Big brother is here in shape of Tarraco SUV

THE SEAT Tarraco is here. The model sits at the top of its SUV family, as the bigger brother to the Ateca and Arona. Named after the Mediterranean city of Tarragona, the name Tarraco was chosen by a popular vote among more than 146,000 buyers.

There are two petrol variants: a four-cylinder 1.5 litre TSI unit that produces 150PS and is linked to a six-speed manual transmission powering the front wheels, and a 2.0 litre, 190PS offering mated to a seven-speed DSG gearbox and 4Drive total traction system.

Even though the Tarraco SUV is 4735mm long, 1,839mm wide and 1,658mm tall – creating a huge interior space and an imposing exterior – the overall design is meant to

exquisite tuning of the induction, exhaust and engine management systems. Imagine Foo Fighters trying to play over Metallica.

Let’s not forget the pedigree of the Vantage. First used in 1951 on a high-output engine option for the DB2, the nameplate has been a badge of honour worn for seven decades – anyone for a supercharged V600 Le Mans? Now, however, it is very much a stand-alone – and standout – model.

Is it practical? Only in the way a bowler hat is for skydiving.

There’s no interior storage space other than your pockets and the boot takes only just enough that a gentleman and lady of the realm should need for a weekend mission.

But, let’s be honest, nobody buys a Vantage for its practicality – it’s on bucket lists the world over for its fun factor. If you haven’t already guessed this from the primeval roar of the engine, it’s urgently apparent in the drive modes, two of which are ominously marked sport+ and track.

On the track, the Vantage has a potential maximum velocity of 195mph and, even on