Seat Ateca tops off first year of awards with Car Dealer Power Car of the Year title

ONE year on from claiming its first major UK award, the Seat Ateca’s winning ways show no sign of slowing after it drove away with Car Dealer Magazine’s Car of the Year trophy at last night’s Car Dealer Power awards.

It was announced last night at a stylish ceremony in the striking surroundings of the Spinnaker Tower in Portsmouth.

Success at Car Dealer Power adds another dimension to the Ateca’s all-round appeal, as the award was based entirely on the opinions of the people working in Britain’s car dealerships, across all brand franchises.

James Baggott, chief executive officer of Car Dealer publisher Blackball Media’s parent company Baize Group, said Seat’s first SUV clinched the title thanks to a healthy haul of votes from dealers representing rival manufacturers.

‘A stylish new SUV, the Ateca has been billed as a combination of distinctive design, driving fun, urban versatility and compelling utility. And it has done wonders to raise awareness of Seat, which brought it to market. In double-quick time, the Ateca has established itself as a firm favourite among the motoring media, UK car buyers and, of course, dealers who represent the brand,’ he said.

Accepting the award, Seat UK director Richard Harrison said: ‘We knew the Ateca had great potential to succeed, and the impact it has had in the UK has surpassed even our own ambitious aspirations.

‘The Car Dealer Power award is particularly valued, as it demonstrates respect and appreciation from within the auto retail industry – across all brands, not just from those who work in our own Seat dealerships.

‘It has been an incredible first year for our first SUV, generating a terrific momentum behind our brand that we aim to sustain with this month’s launch of the all-new Ibiza and the introduction of the Arona, our new compact crossover – revealed only last week in Barcelona and set to arrive in showrooms later this year.’

The Ateca was named Crossover of the Year last July by Auto Express and since then has gone on to win many other accolades, culminating in last night’s Car Dealer Power honour.

Watch the announcement and Craig Cavanagh, Seat UK’s sales operations manager, talking about its triumph in the video below, made by our On Cue Communications division: