A test prototype for the upcoming SEAT SUV has been seen for the first time after the Spanish car company unveiled the 20V20 preview concept at the Geneva Motor Show.
Even though heavy black camouflage covers all the bodywork, we can still see that the production SUV will look similar but not identical to its concept brother. The features are a little bit less sharp, and the greenhouse is taller to give you extra visibility. That's not a bad thing, now is it?!
SEAT only recently started offering all-wheel drive with its vehicles, so it's a good thing that their first 4x4 shares many components and know-how with Volkswagen. The same MQB platform that underpins the Leon and the upcoming Tiguan II will be adopted, giving them access to the latest engines.
It's very likely that all the engines will be 4-cylinder turbocharged ones, starting with the 125 PS 1.4 TSI and working up to something like the 184 PS 2-liter diesel. SEAT officials hinted that they are considering a Cupra version, yet said the FR badge would be a much better fit for a sporty yet comfortable vehicle. There's the potential to offer more powerful 2-liter engines, such as the 240 hp BiTDI and a 230 TSI from the Golf GTI, but we don't think SEAT will tap into it yet.
The all-wheel drive will take the form of an electronically-controlled Haldex 5 coupling located at the back. As for the gearboxes, we think most if not all versions of the SUV will have the 6-speed manual and Doppelkupplungsgetriebe…aka DSG.
This C-segment model has been confirmed for a 2016 debut and will compete with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4 and high-spec versions of the Nissan Qashqai. However, SEAT is also preparing a much smaller "Ibiza SUV" that's going to debut a year later.
Production of this larger model is rumored to take place as the same factory as the Skoda Yeti, but Spanish facilities have been earmarked for a major investment.
Even though heavy black camouflage covers all the bodywork, we can still see that the production SUV will look similar but not identical to its concept brother. The features are a little bit less sharp, and the greenhouse is taller to give you extra visibility. That's not a bad thing, now is it?!
SEAT only recently started offering all-wheel drive with its vehicles, so it's a good thing that their first 4x4 shares many components and know-how with Volkswagen. The same MQB platform that underpins the Leon and the upcoming Tiguan II will be adopted, giving them access to the latest engines.
It's very likely that all the engines will be 4-cylinder turbocharged ones, starting with the 125 PS 1.4 TSI and working up to something like the 184 PS 2-liter diesel. SEAT officials hinted that they are considering a Cupra version, yet said the FR badge would be a much better fit for a sporty yet comfortable vehicle. There's the potential to offer more powerful 2-liter engines, such as the 240 hp BiTDI and a 230 TSI from the Golf GTI, but we don't think SEAT will tap into it yet.
The all-wheel drive will take the form of an electronically-controlled Haldex 5 coupling located at the back. As for the gearboxes, we think most if not all versions of the SUV will have the 6-speed manual and Doppelkupplungsgetriebe…aka DSG.
This C-segment model has been confirmed for a 2016 debut and will compete with the Honda CR-V, Toyota RAV-4 and high-spec versions of the Nissan Qashqai. However, SEAT is also preparing a much smaller "Ibiza SUV" that's going to debut a year later.
Production of this larger model is rumored to take place as the same factory as the Skoda Yeti, but Spanish facilities have been earmarked for a major investment.