Seat delivers devilish Derv drinker

Newswheel staff :: 30 November 2005 :: Filed under Hatchback, Mini MPV / People carrier, Seat, Seat Leon, Europe & UK

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168bhp diesel Altea. Joy

Oh Lordy. Can anyone stop the rise of the performance diesel? Not Seat, it seems. The VW-owned Spanish outfit has announced a new 2.0-litre 168bhp diesel variant of the Altea. It’s good for 60 in eight seconds and 140mph.

As well as the new oil-burning lump, the Altea FR gets a six-speed gearbox, lightly massaged springs and dampers, a 7mm lower ride height and beefed-up brakes. The usual mildly sporting makeover, then.

We don’t doubt the Altea FR is a gutsy customer. A grunty, torquey turbodiesel makes for effortless cruising. But do performance diesels with sporty suspension and close-ratio six-speed gearboxes really make any sense? Nope. However, while we abhor the idea of thrashing the pants off a droning Derv-drinker in pursuit of driving enjoyment, we must concede the damn things seem to sell awfully well. UK sales of the Altea FR kick off in March with pricing around the £18,000 mark. User-choosers, we beg of you: try to resist this devilish diesel…