Seat has taken the covers off its first all-electric model – the el-Born concept.
To be displayed at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show next week, the el-Born is Seat’s first model to be built on Volkswagen Group’s MEB electric platform and will reportedly go into production in 2020.
Named after a neighbourhood in Seat’s home town of Barcelona, the concept will be built at VW Group’s Zwickau plant in Germany alongside the conglomerate’s other electric vehicles.
Powered by a 62kWh battery pack, the el-Born has a claimed range of 260 miles on a single charge – with Seat claiming the battery can be fully charged in just 47 minutes due to the power source’s make-up.
After testing through the WLTP cycle, the el-Born can go from 0-60mph in 7.3 seconds thanks to its 201bhp electric motor.
Seat has also fitted the concept with a series of semi-autonomous features in the form of steering and speed control, as well as intelligent park assist.
Seat president Luca de Meo said: “Mobility is evolving and with it, the cars we drive. 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, Seat’s director of design, added: “The el-Born is the ultimate translation of our emotional Seat design language into the new world of electrical vehicles.
“Our Design Team has taken very seriously the challenge of making our first full electric vehicle attractive. I believe that driving electric cars has to be thrilling, has to be fun. We have to make customers fall in love with the idea of the electric car.”
The el-Born will be displayed at the Geneva Motor Show from March 5 to 17.
