SEAT has revealed the Mii city car that is the Spanish company’s version of the Volkswagen Up! and which will go on sale in spring 2012.
The SEAT Mii is clearly related to the VW Up! but, like the Skoda Citygo revealed last week, carries a unique front end that gives it the SEAT family look.
In SEAT’s case, the nose is sportier, with more a more sharply-cut bumper and a bolder shape to the headlights. The grille boasts the SEAT family look and, below it, the Mii has a full-length air intake that makes it appear wider and lower to the ground.
It’s distinct to the VW Up at the rear, too: instead of the VW’s full-length dark glass tailgate, the SEAT Mii has shallower glass and a conventional body-colour lower half. The tail lights are also more clearly exposed and carry distinctive triangular shapes within.
The interior features all the body-colour panels of the VW too, and SEAT again offers the Mii with a ‘SEAT Portable System’ infotainment device. This is based around a five-inch removable touchscreen that includes sat nav, hands-free phone and onboard computer.
Further features will be available for the SEAT Portable System in time as SEAT is planning to launch a series of Apps.
SEAT is offering the same range of engine as the VW and Skoda models. The 1.0-litre three-cylinder engine puts out 60hp or 75hp, and comes in both regular and Ecomotive fuel-saving guise.
The very greenest version has stop-start and brake energy recuperation, to help it average 67.2mpg and emit 97g/km CO2. SEAT is also planning a CNG version for Europe, further lowering CO2 emission to 86g/km, although this version is unlikely to go on sale in the UK.
SEAT’s keeping the trim lines simple – no odd VW names and punctuation here. It’s simply regular car, Chic and Sport, with Chic offering a chrome pack and Sport coming with very ‘SEAT’ additions of tinted glass and sports suspension.
A City Safety Assist will also be offered, that detects accidents at speeds below 18mph by using a laser, slowing the car to a halt if necessary in the event of a crash being detected.
The SEAT Mii goes on sale towards the end of the year in Spain, arriving in the UK in spring 2012: later in 2012, a five-door variant will also follow.
