► New compact SUV called ‘Arona’
► Based on next-gen Ibiza hatchback
► Due to be revealed later this year
Just when you thought there was enough choice in the compact SUV market, along comes another new contender – in the form of Seat’s Arona.
The new Arona, which is based on the upcoming next-gen Ibiza, will be the second SUV in Seat’s range – sitting alongside the Ateca. Rivals are myriad, and include the likes of the Nissan Juke, Jeep Renegade, Toyota C-HR, Renault Captur and Mazda CX-3.
Given the prevalence and popularity of SUVs and crossovers, the new Arona could help Seat bolster its sales and forge itself more of a meaningful presence in the UK.
What will the production version look like?
Expect it to emulate the bigger Ateca, but there will likely be a few design cues borrowed from the Ibiza on which it is based.
It’ll be a similar story inside, with sources suggesting that the Arona will adopt the Ibiza’s interior in its entirety.
No technical details have been confirmed yet, but there will likely be an Ibiza-aping range of turbocharged petrol and diesel engines.
Has the name been confirmed?
In September 2016 Seat announced that it would launch a new crossover dubbed the Arona. The name is shared with a city on the island of Tenerife, in line with the brand’s typical approach of naming its products after Spanish locations, as well as a town in Italy.
Seat’s president, Luca de Meo, added: ‘The Leon, the Ibiza and the new Arona, together with the Ateca, are going to strengthen Seat from a commercial, financial and brand image standpoint. 2017 is going to be a very special year for Seat.’
Where will it be built?
The Arona will be built, and was developed, at Seat’s facility in Martorell, Spain.
When will the Arona be revealed in full?
It’s expected to make its debut later this year, most likely at the Frankfurt motor show in September.
This isn’t the last in the SUV line from Seat, either – there are rumours of a larger version on the way, which will share its underpinnings with the Skoda Kodiaq and VW Tiguan Allspace.
See more spy shots
