SEAT confirms small sequel to Ateca SUV on the way

SEAT has confirmed its recently launched Ateca SUV will be followed up quickly by a smaller Nissan JUKE rival that will be on sale by the middle of next year.

The news that another SUV is on its way revealed in a press release that reported on its 2015 results.

Returning to profit for the first time since 2008, last year SEAT made 400,000 cars, making an after-tax profit of $9 million.

Off the back of an impressive turnaround (it lost $100 million in 2014) the Spanish car-maker says it now plans to introduce four new models over the next two years.

With the Ateca and now small SUV confirmed, it means another two other secret models are in the development that could include yet another SUV, this time a sister car to the recently shown Skoda Kodiaq at the Geneva motor show two weeks ago.

On sale by the middle of the 2017, the new small SUV is thought to have been co-developed along with the Audi Q2.

That means it too will be based on the versatile MQB platform.

Unlike the Q2, four-wheel drive has already been ruled out by SEAT insiders, who claim “our customers won’t pay €2000 extra for it”.

It’s always been hoped that a line-up of competitively priced SUVs could help the Spanish car-maker’s return Down Under.

Last on sale more than 17 years ago, SEAT’s own design chief Jurgen Stackmann hinted at a possible return back 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,” he said at the time.

“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.”