Seat has selected one of Falken’s most popular tyre models, the Ziex ZE310 Ecorun, as a factory fitment. Seat Leon models rolling of the line at the car maker’s plant in Martorell, Spain will wear the tyre in size 205/55 R16. An additional ‘A’ in the product name will set these tyres apart as original equipment Seat tyres – the OE tyre is thus known as the Falken Ziex ZE310 A Ecorun.
The eighth incarnation of the Volkswagen Golf and the fourth generation Seat Leon are both now available ex-works with Nexen N’Fera Sport tyres. Nexen Tire will supply original equipment tyres for these two cars in size 225/45R17 91W.
Giti Tire’s GitiSynergyH2 has won another European original equipment tyre fitment. The Seat Ateca will roll off production lines on the AA-rated size 225/55R17 97V. The news represents the manufacturer’s second VW Group passenger car OE selection in the last month following its fitment in the same size on the Skoda Karoq. The GitiSynergyH2 is also specified by Volkswagen Commercial Vehicles, selected in size 215/55R17 XL 98H and 205/60 R16 XL 96H for the VW Caddy 5, one of the best-selling commercial vehicles in Europe.
Kumho’s Ecowing ES31 has been selected as the standard tyre for the latest version of the Ibiza, Seat’s bestselling model. The compact hatchback will run on size 185/65R15 88H tyres. The new deal continues the South Korean tyre manufacturer’s 14-year relationship with the VW Group. Kumho began supplying OE fitments for the Volkswagen Polo in 2006.
Seat has chosen Bridgestone as its preferred tyre partner to equip its new Minimó electric concept car, presented at the Geneva Motor Show. Minimó sits on specially designed tyres that apply Bridgestone’s ologic technology. Anticipating the design lines of a tyre oriented towards micro-mobility and CASE (Connected Autonomous Share Electric) vehicles, the tyres were developed for the car brand at Bridgestone’s R&D Centre in Rome.
Nexen Tire’s supply of original equipment tyres to Volkswagen Group models has been extended. As of this year, three Nexen tyres are being delivered to the VW plant in Pamplona, Spain for fitment on the Polo as well as to the Seat plant in Martorell, Spain, where they are mounted on the Ibiza model produced there. The tyres in question are the Nexen the N’blue HD Plus in sizes 185/65R15 88H and 215/45 R17 91 W as well as the Nexen N’Fera SU1 in size 195/55R16 91V.
The GitiSynergyE1 has been selected as original equipment for the Seat Arona in size 205/60R16 92H. It is the third vehicle based on Volkswagen’s MQB A0 small car platform to roll out on a Giti Tire. The latest model in the steadily growing small SUV segment, the Arona is produced in Seat’s Martorell plant in Spain alongside the Ibiza.
Giti Tire has won its first European original equipment contract for the Volkswagen Group. The manufacturer will supply its GitiSynergyE1 for the Seat Ibiza in size 185/70R14 88H. Giti Tire Europe managing director for product technology, Stefan Fischer stated that the new approval “underlines our ambition for the OE segment,” in addition to the “outstanding work” of the company’s Hanover-based European R&D centre.
Nexen Tire is supplying itsN’blue HD Plus tyre to Volkswagen, Seat and Skoda. The company’s N’blue HD Plus in size 215/45R17 91W will be fitted to the upgraded Volkswagen Polo. The same tyre in sizes 205/60R16 92V and 215/60R16 95V was selected for the Volkswagen T-Roc, a new compact SUV manufactured in Portugal.
Apollo Vredestein’s work to shift its Dutch brand’s replacement market focus to become an original equipment supplier has resulted in fitments on three major models. Vredestein, has been selected as a fitment on the Volkswagen Polo, Seat Ibiza and Ford EcoSport.
Rod McGovern won overall victory in the Yokohama-backed, 2017 Seat Supercup Ireland Championship this weekend, having finished runner-up in the last two seasons. Driving for Mick Merrigan Motorsport, McGovern clinched the title at Kirkstown Motor Racing Circuit when he took a fourth place finish in round ten of the series, securing an unassailable lead with two races of the season still remaining.
Spanish car maker Seat has selected three Falken tyres as original equipment for its fifth-generation Ibiza. From June, the list of approved tyres the new model will roll out of the factory on includes a size 215/45R17 91W XL version of the flagship Azenis FK453 range, a 195/55R16 91V XL Ziex ZE914A dimension and, for 14- and 15-inch rim diameters, the Sincera SN832A in sizes 185/70R14 88H and 185/65R15 88H.
Falken Tyre Europe has been made the original equipment tyre supplier to Seat’s first SUV, the Ateca. The Sumitomo Rubber Industries brand will roll off the production line fitted with the Falken Azenis FK453CC and Ziex ZE914A tyres. Falken will deliver FK453CC tyres in size 215/50R18 92W and the ZE914A tyre in size 225/55R17 97V.
Building on the success of the European Seat Leon Eurocup, which uses Yokohama Advan racing slick and wet control tyres, the new-for-2015 Seat Supercup Ireland has followed suit, adopting the Japanese manufacturer as control tyre supplier for the ten-round series. The series will be supported by Yokohama’s Irish dealer, Murray Motorsport, which will not only provide the tyres each team is permitted for each race meeting but will also supply parts from Seat Sport.
A lot has been going on at Nexen this year. Much of this activity has been taking place within the European market. And more still was going on during the weeks before, during and after the Essen Show.
Less than two weeks before the exhibition opened the company highlighted its recent progress with first quarter results punching above the company’s weight. During the exhibition the company was ostensibly there to display examples from its range and launch three new products – the N’blue HD Plus, Winguard SnowG and Winguard WT1(see textbox for more about what was actually presented in Essen). But it quickly transpired that there is more than this going on.
Seat
Kumho