Wednesday 3rd August 2005

Seat announces new Leon prices

Top-end car offers 182bhp

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Seat Leon: not another Golf?

Seat UK has announced the specification and pricing for the new Leon -- although it's gone a bit coy about the new 182bhp 2-litre version. On sale from 17 September 2005, the line up will initially consist of 12 models with five engines and five trim levels and prices starting at £11,295 OTR.

The five engines top out with the 2-litre TFSI powerplant, which will be available from November. The other four engines are the 1.6 100bhp and 2.0 FSI 148bhp petrols and the 1.9 TDI 104bhp and the 2.0 TDI 138bhp diesels. The 1.6 and 1.9 are both linked to 5-speed gearboxes and the 2.0 TDI and 2.0 FSI to 6-speed manual boxes as standard, with the option of a Tiptronic automatic gearbox for the petrol and a DSG for the diesel.

Trim levels

Leon Sport trim level uses the top top-end motors, both with 6-speed gearboxes and the option of a DSG gearbox with the diesel. This specification has the same equipment as Stylance (see below), but also gains 17-inch five-spoke light-alloy wheels, 225/45 tyres, sports suspension, sports seats and "exclusive" interior styling.

The new entry level trim is the Leon Essence. This model is powered by the 105PS 1.6 engine and standard specification includes six airbags (driver and front passenger, front side and two curtain airbags), tyre pressure monitoring, ISOFIX child seat anchorage, tinted windows, one-touch electric front windows, FM/AM radio/CD player with six speakers, remote central locking with a three-button folding key and a height-adjust driver’s seat.

Leon Reference trim offers the same standard specification as Essence but adds air conditioning along with the choice of the EUIV 1.9 105PS TDI engine.

Leon Reference Sport specification makes the more powerful 2.0 litre petrol and TDI engines available in a specification similar to Reference with the addition of some sporty features such as front fog lights, six-speed gearbox, sports suspension, 16 inch alloy wheels, sports seats plus leather steering wheel and gear knob.

Leon Stylance builds on the Reference specification with some comfort and functional features: ‘Coming Home’ headlamps, electrically adjustable door mirrors with park function, dual zone climate control, eight speaker radio/CD system with steering wheel controls, illuminated sun visors, cruise control, ESP and EBA, locking wheel bolts, trip computer, and height- and lumbar-adjustable front driver’s seat. Available engines for Stylance are 1.6, 2.0 FSI or 1.9 TDI and a Tiptronic gearbox option is available in Stylance trim coupled with the 2.0 FSI engine.

Seat Leon prices

Leon 1.6 Essence	£11,295
Leon 2.0 Reference Sport	£14,220
Leon 1.6 Stylance	£12,995
Leon 2.0 FSI Stylance	£15,320
Leon 2.0 FSI Stylance Tiptronic	£15,995
Leon 2.0 TFSI Sport	£TBA
Leon 1.9 TDI Reference	£12,995
Leon 2.0 TDI Reference Sport	£14,995
Leon 2.0 TDI Sport	£16,495
Leon 2.0 TDI Sport DSG	£17,295

 

[pallison]

This looks just like the Seat Altea, which in turn looks just like the new Seat Cordoba(?) which is the same car again except with the big bum of a Renault Megane stuck on....

Why are Seat are trying to make all their cars look the same? At least it makes a change from the VW Golf.

BTW my wife has the old Leon, and it's a good family hatch - hopefully the new one is just as good.

[htsd]

I saw one of these Leons when I was in Copenhagen (they don't have them here in New Zealand) and I thought it was a really good-looking car. I couldn't believe it was a Seat! I'd rate it above the new Golf, the 206, current Focus, for sure. The 2L would be a bit of fun too for hopefully a reasonable price.