Seat Leon SC Takes Away Two Doors to Add Sportiness

SeatSeatSpain, 1950 > present29 models
2350 photos
4 videos
has debuted the Leon SCSeat Seat Leon Gen.3Spain, 2012 > present146 versions
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three-door that is meant to bring a little more sportiness to the Leon hatchback. It will be offered in Reference, Style and FR trim levels.

“The new Leon SC is the design icon of the model line-up. It conveys perfectly the core values of the SEAT brand – design and dynamics, technology and quality, all at a fair price,” said James Muir, President of Seat.

The Leon SC is inspired by Seat's IBESeat IBE ConceptSpain, 2010 > 20104 photos
and IBLSeat IBL ConceptSpain, 2011 > 201127 photos
1 video
concepts. The new car has a 35mm (1.3in) shorter wheelbase compared to five-door Leon and has shorter overhangs than the previous generation, which is supposed to give it more dynamic handling.

Seat gave the car what it calls the "arrow face" design that has all of the lines pointing toward a single point at the front of the car. It gives the front a triangular look that is carried to the headlights. Also, in comparison to the five-door, the rear glass is tilted back a further 19 degrees. From the side, the car has a ratio of one-third glass to two-thirds body that is meant to give a firmer visual stance

Inside, Seat tried to give the car a driver-focused cockpit. The interior is uncluttered with large instrument dials and optional multifunction steering wheel. The seats have been redesigned with adjustable height. Even with a sporty look and two fewer doors, it holds 380l (13.42ft³) in the luggage compartment. 

Seat wants buyers to know that the Leon brings style and technology to the Leon range. It will offer a diesel and petrol engine range between 1.2-liters and 2.0-liters and horsepower between 86hp and 184hp. The most efficient in the lineup is the 1.6 TDI with 105hp and start/stop. It emits 99g/km of CO2 and uses 3.8l/100km. There is also a 90hp version of the 1.6 TDI without start/stop. The other engine options are the 2.0 TDI with 150hp that uses 4.1l/100km or 184hp. The petrol engines include the 1.4 TSI with 122hp and start/stop or 140hp, 1.2 TSI with either 86hp or 105hp. The 1.8 TSI is the top engine in the range with 180hp but will not be available until later in 2013. 

Depending on engine, the transmissions available are a five- or six-speed manual or a six- or seven-speed DSG. 

All of the versions with above 150hp get a multi-link rear suspension. Lesser-powered versions have a torsion beam rear suspension.