I was quite stunned by this press release. For such a small population, New Zealand already seems to have a huge range of new brands to choose from . Then along comes another…just think of the infrastructure, training and parts supply required for yet another brand.

Then again, any company wanting to introduce a 300hp hot hatch has my blessing.

Good luck with your return, SEAT.


Award winning SEAT SUV, the Ateca, to be sold in New Zealand Ateca will be joined by the SEAT Leon – Leon Cupra with 300hp confirmed for sale.

Sales will initially occur from one Auckland dealership.

Auckland, 16/12/2016 – European Motor Distributors is excited to announce that its portfolio of brands will increase by one in the second quarter of 2017 with the introduction of the SEAT brand.
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. The Ateca at 4.36 metres long and 1.84 metres wide will compete head-on in the popular compact SUV segment.

the-seat-ateca

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, recently appointed SEAT New Zealand General Manager James Yates said that “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.”

Other models will further expand the SEAT offering in New Zealand in the months following launch. Initially SEAT will be represented in New Zealand by one Auckland sales & service dealer.

Further details relating to the Auckland dealership and the SEAT New Zealand product offering will be released at a later stage.

SEAT, established in 1950 and a part of the Volkswagen Group since the mid-1980’s, is located in Martorell, just a short drive from Barcelona, Spain. In 2015 400,000 SEAT vehicles were sold around the world – with the launch of Ateca mid this year, this is expected to rise considerably.

*Press Releases are direct from the Manufacturer, and not edited in any way.

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Fred Alvrez
How on earth to start this? I've been car/bike/truck crazy since I was a teen. Like John, I had the obligatory Countach poster on the wall. I guess I'm more officially into classic and muscle cars than anything else - I currently have a '65 Sunbeam Tiger that left the factory the same day as I left the hospital as a newborn with my mother. How could I not buy that car? In 2016 my wife and I drove across the USA in a brand-new Dodge Challenger, and then shipped it home. We did this again in 2019 in a 1990 Chev Corvette - you can read about that trip on DriveLife, and again in 2023 buying a C5 Corvette and shipping it home. I'm a driving instructor and an Observer for the Institute of Advanced Motorists - trying to do my bit to make our roads safer.

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