Record-breaking year for SEAT Ireland
The BMW i3 sets standards worldwide for driving pleasure in a purely electrically-driven vehicle.
Key factors are not only the increased output of the motor in the new BMW i3s, but also the innovative traction control system adapted specifically to the instantaneous power deliver of the BMW eDrive system.
Presented for the first time in the new BMW i3s (270 Nm at 0 rpm, 135 kW / 184 HP, power consumption combined in European NEFZ test-cycle: 14.3 kWh/100 km; CO2 emissions combined: 0 g/km), the system improves traction and driving stability in adverse weather and road conditions when pulling away, in active Brake Energy Regeneration phases and when accelerating out of tight corners.
At the heart of this innovation is the control system’s 50-times-faster routine, made possible because – unlike conventional driving stability systems – the control process is now calculated directly in the powertrain instead of in a remote unit OVER the last 12 months, SEAT’s performance in the Irish market has led to phenomenal growth for the car brand, with an 18 per cent increase in registrations year on year against a market decline of 10 per cent.
Results show there were a total of 3,318 SEAT registrations in 2017.
Fuelling SEAT’s success in 2017 was the iconic SEAT Ibiza, which was the brand’s best-selling vehicle overall. The fifth generation of this new model reached Irish shores just six months ago and has since been shortlisted for ‘European Car of the Year 2018’. The SEAT Ateca, SEAT’s award-winning, first ever SUV model, came a close second enjoying outstanding sales in its first full year of trading, with over 850 units delivered in 2017.
SEAT Ireland has benefited financially from this strong sales result and from strategically recognising and then satisfying the demand in today’s market for higher specification models. This is requiring long signal paths. This development provides further evidence of BMW i as a pioneer of innovative technology within the BMW Group.
‘With their high levels of torque and instantaneous responses to every movement of the accelerator, electric motors already make significantly higher demands on driving stability systems than conventional power units,’ said Peter Langen, Head of Chassis Development at BMW.
That’s why the BMW engineers developed a new type of system geared squarely to the demands of electric mobility.
The positive impact of these shorter control cycles is not reserved for purely electrically driven cars; indeed, this innovative traction control system also optimises traction, driving stability and driving dynamics in vehicles with combustion engines. It will therefore be fitted in BMW and MINI models with front-, rearand all-wheel drive to deliver noticeably greater assurance and driving pleasure when road conditions make pulling away difficult. evident as sales of its high end Xcellence and FR models surged accounting for 31 per cent of total sales compared to just 8 per cent two years ago. The brand has achieved its best profit result since SEAT Ireland became a subsidiary of SEAT SA in 2009.
Furthermore, SEAT says commitment to offering motorists very attractive finance offers has led to a surge in the number of customers financing their purchase, with 51.8 per cent of sales assisted through Volkswagen Bank. This is compared to 42.1 per cent in 2016.
Niall Phillips, Brand Director at SEAT Ireland said: ‘2017 was a remarkable year for SEAT Ireland. We are incredibly proud of these hugely impressive results, which are testament to our biggest ever product offensive, our targeted and strategic approach to marketing the brand, our outstanding dealer network across Ireland, and of course, our dedication to continuously offering high quality products at affordable prices.’