Photo: SEAT
It seems SEAT has grown tired of sitting in Volkswagen's shadow and is doing thigs its own way. After making its first SUV much smaller than the Tiguan, it now plans to introduce a crossover that will be available with an electric powertrain.
Even though most SEAT customers don't want to buy an EV at the moment, the company cannot afford to stay out of the game for much longer.
Details of the project come from Romanian magazine Automarket, who says it has learned about the project directly from SEAT officials during a recent press conference. That must have been the most fruitful delegation ever for them, because nobody else can confirm or deny the crossover will be called Marbella or that it will be available as an EV.
While Audi based the Q2 on the MQB and made it quite big at 4.2 meters, SEAT needs to slop this crossover well below the 4.34-meter Ateca. As a result, they will use the platform of the city car triplets, the Up!, Mii and Citigo, or so the claims this report.
Previous semi-official reports indicated Volkswagen pulled the funds from the "Taigun" crossover they planned to make using the bones of the Up!. Could SEAT have gotten a really good deal a second-hand prototype?
The Marbella, yet another car named after a city in Spain, has been in production before, as a sort of premium version of the Fiat Panda. There were van versions and even a Popemobile used by John Paul II during his visit to Spain.
We expect most versions will use conventional engines like the 1.0 TSI and 1.4 TDI, both 3-cylinder units with great fuel economy. However, for the true Eco-conscious, SEAT will build the first EV. The onboard battery will offer a claimed maximum range of 200 kilometers or 124 miles, similar to the Renault Zoe.
The same Romanian media report has insightful information about the rest of SEAT's model range. An all-new Ibiza will join the Leon facelift at this year's Paris Motor Show. The Ateca will also gain FR and X-Perience trim levels, but those will arrive a little later.
Details of the project come from Romanian magazine Automarket, who says it has learned about the project directly from SEAT officials during a recent press conference. That must have been the most fruitful delegation ever for them, because nobody else can confirm or deny the crossover will be called Marbella or that it will be available as an EV.
While Audi based the Q2 on the MQB and made it quite big at 4.2 meters, SEAT needs to slop this crossover well below the 4.34-meter Ateca. As a result, they will use the platform of the city car triplets, the Up!, Mii and Citigo, or so the claims this report.
Previous semi-official reports indicated Volkswagen pulled the funds from the "Taigun" crossover they planned to make using the bones of the Up!. Could SEAT have gotten a really good deal a second-hand prototype?
The Marbella, yet another car named after a city in Spain, has been in production before, as a sort of premium version of the Fiat Panda. There were van versions and even a Popemobile used by John Paul II during his visit to Spain.
We expect most versions will use conventional engines like the 1.0 TSI and 1.4 TDI, both 3-cylinder units with great fuel economy. However, for the true Eco-conscious, SEAT will build the first EV. The onboard battery will offer a claimed maximum range of 200 kilometers or 124 miles, similar to the Renault Zoe.
The same Romanian media report has insightful information about the rest of SEAT's model range. An all-new Ibiza will join the Leon facelift at this year's Paris Motor Show. The Ateca will also gain FR and X-Perience trim levels, but those will arrive a little later.
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