SEAT has confirmed that it will build a rival for the Nissan Juke and put the car on sale within the next 18 months.
and put the car on sale within the next 18 months. The Spanish manufacturer has been linked to a rapid expansion of its SUV line-up, with both a larger and smaller vehicle set to join the newly launched Atecain the range.
At the firm’s annual press conference in Madrid, new SEAT boss Luca de Meo confirmed that the Ibiza-based baby SUV will get the nod first, that it will be built at the company’s plant in Martorell near Barcelona and that it will go on sale in early 2017. A debut at next spring’s Geneva Motor Showis believed likely.
“This excellent news for both the brand and for our main factory,” said de Meo, ‘since it is the fastest growing segment and represents a firm step to become the third pillar of the company, with the families of the Ibiza and Leon.”
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The new small SUV is likely to be based on the smallest version of the VW Group’s MQB platform technology; indeed, company officials confirmed in Madrid that Martorell is already being adapted to build A0 cars on one of its production lines. The new SUV’s styling cues could well influence the next generation of the regular Ibiza supermini, which is scheduled to go on sale at some point in 2017.
The Ibiza SUV does not have a name, although SEAT registered a number of potential badges with trademark organisations late last year. Iqna is believed to be a leading contender, along with Teroqa and Teqta.
SEAT also confirmed at the conference that it made a profit after tax for the first time since 2008. The firm’s turnover rose by 11 per cent in 2015 to 8.3 billion euros, the highest figure in the company’s history and double what it posted back in 2009.
The Ibiza SUV does not have a name, although SEAT registered a number of potential badges with trademark organisations late last year. Iqna is believed to be a leading contender, along with Teroqa and Teqta.