Ahead of its showroom debut in April, SEAT, the Spanish arm of the Volkswagen Group, is revealing more about the ingenious, intelligent technology that will help its new Exeo saloon to pole position in the upper medium sector. Typical of the Exeo’s exciting array of inventive extras is the aforementioned solar sunroof. Using mini solar panels embedded in the sunroof glass the system generates electricity which is used to power the car’s ventilation system, even when the ignition is off, drawing in cooler ambient air and significantly reducing the traditional ‘greenhouse’ effect associated with most vehicles on a hot summer’s day.
There’s no drain on the car battery, and sensors automatically trigger the system when they detect a marked difference between interior and exterior temperatures. Naturally it operates as a conventional sunroof, too, tilting and retracting electrically to let in the sunlight, or moonlight, as desired.
Another cooling feature available to Exeo owners is the optional heat reflective windscreen. Using patented Thermocontrol technology from windscreen manufacturer Saint-Gobain Sekurit, the screen includes within its layers a micro-fine film of silver which acts, essentially, like a mirror – reflecting away a proportion of the thermal radiation which would otherwise enter and heat the car.
The screen can cut interior temperatures by as much as 10°C, while it also helps to improve the efficiency of the car’s climate control system – effectively reducing the energy required to cool the cabin to the desired temperature.
Next up is the Exeo’s optional satellite navigation system which, though not cooling, is certainly cool. The state-of-the-art DVD-based in-dash system boasts fast navigation performance, ‘bird view’ display and two handy SDHC ports.
There’s an ultra-clear 6.5-inch WVGA colour screen, advanced on-screen graphics featuring detailed information such as motorway and city lane guides, speed limit data and traffic management info for both the planned route and nearby roads.
Bluetooth mobile phone integration is standard across the entire Exeo line-up, of course, offering full function hands-free telephony with or without the optional satellite navigation system.
And Exeo drivers can look forward to exceptional performance, and economy, by virtue of its latest generation common rail diesel engines. Both Euro V-compliant, the two 2.0-litre TDI units offer either 143 PS or 170 PS and are mated as standard to a smooth and precise six-speed manual gearbox.
Capable of as much as 65.7 mpg (4.3 l/100km or 54.7 mpg U.S.) the diesels’ official CO2 emissions figures are a road tax-friendly 143 g/km and 153 g/km respectively.
Priced from £17,740 RRP, the Exeo saloon goes on sale in the UK on 2 April.
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There’s no drain on the car battery, and sensors automatically trigger the system when they detect a marked difference between interior and exterior temperatures. Naturally it operates as a conventional sunroof, too, tilting and retracting electrically to let in the sunlight, or moonlight, as desired.
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The screen can cut interior temperatures by as much as 10°C, while it also helps to improve the efficiency of the car’s climate control system – effectively reducing the energy required to cool the cabin to the desired temperature.
Next up is the Exeo’s optional satellite navigation system which, though not cooling, is certainly cool. The state-of-the-art DVD-based in-dash system boasts fast navigation performance, ‘bird view’ display and two handy SDHC ports.
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Bluetooth mobile phone integration is standard across the entire Exeo line-up, of course, offering full function hands-free telephony with or without the optional satellite navigation system.
And Exeo drivers can look forward to exceptional performance, and economy, by virtue of its latest generation common rail diesel engines. Both Euro V-compliant, the two 2.0-litre TDI units offer either 143 PS or 170 PS and are mated as standard to a smooth and precise six-speed manual gearbox.
Capable of as much as 65.7 mpg (4.3 l/100km or 54.7 mpg U.S.) the diesels’ official CO2 emissions figures are a road tax-friendly 143 g/km and 153 g/km respectively.
Priced from £17,740 RRP, the Exeo saloon goes on sale in the UK on 2 April.
Subscribe to the RSS feed for more information on green cars, green car news & green car technologies.
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