The SEAT Terra is a SEAT Marbella-derived box van. It is almost a footnote in the history of SEAT, but one fact guarantees its pride of place in the chronology of the brand: in 1990, the Terra D became the first SEAT in the A segment powered by a diesel engine and also the first SEAT with a Volkswagen engine… (read more)
Launch: Early 1987
End of production: 1994
Price: 1,026,000 Pts. (Terra D, 1990)
Number built: 166,601 (total Terra)
Diesel, 4 cylinders in-line
Position: At front, transversal
Bore x stroke: 75 mm x 79.1 mm
Capacity: 1398 cc
Valve train: Overhead camshaft
Fuel system: Indirect injection
Max. power: 48 HP at 4500 rpm
Max. torque: 83 Nm at 2900 rpm
Top speed: 125 km/h
Drive: Front-wheel drive
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, plus reverse
Clutch: Dry single-plate
Front suspension:
Independent, McPherson, coil springs and dampers
Rear suspension:
Live axle, semielliptic leaf springs and dampers
Steering: Rack and pinion
Front/rear: Discs/drums
145/80 SR-13
Body: 2-door van, 2 seats
Length/width/height: 3869/1490/1895 mm
Wheelbase: 2398 mm
Weight: 810 kg
The SEAT Terra is a SEAT Marbella-derived box van. It is almost a footnote in the history of SEAT, but one fact guarantees its pride of place in the chronology of the brand: in 1990, the Terra D became the first SEAT in the A segment powered by a diesel engine and also the first SEAT with a Volkswagen engine.
The origin of the SEAT Terra dates back to the ’60s, when SEAT created a small SEAT 600-derived box van, the Formichetta, as a joint venture with the Siata coachbuilder. SEAT took up the Formichetta concept again from the ’80s, first with the SEAT Trans van, derived from the Panda, and then with the Terra, based on the Marbella (the replacement for the Panda). All three were exclusive SEAT models.
At the end of 1986 the SEAT Marbella had been unveiled, the fourth SEAT named after a Spanish town, following the Ronda, Ibiza and Malaga. SEAT had already used the Marbella name for the luxury version of the Panda, the SEAT Panda Marbella. When it came to naming the Marbella’s commercial derivative, SEAT also resorted to another name already used in a Panda model; in this case, the SEAT Panda Terra soft-roader pick-up.
The SEAT Terra was launched early in 1987, initially with the same 903 cc, 40 HP petrol engine as the Marbella. It had two body styles – closed cargo van and side windows (the latter called Kombi from 1991). The revolution came early in 1990, coinciding with the unveiling of the Terra 1990 model year, with a slight facelift on the front. Next to the petrol engine, there was now also a 1.3, 45 HP diesel engine coupled with a 5-speed gearbox.
It was the first time that a "small" SEAT was powered by a diesel engine, and also the first time SEAT used an engine of Volkswagen origin in its line-up. The Terra D, then, was the first major product of SEAT's integration into the VW Group. It beat SEAT’s Toledo by a full year – the Toledo being the first SEAT developed entirely within the VW Group.
However, before the Terra D there was another SEAT powered by a VW engine, the 1988 Marbella Proto, created to compete in gravel rallies. The experience gained by SEAT engineers adapting the VW 1.3 petrol engine in the Marbella Proto greatly accelerated the development of the SEAT Terra D at the Martorell Technical Centre.
With the robust and economical diesel powertrain, the Terra became one of the preferred small vans on the market, with a contained size but an exceptional 520 kg payload. Even more so when in 1991 the Kombi body received a 1.4, 48 HP diesel engine, which also passed to the closed version in 1992, always next to the 903 cc petrol engine.
The Terra was in production until 1994, and was replaced in 1995 by the SEAT Inca, based on the second generation of the Ibiza. The Inca was the last SEAT van derived from a hatchback.
This SEAT Terra D that is part of the SEAT HISTÓRICOS Collection is a closed cargo van and was registered in Barcelona early in 1994. Thus, it is powered by the 1.4 diesel engine and it was built in its last year of production.