After announcing a sub-Ateca SUV last week, Seat will continue their foray into the segment with an even smaller vehicle.
According to Automarket, the brand’s third SUV will share the same platform with the VW Group’s city car trio: VW Up!, Skoda Citigo and Seat Mii, and may bring back the Marbella moniker, which was previously used throughout the ’80s and ’90s on Seats’s Fiat Panda-based hatch, succeeded by the Arosa.
Seat is said to launch the new Marbella with a choice of petrol powertrains and an all-electric motor. The electric model will have a driving range of up to 200 km (124 miles) and will be available only through a lease-like system, with the automaker’s dealers accepting an initial deposit and monthly payments that will cover maintenance and insurance. As Seat continues to improve the batteries, owners will be given the choice to trade their car with a new one, at the end of the contract, while the old vehicle will be re-rented.
In addition to the Marbella story, the same report says that this year’s edition of the Paris Motor Show will host the debut of a new generation Seat Ibiza, which will be underpinned by the MQB platform. The supermini’s design will mirror that of the Ateca and will go on sale in a year’s time. In 2017, the Spanish brand will also roll out a facelifted version of the Leon and the vehicle family is expected to count two more versions of the recently launched Ateca: the sportier FR and a more rugged X-Perience, with plastic body cladding.
Note: Seat 20v20 Concept pictured
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