SEAT confirms it will launch its first SUV in 2016

SEAT

The Spanish carmaker SEAT today confirmed it will launch its first SUV in two years' time. Likely to be inspired by the IBX concept car, the new SEAT 4x4 will share technology with Volkswagen's compact SUV range.

Little has been announced about the launch of SEAT's SUV, but the company has shown a clutch of concept cars over the past decade, including the IBX (above) and the Tribu (below).

They show how the brand's 'arrowhead' design can be applied to a taller, more practical family car.

SEAT revealed that its new SUV will be in showrooms in 2016, pointing to a motor show debut in the next 18 months.

"This is an excellent piece of news, since it takes SEAT into a new territory, in one of the largest and fastest growing segments in the world," said the firm's chairman, Jürgen Stackmann, at the annual results event in Spain. "The SUV is an important pillar in the future corporate strategy and is a major step forward on the road to reaching sustainable profitability for the company."

SEAT

SEAT has struggled with profitability in recent years, but it today reported record revenues of €6.4 billion, as sales of the Leon family hatch grew. Car manufacturers are desperately piling into the SUV sector to soak up growing sales of 4x4-inspired cars and SEAT's bid to join them was recently rubber-stamped by the board of Volkswagen, which owns the Spanish carmaker.

The as-yet-unnamed SEAT SUV is expected to share the technology architecture of the VW Tiguan family - meaning the oily bits will be shared across the brands. It is being developed at SEAT's Martorell R&D base outside Barcelona.

Expect most models to be equipped with front-wheel drive, to cut fuel consumption and emissions, although higher-spec SEATs will be available with four-wheel drive for some mild off-roading ability. Not to mention taming the power of what is likely to be a high-performance Cupra version.

The SUV sector is worth nearly one million units a year in Europe alone - and has grown more than 40% over the past five years.

On Bing: see more photos of SEATs
Buy a used SEAT on Auto Trader
Read more about the SEAT IBX concept car

By Tim Pollard, managing editor, MSN Cars