New compact SEAT SUV teased for Geneva Motor Show reveal

SEAT has teased the arrival of a new compact SUV on their Twitter account which previews SEAT’s first SUV to be based on the SEAT Leon.

SEAT has been toying with producing a compact SUV for some time, with the 2011 SEAT IBX Concept pointing to a clear intention to enter the market.

So clear was the IBX Concept as a statement of intent, it looks to have strongly influenced SEAT’s latest SUV concept, at least judging from the teaser photo (above) which SEAT posted to their Twitter feed this morning.

Based on the SEAT Leon, which itself is closely related to the Audi A3 and Q3, the new SUV will have styling that’s influenced by both the Leon and IBX concept, with a raised ride height, a bit of butch bodywork and the option of four-wheel-drive.

It’s a sensible – and long overdue – move for SEAT to get in to the still burgeoning SUV market, and should help SEAT sales considerably. Which as they’re at the bottom of the VW Group’s profit generators will be much welcomed.

Despite SEAT building the Audi Q3 at their plant in Martorell, it seems likely the new SEAT SUV will actually be built by Skoda in the Czech Republic, and we’re expecting a production version of this concept to arrive at Frankfurt in September before going on sale in early 2016.

More on the new SEAT SUV from Geneva next week.