Members of the Volkswagen Group have been in discussions this week as to whether or not a new SUV will be added to SEAT's existing model line-up. No details have been confirmed as yet, but there is talk that, if agreed, the new car could take inspiration from the IBX Concept shown at the Geneva Motor Show back in 2011.
So far, SEAT is the only member of the Volkswagen Group that does without an SUV or a crossover model; thus missing out on a massive chunk of the growing segment in Europe. The SUV the company has planned would be built on the same MQB platform that underpins the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and SEAT Leon; and will also be the basis for vehicles such as the Audi Q1 that's planned for 2016.
So, with both the infrastructure and design already worked out, what's stopping it? Unfortunately, like most things, it's cost. SEAT is currently losing money, and the decision to add it to the line-up depends on whether or not it can be justified.
Despite its financial situation, SEAT's sales are on the rise with the latest generation Leon range; while the Toledo and Mii have also helped increase these figures by around ten per cent across Europe. The new SUV would be "an important strategic building block" according to SEAT President, Juergen Stackmann, who also said it would "fit the brand and develop another European sub-segment" for SEAT.
Anything else?
If the new model does come to fruition, the Volkswagen Group would consider building it at the firm's Skoda plant in Kvasiny, Czech Republic. Compared with the SEAT facility in Martorell, Spain, the Czech factory has much lower production costs and would see the model being produced alongside the next generation Skoda Yeti.