The Seat Leon - a New Car on VW's Newest Platform

SeatSeatSpain, 1950 > present29 models
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is revealing more details about the next generation LeonSeat Seat Leon Gen.3Spain, 2012 > present146 versions
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that will ride on Volkswagen’sVolkswagenGermany, 1938 > present98 models
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new MQB platform. It underpins the new Audi A3Audi A3 Gen.3 [Typ 8V]Germany, 2012 > present275 versions
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and will be used on the next generation GolfVolkswagen GolfGermany, 1974 > present7 series
738 versions
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as well. The new car is completely new and will be the first Seat ever to have optional full LED headlights.

The Leon is a decisive step in SEAT’s brand and growth strategy. It will be launched towards the end of this year as a five-door and will subsequently grow with further variants into a fully-fledged family” said James Muir, President of Seat.

The new Leon is smaller outside, but has a larger interior. Seat also says that it improved the level of materials used on the inside. It is 4.26m long, which is 5cm shorter than the previous car. However, the wheelbase is 6cm longer. That gives the car very short overhangs and provides the increase in interior space.

The Leon is meant to be a very modern, five-door hatchback. It has standard LED running lights with optional full LED headlights, the first in its class. The car is almost rear-biased in terms of looks. The rear C-pillar is thicker than the rest giving significant weight to the rear of the design.

The luggage compartment offers 380 liters of room, which is 40 liters better than the previous generation.

The Leon should drive better than the previous car. It weighs 90kg less than the previous car and has the longer wheelbase. Depending on engine, the Leon will have either a torsion beam rear suspension or for engines with more than 150hp a multi-link rear suspension.

The FR versions will get the Seat Drive Profile that allows the driver to tune the power steering, throttle control and engine sound.

The engines will be between 1.2 liters and 2.0 liters with both diesels and petrol options. Seat is really pushing the 1.6 liter TDI Ecomotive engine with 105hp and 250Nm of torque that emits 99g/km of CO2 and uses 3.8l/100km.

The rest of the engine options are the 2.0 TDI with 150hp and 320Nm of torque and uses 4.0l/100km. In early 2013, Seat will add the 1.2 TSI with either 86hp or 105hp. It will also get a 1.4 TSI with 122hp, and the top engine will be a 1.8 TSI with 180hp. The other diesel engines are the 1.6 TDI with 90hp and the 2.0 TDI with 184hp.

Depending on the engine, the Leon will have five- or six-speed manual transmissions and six- or seven-speed DSG transmissions.

The new Leon will be on sale before the end of the year. Seat has not set an exact release date or unveiled the price.