Trends at the wheel

• The SEAT Tarraco incorporates two new safety assistants: Pre-crash, which takes action in the event of a possible collision, and Rollover Assist, a rollover detection system
• In 0.2 seconds Pre-crash is able to activate several functions, such as tightening seatbelts or rolling up the windows
• The safety systems aim to prevent accidents as well as minimise their consequences 

Distractions, excess speed or drowsiness are just some of the main causes of accidents at the wheel. After the World premiere of the SEAT Tarraco, Esteban Alcántara, an Active Safety Engineer at SEAT, reveals how its two new assistants – Pre-crash and Rollover Assist – work, and gives insights into future trends:

- Reaction in 0.2 seconds: Understeering, oversteering or sudden braking are some of the situations that activate Pre-crash on the SEAT Tarraco. The car itself automatically detects whether it is about to have an accident and is able to react in 200 milliseconds. Depending on the kind of accident, it tightens the seatbelts, activates the hazard lights, rolls up the windows and closes the sunroof to prevent any extremities being caught. 

- Minimise the consequences: “The Active Safety systems play an increasingly important role in protecting both vehicle occupants as well as other road users. In some cases, they can prevent accidents and even minimise their consequences if they happen”, says Esteban. One example of this is the new Rollover Assist featured on the SEAT Tarraco, which activates if the car overturns. In this case, the car makes an emergency call, switches off the engine, unlocks the doors, turns on the hazard lights and changes the ventilation, among other functions. 

- Sensors and control modules on constant alert: The technology and electronics at the heart of driving assistants are “a major revolution” in the development of car models. “Innovations in the field of advanced safety has taken huge strides”, as can be seen in the incorporation of ‘intelligent’ sensors and control modules. Thanks to these, cars are able to identify possible causes of accidents and react to prevent them. The way to notify drivers has also evolved: light signals are now joined by acoustic ones, voice guides, steering wheel vibrations and even course control and automatic braking, all without any human intervention.

- Aiming for zero accidents: According to Esteban Alcántara, “the car of the future is going to be the sum of several assistants. The current role of the driver will give way to being the occupant of a vehicle, so safety systems must adapt to this situation as well as to the interior of the passenger compartment”. Vehicles will be interconnected, contributing to the goal of “zero accidents which we are already working on”. 

SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 80 countries on all five continents. In 2017, SEAT obtained an after tax profit of 281 million euros, sold close to 470,000 cars and achieved a record turnover of more than 9.5 billion euros.

The SEAT Group employs more than 15,000 professionals and has three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza, Arona and Leon. Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia. 

The multinational has a Technical Centre, which operates as a knowledge hub that brings together 1,000 engineers who are focussed on developing innovation for Spain’s largest industrial investor in R&D. SEAT already features the latest connectivity technology in its vehicle range and is currently engaged in the company’s global digitalisation process to promote the mobility of the future. 

SEAT Communications

Gemma Solà
Content&Platforms Management
T / +34 639 944 087
gemma.sola@seat.es

Vanessa Petit
Content Generation
T / +34 680 153 938
vanessa.petit@seat.es
http://seat-mediacenter.com