GENEVA MOTOR SHOW: SEAT Ateca SUV leaked

Pictures of SEAT’s most important vehicle it in its recent history have been leaked online almost three weeks ahead of its pubic debut at the Geneva motor show on March 1.

The pictures of what’s believed to be a production-spec SUV, called the Ateca, were leaked online by car blog Worldcarfans.com.

Set to go head-to-head with vehicles like the Nissan QASHQAI and the Hyundai Tucson, the new Ateca could help eventually relaunch the SEAT brand back in in Australia.

Twinned mechanically with the next-generation Tiguan, the Ateca also shares the familiar VW Group MQB architecture.

Under the bonnet the SEAT SUV packs the VW SUV’s engine line-up with a range of ‘TSI’ turbo-petrol engines outputting up to 220kW and TDI turbo-diesels with up to 176kW, matched to a dual-clutch DSG gearbox and Haldex all-wheel drive.

Some markets are almost certain to get front-wheel drive versions as well.

Later on, plug-in hybrid versions of both the petrol and diesel are expected.

Thought to share the same dimensions as last year’s concept, the Ateca should measure in at 4659mm long, 1841mm wide and 1600mm high.

Inside, at first glance the Ateca looks almost identical to the recently launched Tiguan, but look closer and the SEAT has different air vents and places the sat-nav fractionally higher in the dash compared to the Volkswagen.

The Ateca, if priced competitively, is just the car SEAT needs to succeed in SUV-loving Australia after an absence of almost 17 years.

Fuelling rumours a return could be on the cards was SEAT’s design chief, Jurgen Stackmann, who told motoring.com.au in October 2015: “I think our new Leon range clearly fits the Australian market. With the compact SUV coming in 2016 that will be an appropriate time to re-enter the market.”

“First we need the right line-up to start with. With the Leon family range, plus the SUV coming, it would be a very good time to look at Australia.”