SEAT has launched a project – #SEATseekingName – inviting members of the public to come up with a Spanish place name for the Ateca’s big brother.

Since the announcement last March of the launch of this new SUV, SEAT says it has already received proposals from all over Spain to name the new model and in light of the stir it has caused, the brand decided to seize the opportunity to launch this initiative for the first time in its history.

The principal criteria is that the name for the new model must be taken from Spanish geography.

At the presentation of the project, SEAT President Luca de Meo explained that,“SEAT has decided to call upon every fan of the brand to propose and later vote on the name of the new SUV which is set to make history. In our efforts to launch #SEATseekingName, we have redefined the typical process in order to engage the public and followers of the brand all over the world in the project from start to finish”.

The initiative consists of four stages:

1. Proposals for names. Beginning today and running until 22 June, anyone can propose their favourite name for SEAT’s new model. In addition to the Spanish geography criteria, SEAT has included, among others, that the name matches the company’s brand values and product characteristics and that it is easy to pronounce in different languages. Each of the proposals received will be taken into consideration during this stage, regardless of the number of participants that submit each proposal.
2. Shortlisting of entries. In view of the established set of criteria, experts at SEAT and in naming will be involved in the pre-selection stage, as well as customers from different countries in the focus groups organised by the brand, and tests will be carried out in the markets to shortlist at least three names that will be voted on. The finalist names will be announced on 12 September at the Frankfurt Motor Show.
3. Vote for the finalists. Public voting will be open from 12 to 25 September to select the favourite candidate among the chosen finalists. The winner will be the one with the most votes.
4. Announcement of the winning name. SEAT will reveal the name of the company’s new SUV by October 15th.

The initiative will take place internationally via the website seat.com/seekingname.

Since SEAT launched the Ronda in 1982, Spain’s geography has already provided the name for a total of 13 brand models: Ronda, Ibiza, Malaga, Marbella, Toledo, Inca, Alhambra, Cordoba, Arosa, Leon, Altea and the two latest, Ateca and Arona.

The new model, arriving in 2018, will top off SEAT’s SUV trio, following the Ateca and the Arona, which is set to make its debut in the second half of 2017.