latter is being described as having an inside “as spacious as a Golf, however exterior as cute and small as a Polo”. To that finish, Volkswagen is reportedly weighing calling the manufacturing mannequin the ID.2 Golf.
Skoda is rumoured to be getting an MEB Entry mannequin as effectively.
SEAT S.A. will construct MEB Entry fashions at its retooled Martorell plant in Spain by 2025, due to an funding of €3 billion (A$4.86bn).
Its medium-term goal is for the plant is an annual manufacturing quantity of 500,000 automobiles.
