A POPULAR family SUV has been discontinued to make way for a hybrid-only model from its sister brand.
The manufacturer announced it would be scrapping the car within months, despite labelling it “a success”.
Seat has confirmed that it’s the end of the road for the Tarraco, which has been on sale since 2018.
The model, which is a cousin of the Skoda Kodiaq, won’t be renewed as it reaches the end of its life cycle.
It was the Spanish brand’s flagship entry into the competitive family SUV market over the last five years.
Customers could choose from a five or seven-seat layout with a range of engine options and plenty of useful storage space.
However, VW Group, Seat’s parent company, has now taken the decision to phase out the Tarraco in favour of a new offering from sister brand Cupra.
The Cupra Terramar is a plug-in hybrid that offers a fully electric range of 62 miles using a hybrid system based on the same platform as the Audi Q3.
The future of Seat is Cupra
Thomas Schafer
While its name translates to “earthquake” it’s not entirely groundbreaking in terms of aesthetics, looking relatively similar to the car it’s replacing.
Indeed it’s actually smaller than the Tarraco, if only by a couple of centimeters.
However, Cupra promises that the model will “embody pure advancement” and offer “impressive performance”.
A spokesperson told Autocar: “From mid-2024, we will focus on the new Cupra Terramar in the segment, and it will fill this space very well.
“The Tarraco will then be phased out; it will end its production by Q2 2024.”
The move comes amid a rebalancing of the focus between Seat and Cupra by VW Group bosses.
Cupra was previously only the performance arm of the Seat brand but has since morphed into a standalone manufacturer and overtaken its sibling.
Indeed, it was feared that Seat could disappear altogether, with Group chair Thomas Schafer saying last year that “the future of Seat is Cupra”.
However, new Seat CEO Wayne Griffiths sought to ease fears in interviews after his appointment before the firm announced its return with a £17,000 EV.
The Terramar will also be the last vehicle produced by Cupra to feature a petrol or diesel engine, with the brand set to go EV-only by 2030.
It comes after engineers unveiled the world’s first MRI for cars as AI rapidly takes over vehicle inspections.
