SEAT Bolero

SEAT Bolero 330 BT
Overview
Manufacturer	SEAT, SA
Production	1998 (Concept car)
Designer	Erwin Leo Himmel
Body and chassis
Class	Compact executive car (D)
Body style	4-door saloon
Layout	Longitudinal front engine, front-wheel drive
Doors	Sliding doors
Powertrain
Engine	2.8L V6 biturbo
Transmission	6-speed sportronic (tiptronic) automatic
Dimensions
Length	4,520 mm (178.0 in)
Width	1,870 mm (73.6 in)
Height	1,380 mm (54.3 in)
Chronology
Successor	SEAT Exeo

The SEAT Bolero 330 BT is a concept car presented at the 1998 Geneva Salon International de l’Auto.^[1] It is available as a 4-door, 4-seat saloon car body style. The "330 BT" is derived from the power output of 330 PS.^[2] No 5-door, 4-seat estate car body style is ever produced.

One of the most remarkable aspects of this concept consists in the elimination of the B-pillar and the use of hinges due to which the doors could open independently in a contrary suicide door-like manner, leaving room for an easier access to the rear seats. The SEAT Bolero's doors open in a manner of front conventional doors and rear sliding doors. The design of the car was a 4-door saloon with rear sliding doors (four door, front engine).^[3]

Another interesting issue is that the design of the SEAT Bolero incorporated many stylistic elements that would later be implemented in other models of the brand, especially in the front fascia.^[4]

During development, the SEAT Exeo was codenamed Bolero, before being renamed Exeo.^[5][6]

Specification

The Bolero is powered by a 2.8 litre V6 engine with two turbochargers (aka 'biturbo') which is mounted longitudinally at the front. It produces a maximum power output of 330 PS (243 kW; 325 bhp) at 5,800 revolutions per minute (rpm), and generates a peak torque output of 500 newton metres (369 lbf·ft) between 1,800 to 3,600 rpm.

The driveline includes a transaxle six-speed 'sportronic' tiptronic automatic transmission, with the output being routed through a conventional front-wheel drive system. It rides on 9Jx19" alloy wheels shod with 255/40 R19 tyres.

Performance figures indicate that the Bolero completes the standard discipline of sprinting from a standing start to 100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in 5.0 seconds, and will reach an estimated top speed of 275 km/h (170.9 mph).

References

1. SEAT key figures http://media.seat.com/en/company/368-seat-sa-en-cifras-2005-2009.html
2. AutoBlog.it Seat Bolero 1998: the future of the Toledo? (Italian)
3. Prototipos que jamás vieron la luz (III): Seat Bolero http://www.motor21.com/coches/prototipos-jamas-vieron-luz-iii-seat-bolero-55486/
4. El Seat Bolero fue presentado en 1998 con el objetivo de sentar la base estilística de sus futuros modelos, pero excepto el frontal, el resto de elementos estéticos no se trasladaron a los nuevos modelos. http://www.historiasdelmotor.com/seat/bolero/
5. "SEAT". autoexpress.co.uk. 16 October 2007. Retrieved 23 June 2015.
6. ETKA (SEAT Update 325 ed.), Volkswagen Group, 2010

External links

• MuseoSEAT.com - SEAT Bolero (Spanish)