Seat teases a vehicle for the 2015 Geneva Auto Show. Could this be its long rumored SUV?

By Alexander Kalogianni February 27, 2015

SEAT Geneva Auto Show Teaser — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Seat, the Spanish automaker that lives under Volkswagen’s umbrella, released a tweet showing a teaser image of what the brand has lined up for us at next weeks Geneva Auto Show. From what we can tell, we can only say for sure that it will have headlights. At least one, anyway.

Screen Shot 2015-02-27 at 4.16.00 PM — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Yes, it’s not much to go on, but there’s not a whole lot of info kicking around as to just what it could be. The prevailing theory is that we’re getting closer to seeing an SUV from a brand that doesn’t manufacture anything larger than a wagon.

SEAT IBX concept — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Back in 2011 Seat brought out its IBX concept to Geneva, stating to Automotive News that a Skoda-run plant would be putting out an SUV, slated for a 2016 launch. The key design elements have since been completed and now, the focus is preparing to engineer the end result, which will most likely be what we’ll see on stage next week.

The SUV business is a good one to be in at the moment, as they estimate that 1 million of them are sold annually across Europe. As for the vehicle itself, information around it is as minimal as it gets, with only some educated guesses that whatever is being built will be constructed on top of Volkswagen’s MQB or Modular Transversal Toolkit, abbreviated from the original German.

Like the rest of the truckloads of teasers, spoilers and spy shots we’ve seen this month, this one will be answered in just a few short days at the Geneva Show next week.

Editors' Recommendations

Geneva Motor Show canceled due to coronavirus outbreak

Topics

Alexander Kalogianni

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Alex K is an automotive writer based in New York. When not at his keyboard or behind the wheel of a car, Alex spends a lot of…

Cars

Mercedes-Benz EQG: range, price, release date, and more

Concept image of the larger electric G-Wagon

The G-Class is going electric. We already knew that Mercedes-Benz was working on an electric, small-size G-Wagon, but it looks like the company is also working on a larger G-Class SUV, in the form of the EQG. In fact, Mercedes has gone as far as to show off a concept version of the off-roader.

While there's much we don't know about what will become the production model of the EQG, Mercedes has also shared a lot about it. Curious about whether the Mercedes-Benz EQG could be the EV for you? Here's everything we know so far.
Design
Fear not -- the EQG will retain many of the design aspects of the G-Class that you already know and love but with a modern face-lift. The EQG will keep the boxy design that gives the G-Class a classic look but with some additional modern styling, at least if the concept version is anything to go by.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs. Kia EV9: battle of affordable electric SUVs

Kia EV9 GT-Line Three Quarters

The long-awaited Rivian R2 has finally been announced, and it's an excellent option for those who want an electric SUV that doesn't completely break the bank. Sure, the R2 isn't cheap -- but it's a whole lot cheaper than most other EVs out there, especially when it comes to SUVs. But Rivian isn't the only company trying to tackle the problem of the budget electric SUV. The Kia EV9 is finally available, and it too offers a modern design and a range of helpful features.

Given the fact that the Rivian R2 and Kia EV9 are two electric SUVs in a similar price range, you might be wondering which is better for your needs. That's why we put the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 head-to-head.
Design
Both the Rivian R2 and the Kia EV9 are actual SUVs -- not crossovers pretending to be SUVs, like plenty of other EVs out there. The two vehicles offer big, boxy designs and plenty of interior space, making them excellent options for families or those who need that extra storage.

Cars

Rivian R2 vs R1S: How will Rivian’s cheaper SUV compare?

The front three-quarter view of a 2022 Rivian against a rocky backdrop.

Rivian has finally unveiled the R2, its long-awaited attempt at a more affordable electric SUV. The new vehicle may not be available just yet, but fans of Rivian's design aesthetics and feature set are already looking forward to being able to order the new car. The R2 is targeted at being a more affordable take on the electric SUV and will sit alongside the flagship-tier R1S.

Let's get this out of the way right now: The R1S is most likely going to be a better vehicle than the R2. Rivian isn't replacing the R1S with the R2 — it's releasing the R2 as a more affordable alternative, and there will be some compromises when buying the R2 over the R1S.