New Car: 2012 SEAT Mii

SEAT has taken the wraps off the new city car that completes the VW Group’s up! family. And it’s called the Mii.

Featuring a much narrower ‘arrowhead’ family grille and bigger headlights than the up! and Skoda CitiGo, the Mii is aimed squarely at younger buyers, with the brand keen to emphasise its fun handling dynamics, light weight and new technology.

The Mii’s styling is pitched much closer to the CitiGo than the up! – with the same enlarged rear windows and half-metal ootlid. However, the front and rear light clusters, alloy wheels and front bumper are unique.

After launching in Spain in three-door form later this year, the Mii will arrive in UK dealers next spring. It will be powered

by a choice of efficient new three-cylinder petrol engines, with either 59bhp or 69bhp.

Thanks to its light 854kg kerbweight, fuel economy is excellent, but an ultra-efficient Ecomotive version of both cars will be offered soon after launch. This uses a combination of stop-start and regenerative brakes to ensure emissions fall below the 100g/km barrier and make the cars exempt from road tax.

There’s a choice of a five-speed manual transmission or a new ‘ASG’ robotised manual, which uses a pair of electric motors to help give smooth automatic changes. This has been developed to avoid having to use the heavier – and more expensive – twin-clutch DSG gearbox from larger models.

SEAT has also announced that at least one sporty special edition will be available straight from launch. This will come with a range of cosmetic options, including dark-tinted windows, a lower suspension set-up and racier interior trim.

A spokesman said the Mii “will definitely cost less than £8,000”, but couldn’t confirm if prices will drop as low as the CitiGo (see below). Top-of-the-range versions will get the integrated portable navigation system as standard.

A more practical five-door Mii will follow later next year. For more details click here.
Thanks to: Auto Express