Every CUPRA is judged on the engine that powers it, and the refreshed Ateca maintains its performance levels with the incredible 2.0 litre TSI engine. The 1,984cc direct-injection, turbocharged unit has a bore and stroke of 82.5mm and 92.8mm respectively and a compression ratio of 9.3:1, helping to produce 300PS (221kW) of power. Add to this a huge 400 Nm of torque available at a wide engine speed range of 2,000-5,200rpm and the CUPRA Ateca is a vehicle that delivers enormous amounts of excitement.
Thanks to its low weight and high output engine, the SUV can reach 100km/h in just 4.9s and has a top speed of 247km/h. Enough to bring a smile to the face of even the most traditional performance devotee.
That rapid acceleration figure is helped by the seven-speed DSG dual-clutch transmission, engineered to offer a sporty feel with faster, smoother and more precise shifts. The new CUPRA Ateca also features launch control for even greater acceleration from a standing start, and a trick that’s guaranteed to make drivers beam.
Performance delivered by the engine is matched by the brakes (with Brembo’s available as an option), which add next-level assurance even in the most dynamic driving situations. The perforated and ventilated 340mm discs (370mm in the case of Brembo brakes) are matched to four piston copper calipers, giving the assurance that every performance vehicle requires, and are matched with 310mm discs at the rear.
And the unbelievable acoustics of the Akrapovič exhaust system, which provides an even more unique sound experience to the drive.
“The CUPRA Ateca makes a clear statement in the high-performance SUV segment, and the high-performance compact SUVs dynamic abilities underline the strength of its position,” said Dr. Werner Tietz, Executive Vice-President for Research and Development at CUPRA and SEAT. “The combination of a staggeringly adaptable powertrain, 4Drive all-wheel drive technology, quick shifting DSG and intuitive steering set the CUPRA Ateca apart from the competition.”
The latest generation 4Drive all-wheel drive system is an electro-hydraulic multi-disc-based traction system and allows the CUPRA Ateca to deliver power to the wheels progressively and with ultimate control. The system constantly monitors and analyses conditions helping maximise traction and performance, making the high-performance SUV’s acceleration time possible.
The system is located on the rear axle, sitting at the end of the drive shaft, just in front of the rear differential. This improves weight distribution and reduces inertia and system reaction time since the cardan shaft is always connected to the engine.
The multi-disc wet clutch stand-out features include the metal friction rings placed in pairs one in front of the other: one ring of each pair is permanently connected to the drive shaft that turns with the gearbox. The other ring turns with the drive shaft joined to the rear axle’s differential. A hydraulic actuation piston compresses the multi-disk packet to reach the required oil pressure, depending on the parameters indicated by the electronic system.
Arguably the most important element to the CUPRA Ateca’s driveability is the relationship between the powertrain and chassis that gives it its distinctive dynamic performance. Something expected by customers. And the high-performance SUV’s chassis and steering is tuned to offer the most precise, involved and distinctive ride possible.
With a mixture of MacPherson struts at the front with a multilink setup at the rear, spring and dampers settings have been adjusted specifically to give the compact high-performance SUV the most involving ride while helping to isolate occupants from any abnormalities in the road surface.
The progressive steering system gives the CUPRA Ateca maximum agility connecting the driver to the vehicle with optimised feedback through the steering wheel. The compact high-performance SUV reacts to changes in driving style and the road thanks to its Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) system.
The technology reacts to the road surface and driving situation in real-time while also pulling data from different aspects of the vehicle including steering, braking and acceleration manoeuvres. Damping, for example, is calculated for each wheel and adjusted at the four shock absorbers within fractions of a second.
The DCC system offers six different driver profiles allowing the SUV to be tuned to the specific nature of the journey or the person behind the steering wheel. Choose from Normal, Sport, CUPRA, Individual, Snow or Off-Road to change the vehicle’s character, from daily drive to performance-focused, giving the CUPRA Ateca a breadth of abilities that few other SUVs can offer.
The CUPRA Ateca’s dimensions also play their part in the vehicle’s ability, providing the basis for an assured drive. The high-performance SUV is 4,386mm (+10mm compared to the previous generation, due to the new bumpers design) long - with a wheelbase of 2,630mm, is 1,599mm tall (-2mm) and 1,841mm wide. Front and rear track is 1,575mm and 1,549mm respectively.