SEAT has unveiled its much-awaited first SUV model, the Ateca, at the Geneva Motor Show.
The Spanish brand says that the model will become the “third pillar” of the brand, SEAT chairman Luca de Meo commeting that the Ateca has an essential role; “to help the brand take a further step forward in terms of image – Ateca will cover a steadily growing sub-segment in Western Europe in recent years.”
SEAT hopes that the car, named after a Spanish town and completely designed and developed in Barcelona, will sell partly on its styling – R&D head Matthia Rabe commenting that the Ateca shows a clear evolution of the brand’s design language.
“This car offers outstanding off-road capabilities and guarantees an exceptional driving experience in all kinds of conditions with perfect traction – the Ateca also includes innovative technology, for example in terms of lighting and connectivity,” Rabe adds.
Expected in the UK in September following a late spring launch in Germany and Spain, the Ateca will be offered in two and all-wheel-drive form, manual and DSG auto gearboxes, and with a range of both diesel and petrol engines.
Also promised in the car is a wide range of latest technology, including infotainment systems based around and eight-inch touchscreen, full connectivity and safety aids such as Traffic Jam Assist and Emergency Assist.
Industry sources suggest that the Ateca will be the first of a range of crossover-type vehicles form SEAT as the brand seeks to take advantage of a sector that it is mushrooming in popularity.
