SEAT Tango concept

August 23, 2001 – With this two-seater, to be unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, Walter deSilva's design team at the SEAT Technical Centre has evoked the spirit of sporty 50s and 60s convertibles through the use of pure, no compromise, design.

Tango has been conceived as a genuine spider - open and minimalist. It features expressive and innovative solutions based on a structure in which the chassis, body, passenger compartment, engine and structural elements merge and intersect to tie the design together as a whole.

Materials and textures blend together, creating a smooth, continuous flow of elements with the aesthetics of the cockpit, for example, exploding onto the outside of the car and back again to the inside. Like a metal skeleton, unpolished aluminium tubes are visible throughout the interior of the cockpit which also plays host to parts of the chassis, while the waterproof leather upholstery also lines the storage compartments, extending the cockpit aesthetics visually onto the deck behind the seats.

Following the strongly arched bodyside character lines, the belt line sweeps low through the doors, before swinging fluidly upward to define the top of the rollover bars. The top of the side glass drops to the rear, to integrate with the rear deck, in a striking combination of lines.

Novel lighting solutions are a strong feature of the concept. The SEAT Tango features streamlined headlamps devoid of internal structures, leaving their architecture visible. Both Xenon dipped headlights and sidelights automatically follow the direction of the front wheels

The foglamps are made up of a series of light emitting diodes encased in the central moulding of the grille, while the rear lights use filters lit by fibre optics to create multiple combinations (the entire light strip can be a rear light, a brake light or an indicator).

They are also of variable intensity, automatically adjusting their brightness to the prevailing conditions. This small galaxy of lights is perfectly integrated in the smooth lines of the body, whose only "cosmetic" addition is a small aerodynamic spoiler at the lower rear end.

A complex tubular structure 'Safety Skeleton' intertwines under the muscular shape and is a direct descendent of the World Rally Car safety cage. It houses not only the front MacPherson struts and the rear suspension system which features a degree of self steer, but also the engine, which transmits 180 hp to the front wheels.

At the rear, buttress-like framework is joined to the structure of the seats themselves, distributing tension in several directions. This means the driver's seat is fixed, so to ensure the perfect driving position the pedal box is adjustable, while both the steering wheel and its integral instrument dials are adjustable for height and reach.

Tango demonstrates the creative and innovative capabilities of SEAT’s Technical Centre, and targets the upcoming Ford StreetKa and Smart Roadster. The SEAT Tango makes its début at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, which is open to the public from 13 to 23 September.

	Sporting SEAT Tango roadster to debut at Frankfurt Motor Show
	Click for larger images	August 23, 2001 – With this two-seater, to be unveiled at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, Walter deSilva's design team at the SEAT Technical Centre has evoked the spirit of sporty 50s and 60s convertibles through the use of pure, no compromise, design. Tango has been conceived as a genuine spider - open and minimalist. It features expressive and innovative solutions based on a structure in which the chassis, body, passenger compartment, engine and structural elements merge and intersect to tie the design together as a whole. Materials and textures blend together, creating a smooth, continuous flow of elements with the aesthetics of the cockpit, for example, exploding onto the outside of the car and back again to the inside. Like a metal skeleton, unpolished aluminium tubes are visible throughout the interior of the cockpit which also plays host to parts of the chassis, while the waterproof leather upholstery also lines the storage compartments, extending the cockpit aesthetics visually onto the deck behind the seats. Following the strongly arched bodyside character lines, the belt line sweeps low through the doors, before swinging fluidly upward to define the top of the rollover bars. The top of the side glass drops to the rear, to integrate with the rear deck, in a striking combination of lines. Novel lighting solutions are a strong feature of the concept. The SEAT Tango features streamlined headlamps devoid of internal structures, leaving their architecture visible. Both Xenon dipped headlights and sidelights automatically follow the direction of the front wheels The foglamps are made up of a series of light emitting diodes encased in the central moulding of the grille, while the rear lights use filters lit by fibre optics to create multiple combinations (the entire light strip can be a rear light, a brake light or an indicator). They are also of variable intensity, automatically adjusting their brightness to the prevailing conditions. This small galaxy of lights is perfectly integrated in the smooth lines of the body, whose only "cosmetic" addition is a small aerodynamic spoiler at the lower rear end. A complex tubular structure 'Safety Skeleton' intertwines under the muscular shape and is a direct descendent of the World Rally Car safety cage. It houses not only the front MacPherson struts and the rear suspension system which features a degree of self steer, but also the engine, which transmits 180 hp to the front wheels. At the rear, buttress-like framework is joined to the structure of the seats themselves, distributing tension in several directions. This means the driver's seat is fixed, so to ensure the perfect driving position the pedal box is adjustable, while both the steering wheel and its integral instrument dials are adjustable for height and reach. Tango demonstrates the creative and innovative capabilities of SEAT’s Technical Centre, and targets the upcoming Ford StreetKa and Smart Roadster. The SEAT Tango makes its début at the Frankfurt International Motor Show, which is open to the public from 13 to 23 September.	.