Volkswagen's Spanish brand Seat will be introduced to New Zealanders next year, including its high-performance Cupra hot hatch.
The Seat Ateca compact SUV will also go on sale here next year as part of the model line-up, imported by Auckland-based European Motor Distributors.
The growth of the SUV market has helped persuade EMD to import the brand, said the Seat NZ general manager James Yates.
"Given the dominance of SUV body styles in New Zealand, the recent launch by SEAT of the all-new Ateca SUV was the catalyst that led to SEAT making an entrance into the New Zealand market, " he said.
The Ateca at 4.36 metres long and 1.84 metres wide will compete head-on in the popular compact SUV segment.
At launch the Ateca will be joined by the new Seat Leon in 5-door hatchback guise.
"Whilst full pricing and specification data is yet to be released, hot-hatch aficionados will be pleased to hear that the Leon Cupra with 300 horsepower will certainly make its presence felt on New Zealand roads,” he said.
Other models would further expand the Seat offering in the months following launch.
He said initially Seat would be represented in New Zealand by one Auckland sales & service dealer.
Seat, established in 1950 and a part of the Volkswagen Group since the mid-1980’s, is located in Martorell, near Barcelona, Spain. In 2015 400,000 SEAT
vehicles were sold around the world.