SEAT'S Terra put back
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• Strong demand for SEAT Ibiza hatchbacks has put back the launch of the long-awaited SEAT Terra high-top van well into 1988. If the Spanish manufacturer is not convinced it could sell enough right-handdrive versions, it may well drop its plans to bring in the Marbelia Terra into the UK altogether.
At the start of the year, SEAT Concessionaires (UK) announced that it would be launching the right-hand-drive Terra high-top van in Britain in October. A number of lefthand-drive versions were also brought into the country late in 1986 for evaluation.
Strong sales of Ibizas, however, has meant that the projected launch of the Marbella Trans car, and ultimately the Terra van which is based on the Marbella Trans, has now been put back to at least April next year.
SEAT's Roger Raggett says that the UK importers don't know when they will be getting the high-top van as they are still waiting for a positive decision from Spain.
The Terra van is based on a modified Fiat Panda floor pan, but with a purpose-built 2.45r0 box body similar to the Fiat Fiorino's, and a revised front end. With a kerbweight of 740kg, and a gross weight of 1,230kg, the Terra has a payload of around 400kg.
Although the Terra van is currently sold on the Continent with a choice of either an 850cc or 903cc Fiat-derived petrol engine, the final driveline specification for a right-hand-drive version has not been decided on. Since starting up in late 1985, SEAT has already sold some 15,000 Ibiza saloons in Britain.