SEAT SUV confirmed for 2016

SEAT Compact SUV gets a green light for 2016 (SEAT IBX Concept pictured) SEAT has been threatening to build a compact SUV for years, and back in 2011 it revealed the IBX Concept (pictured above) which was the SEAT take on the Audi Q3. Now, finally, it seems VW has signed-off on SEAT’s compact SUV and the new compact SUV will hit the market in 2016, hopefully giving SEAT’s poor sales a real boost. Expected to be based on the VW MQB platform, the SEAT SUV should enable SEAT to properly compete in Europe and tap in to a market that has grown by 40 per cent in the last few years whilst SEAT’s existing market for its cars has shrunk and been compromised by a weak economy in Europe where the vast majority of SEAT’s sales are made.

2013 Ford Mondeo: Price cuts & new models

That means a simplified lineup for the new Mondeo and the introduction of a cheaper entry-level model – the Mondeo Graphite – and a new model at the top end – the Titanium X Business Edition – with more equipment and a lower price. The Mondeo Graphite comes with 17″ alloys, sports suspension, Bluetooth, AirCon and part leather and starts at £15,995 – more than £2k cheaper than the former entry-level Mondeo Edge. At the other end of the scale, Ford are introducing the Titanium X Business Edition which replaces both the Titanium and Titanium X, gets more equipment than the Titanium X and yet costs £1500 less.

Fiat 500L Trekking goes on sale: Price from £17,095

The Fiat 500L Trekkiing (pictured) is now on sale in the UK The Fiat 500L – Fiat’s 500 on steroids – went on sale back in December (and we’ve also had the 7-seat 500L MPW revealed), and now we get the rufty-tufty version of the 500L – the Fiat 500L Trekking – arriving in the UK, and costing from £17,095, just £700 more than the equivalent 500L without the butch bits. The 500L Trekking comes with Fiat’s Traction+, a clever traction technology that gives the 500L more grip on slippery surfaces, more rugged front and back treatments, bits of black plastic cladding and a set of 17″ alloys to make it look more suited to the boot sale car park than the regular 500L. Specification is based on the 500L Lounge – which means stuff like 5″ Touchscreen, Bluetooth, Hil Hold, electric door mirrors, Cruise, Climate, auto lights and wipers, electric windows and front fogs all come in the price.