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The mannequin that began all of it for the Cupra model will quickly be retired in Australia, in keeping with the Spanish automaker’s native product boss.
Jeff Shafer, head of product for Cupra Australia, informed CarExpert that shares of the Ateca mid-size SUV might be run out through the second half of 2025, following the launch of the newer and barely bigger Terramar SUV final month.
“Ateca has been a robust pioneer for the Cupra model. For Australia, we’re taking a look at working that automotive out over the subsequent six months or so,” stated Mr Shafer.
“It’s within the latter phases of its lifecycle. It’s been a terrific automotive. We’ll see how shortly [remaining stocks] final for us.”
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The Ateca launched the Cupra model in 2018, based mostly on the Seat Ateca that first went into manufacturing again in 2016 – an in depth relative of the Skoda Karoq and previous-generation Volkswagen Tiguan.
Earlier than this, Cupra was a efficiency trim stage for Seat fashions, very similar to Volkswagen has its R efficiency fashions. The Formentor would then grow to be the Cupra model’s first standalone mannequin that wasn’t a rebadged Seat, adopted by the Born electrical hatch – which, mockingly, was first proven in idea kind as a Seat.
In 2020, the Cupra Ateca (and its Seat sibling) acquired a mid-life facelift, and this up to date mannequin shaped a part of the Australian launch vary in 2022 alongside the Leon hatchback and Formentor crossover.
In contrast to the Leon and Formentor, that are based mostly on the identical MQB evo platform because the Mk8 Volkswagen Golf, the Ateca rides on the older MQB platform just like the Mk7 Golf and Skoda Karoq. In actual fact, the Ateca is so intently associated to the Karoq that it’s made in the identical manufacturing unit in Kvasiny, Czechia, and even shares the Skoda’s roof panel and doorways.
The Cupra Ateca initially launched with a 221kW 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder petrol engine, a model of the identical EA888 motor utilized in a wide range of VW Group efficiency fashions just like the Audi S3, VW Golf R and extra.
Because the Seat model misplaced traction in Europe, Cupra began increasing its vary to cross over into extra mainstream segments whereas retaining sportier tuning in its merchandise in comparison with Seat equivalents. As such, the Ateca was then bolstered with 110kW 1.5 TSI and 140kW 2.0 TSI variations, the latter of which was not too long ago launched in Australia.
With the much less highly effective drivetrain, the Ateca V dropped the value of entry by $10,000 in Australia, and gave the Spanish SUV a a lot stronger worth proposition in opposition to the associated Skoda Karoq domestically, which in equal Sportline 4×4 spec is considerably costlier and requires choices to match the Ateca’s specification.
Nonetheless, the Ateca has failed to realize traction within the Australian market, the place it was commonly outsold by the smaller Formentor by a ratio of round five-to-one, and can be effectively behind the Karoq.
The Ateca has considerably been outdated by the all-new Terramar, regardless of each being in manufacturing on the similar time.
However the Terramar strikes to the newer MQB evo platform and likewise provides mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid engines, the place the Ateca doesn’t.
Pricing for the Terramar begins from $58,490 drive-away in Australia, somewhat up on the Ateca V’s present $51,990 plus on-roads beginning value. Cupra initially launched the 140kW Ateca from $49,888 drive-away.
On the time of writing, simply 65 Ateca autos stay in Cupra Australia’s inventory stock. Of those, 42 are the bottom V and 23 are the flagship VZx – which is priced from $63,990 drive-away.
MORE: Discover the Cupra Ateca showroom
