Seat UK director Kevin James, director for Seat in the UK, wants the small two-seater Tango roadster concept to be turned into reality to generate showroom traffic.

Styled by Briton Steve Lewis, Seat's chief of exterior design, the Tango is a potential rival for Ford's Pininfarina-built StreetKa and Smart's roadster.

Based on the running gear of a Seat Cupra rally car, it was built by Ital Design in Italy with a 180bhp engine and a potential price of around £10,000 for a less powerful version.

Mr James said: “ Seat is developing a stylish performance niche similar to Alfa Romeo's within Fiat Auto. That process takes several years to come through, but something like the Tango can only help.”

He predicted Seat would register a record 26,000 cars in the UK this year, a 1.1% market share and 30% up in terms of volume over 2000. By 2005 Seat's UK director expects 40,000 sales or 2% of total volume.

Mr James said “hardening” Seat residuals led to dealers “clamouring” for used vehicles while a £17m promotional budget (including £12m on TV advertising) helped to raise brand awareness.