What's the news?
SEAT has revealed this, the 20V20 concept at the big pre-Geneva Motor Show VW Group bash. It's a slick-looking SUV crossover that will form the basis of the long-awaited SEAT rival for the Nissan Qashqai and will be on sale in 2016.
Based on the ubiquitous VW Group MQB chassis (which is also under the Leon) the 20V20 (not sure what the production version will be called yet...) is 4.6-metres long and has, claims SEAT, a 600-litre boot making it rather more practical than a Qashqai. Don't expect the production model to get the 20-inch wheels from the concept though, or the electric scooter that folds up into the boot, which is supposed to allow 20V20 passengers use it for the last parts of their journeys.
Do expect SEAT's existing VW-sourced 1.6 and 2.0-litre TDI diesels and 1.2, 1.4 and 2.0-litre petrols as well as a plugin hybrid with a drivetrain lifted from the Golf GTE.
It will actually be built by Skoda in one of its Czech factories, not at SEAT's Martorell facility just outside Barcelona. Why? Labour rates are still much cheaper in the Czech Republic, making the car more potentially profitable. It will platform share with the next Skoda Yeti too, which makes good sense. The car should also be the starting point for a while family of SEAT SUVs and crossovers.