Typically automakers focus on trying to put customers behind the wheel of their products. SEAT, the Spanish branch of the Volkswagen Group has just received an award for reducing road traffic. Thanks to a new rail line from SEAT's Martorell plant to the port of Barcelona, the company has reduced road traffic from shipping new cars by 76 percent in the first quarter of 2008. Rail transport of new cars is both cheaper and environmentally cleaner than sending them by truck. SEAT has sent 32,500 cars on 210 train trips since the rail line started. The same number of cars by truck would have required over 7,300 trips. The SEAT press release is after the jump.

[Source: SEAT]

Although you can no longer say that the new Ibiza is small, it still plays a role in the European supermini segment. It's about 4-meters long, about the size of a Golf II series. Nevertheless, it's good to know that you don't have to be a big kid to be safe. The Spanish-German Ibiza got 5 stars at the EuroNCAP test in both frontal and side impact tests. During the front impact, the dashboard protected occupants correctly but there were some concerns raised about the steering column. Keep an eye on Seat: some rumors say VW could build Seat cars in Mexico to appeal the Latin/Spanish-speaking market.



[Source: EuroNCAP]

Although most of the attention at the Seat display at the Madrid Auto Show was drawn to the new Seat Ibiza (see it here), Seat also introduced the Seat Alhambra Ecomotive. The Alhambra is the badge-engineered version of the Volkswagen Sharan, which has a BlueMotion version as well. The Alhambra Ecomotive produces CO₂ emissions of 159g/km and the average fuel consumption of the new van is 6 l/100 km (38mpg U.S.) propelled by a 140hp 2.0L TDI engine with a diesel particulate filter (DPF) in the exhaust stream.

The new Ibiza, in the other hand, will be put on sale with three gasoline engines: 1.2-liter 70 HP, 1.4-liter 85 HP, 1.6-liter 105 HP and a1.9-liter diesel good for 105 HP and with a DPF as standard. The older models, including the Ecomotive version, will still be on sale for a while. Check out some live pics from Autoblog en Español here.

[Source: Seat and Autoblog en Español]

If you check any European car ad, you will see in tiny letters at the bottom the car's consumption and CO₂ production figures. This information is a mandatory requirement in Spain. But, according to Ecologistas en Acción and the Unión de Consumidores de España (UCE), an environmental organization and a consumer union from Spain respectively, these figures are not accurate and could be misleading.

Spain taxes the purchase of cars depending on CO₂ production figures, therefore it's a consumer's right to know previously what these figures are. UCE found out that 11 automakers didn't have accurate information or their ads were plainly misleading, like saying a car is under 119 g/km when it's just one model and the ad focus on the sport version that produces more than 200 g/km. Also, these figures tend to be hidden with small print. They also accuse automakers of trivializing these figures because all cars pollute even when polluting less.

Don't think it's just one automaker: Hyundai, Nissan, Seat, Volkswagen, Peugeot, Honda, Citroën, Opel, Dacia and Mercedes-Benz were accused of these practices.

[Source: Ecologistas en Acción via Econoticias]

Say hello to the new version of the Seat Ibiza. The Spanish-made subcompact comes with a completely new platform and a complete set of powertrains with green credentials: all gasoline-powered versions produce less than 160 g/km CO₂ while all diesels are below the 120 g/km figure. Missing from this list are the CUPRA and Ecomotive versions and, of course, hybrid powertrains.

The new platform makes the car larger and wider, which improves comfort, but SEAT has reduced weight wherever possible. This mean better fuel consumption for the redesigned Ibiza. Safety measures have also been improved and the marque expects the highest rankings possible in the EuroNCAP tests. Erich Schmidt, SEAT's CEO, believes that, "The new Ibiza puts your emotions up while putting your emissions down." Presentation video and full press release after the jump.

SEAT, the Spanish-based division of the Volkswagen group, started running the Leon TDI in Touring Car competition in mid-2007 and this weekend the hatchback will make its debut in Britain. At this weekend's British Touring Car Championship opener at Brands Hatch, veteran drivers Jason Plato and Darren Turner will run a pair of Leon TDIs. Since joining the BTCC in 2004, SEAT has won 33 out of 120 races and the new diesel-powered 2008 racers will be propelled by 270hp 2.0L engines. In the opening round of the World Touring Car Championship earlier this month the SEATs used their torque advantage to overcome the handling benefit of the rear wheel drive BMWs. The Brands Hatch weekend will include three 24 lap races this Sunday.

[Source: SEAT]

The Spanish Volkswagen subsidiary Seat has launched a new concept of a vehicle which, although it won't hit the showrooms, gives us cues of Seat's future design plans. The Bocanegra (literally "Blackmouth") is a sporty coupé that foreshadows what the upcoming Ibiza (to be replaced next year) and associated sedan (currently named Córdoba) are going to look like.

The concept is powered by a compact yet powerful twin turbo 1.4 TSI engine and a 7-speed DSG gearbox, which guarantees low CO₂ emissions while offering sport performance. Expect this engine combination to arrive in the Ibizas and Leones very soon, so Seat drivers can start taking advantage of some greener driving sooner rather than later. Full press release after the jump.

The opening rounds of the World Touring Car Championshio took place last week in Brazil and Seat won both races with drivers Yvan Muller and Gabrieli Tarquini. Spain-based Seat is a division of Volkswagen, and like other brands in the group they are pushing diesel engines in motorsports as well as on the road. This year's Seat Leons are powered by 2.0L four cylinder TDI engines. The front wheel drive Seats were at a definite disadvantage to the rear drive BMWs in handling but the torque of the turbodiesel engines allowed them to easily pull away on the straights. Unfortunately we don't get these touring cars here in the U.S. but we'll be looking forward to checking out the VW Jetta TDI cup this spring and summer.

[Source: Top Gear]

SEAT (a brand that belongs to Volkswagen) has announced the installation of photovoltaic panels on the roof of its Martorell (near Barcelona) factory in Spain. The company expects this move will save up to 11,700 tons of CO₂ from being released to the atmosphere. The panels have a power of 8.5 MW and are expected to produce 11.2 GWh per year.

The panels will be installed gradually. First, the corporate building and the vehicle storage yard will get them, but the plan is to extend them over the production lines, covering up to 206,000 m².

Not far away, in El Prat de Llobregat, is where Nissan installed solar panels as well. The Spanish government is currently giving subventions to big industries for such installations, where large surfaces are available.

[Source: SEAT (link is in Spanish)]