Cupra Continues Its Path To Irrelevance, Gives Ateca Two Seat-Sourced Engines

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Cupra might be billed as a performance brand, but the company has expanded their lineup to include ho-hum engines. That continues today as the automaker has announced plans to give Ateca customers “more choice and value.”

The latest effort to blur the line between Seat and Cupra is two new petrol engines. In particular, the Cupra Ateca will soon be offered with a 1.5-liter TSI that produces 148 hp (110 kW/ 150 PS). Customers will also be able to get a 2.0-liter TSI developing 187 hp (140 kW / 190 PS). Front-wheel drive comes standard with the entry-level engine, while all-wheel drive is paired with the 2.0-liter TSI.

Needless to say, both engines are short on performance and a far cry from the current crossover that packs 296 hp (221 kW / 300 PS). It’s almost like someone forgot Cupra became a standalone brand as both engines carryover from the Seat Ateca, which effectively makes the Cupra Ateca redundant.

More: The Cupra Leon And Seat Leon Now Offer The Same 1.5- And 2.0-Liter Engines

Since underwhelming engines weren’t enough of a nail in the performance coffin, they’ll be paired to a seven-speed dual-clutch transmission. That stands in contrast to the Seat Ateca, which offers the 1.5 TSI with a manual as well as a DSG gearbox. I’ll repeat that again, the performance brand doesn’t offer a manual but the mainstream one does.

While that flushing sound you hear is Cupra’s performance aspirations going down the toilet, the company wasn’t shy about the logic behind the move. Quite the opposite as it all comes down to sales and an official noted “our ambition is to increase sales of the Cupra Ateca, following the same trajectory we have taken with the Cupra Leon.”

That pretty much defeats the whole entire point of Cupra, but the brand announced a handful of other updates as well. Among them is a revised rear diffuser and an updated interior with copper stitching as well as unique door panel inserts.