SEAT has embarked on the electric revolution with its new el-Born electric concept, the second all-electric vehicle based on the the Volkswagen Group MEB platform, named after one of the most iconic neighbourhoods in Barcelona, where the vehicle was designed and developed. The el-Born will be manufactured at the Zwickau plant in Germany and is expected to hit the markets by 2020.
The vehicle’s power and energy dense battery pack gives it a range of up to 420 kilometres on the WLTP official test cycle and the ability to reach 100km/h in only 7.5 seconds. The battery can be charged in as little as 47 minutes and the car also incorporates autonomous functionality to support the driver as well as a host of assistance systems.
Aerodynamics are key to maximising the vehicle’s range, to this end the SEAT logo on the front is flush to the body, where there is no need to take in air to cool the engine so no demand for a grille. Cooling vents are placed lower down the vehicle’s front, providing air to the battery pack and so streamlining air flow over the front of the vehicle.
“Mobility is evolving and with it, the cars we drive” said Luca de Meo, President of SEAT. “SEAT is at the forefront of this change, and the el-Born concept embodies the technologies and design philosophy that will help us meet the challenges we face in the future”.
Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Director of Design at SEAT added that the company’s design team has taken very seriously the challenge of making the company’s first full electric vehicle attractive. As the eye moves over the SEAT el-Born, the position of the A-pillar has noticeably moved further forward, creating a sleeker look, and internally, more room in the cabin. This is facilitated by the electric powertrain requiring less room. Improved aerodynamics play an enormous role along the side of the vehicle, with an air curtain incorporated into the design, an elegant yet practical answer to the conundrum of balancing performance with aesthetic appeal.
The turbine design creates a positive flow of air that not only improves aerodynamics but also ventilates the brakes to maintain dynamism. The wheels provide the perfect balance between aerodynamics, heat evacuation and lightness.
At the rear of the vehicle a double layer spoiler contributes to the aerodynamic performance of the SEAT el-Born too, making sure that air flow remains smooth and turbulence is minimised. It also provides an awareness of the vehicle’s dynamic and performance virtues.
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