Tuesday 1st March 2005

Seat shows off new Leon

Prototype indicates direction for 197bhp replacement

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Seat reveals a prototype of the new Leon at Geneva today. The prototype gives a clear indication of the look and image of the future Leon, which will build on the sporty character and reputation of the current car. Seat reckoned that the car also exhibits some of the features of the Seat Salsa, the concept car that was presented at this same show in 2000, and heralded the vision of the style and image for all new Seat cars to come.

In defence of its new product, Seat, a division of VW, said that the Leon prototype "has the distinctive lines of a modern coupe, but combines this sporty character with the space and comfort normally expected from a bigger saloon car in this class. Its 4,343 mm length, ample track and wheelbase make it ideal for comfortable driving in urban environments and also give it exceptional dynamic driving qualities for swift and safe travel on the open road.

"Although the Leon Prototype has a four-door body it conveys the image of a beautiful coupe thanks to the profile of the rear windows and the hidden handles on the rear doors. The wide rear hatch also ensures it provides maximum versatility."

The new Leon is powered by a turbo-charged 197bhp FSI direct injection petrol engine with maximum power available between 5,100 and 6,000 rpm. Power is transmitted to the front wheels through an automatic DSG six-speed gearshift and then to the road via 19-inch alloy wheels shod with 265/30 tyres. Top speed is said to be 145 mph, with the zero 60 dash covered in a hottish 6.9 seconds.

Other features in the prototype include, bi-function xenon headlights, four video cameras, two monitors and a DVD player. The four cameras transmit images from different viewpoints around the car, three outside and one inside. These images can be watched inside the car on two separate monitors, which can also play DVDs through the player located under the passenger seat.

The new Leon will be the third model in the new generation of Seat products following on from the Altea and Toledo, both also created in the Salsa mould.

Seat said its design team "has worked meticulously on the interior of the Leon prototype using leading edge technology and high-quality materials. The result is a spacious cabin configured as a 2+2 with an emotional and sporty ambience achieved by allowing the exterior design to reflect on the interior."

[tom_burnley]

Is it me, or does that back-end look like the Alfa??

[Beefmeister]

That'll be Walter De Silva designing them both...

And i'm now really confused by the Seat line-up.

We have 3 cars all with the same front end:
Leon - 3/5dr, sportier, lower
Altea - 5dr, more family oriented, taller
Toledo - 5dr, more family oriented, taller with boot.

Then again, its not too far from the VW Golf, Golf Plus, Touran, Golf Estate line-up...



Madness i tell you!

[andy_b]

Big article with design analysis and also a WTCC/BTCC concept racecar here:-

www.seatcupra.net/leon_prototype2005_geneva.htm




(I'm sure Ted wont mind me plugging SCN as we've worked together in the past)

>> Edited by andy_b on Tuesday 1st March 12:43

[dinkel]

Beefmeister said:

That'll be Walter De Silva designing them both...

www.dochemp.com/images/centrolambo03.jpg

www.mondom.com/auto/seat/seat_salsa.jpg

www.autonetplus.com/autonetpluscom/noticias/fotos/seat_salsa.jpg

Salsa looks nice! Something like a super Polo.

[LuS1fer]

The Leon was always an updated Alfasud in my view.


...except I wanted an Alfasud Ti desperately.

[andy_b]

LuS1fer said:

The Leon was always an updated Alfasud in my view. ...except I wanted an Alfasud Ti desperately.

correct, both front and rear...

andy_b from another thread said:

A designer who use to be at SEAT in the 90's let slip one day that the old Alfa Romeo Alfasud (a crackin car in its day) was the inspiration for SEAT and Giguario with the Leon, so you could say the Focus is too Ignore the 70's details like the chrome bumpers, but look at the light,grille and Alfa shield arrangement at fhe front.The Glass house is alo similar The rear is more obvious. The shallow rear window, with a hard crease just below the window line. which curves around the sides The rear lights floating half way up on the corner along with the window line and quite a large mass of bodywork between the lights. Shame they rusted, but it was a great car in its day and really was the first hot hatch with the 1.5 Ti - shame they rusted so quick

>> Edited by andy_b on Tuesday 1st March 15:26

>> Edited by andy_b on Tuesday 1st March 15:27

[LuS1fer]

STOP IT! I still want one! I had a 1200 Ti which was a peach in performance. A stunning little flat four with a bumblebee rasp that was quite intoxicating and handling that was top notch and never overpowered by the engine. Everything worked together beautifully. Totally sh*te build quality though. Rust would appear in the middle of the roof for no apparent reason, the radiator cooling fins would all drop out as they rusted.

I can lay the blame for taking so long to get a decent car squarely at Alfa's door as I would buy their cars cheap and still lose nearly all their value in a heartbeat. Also had a later 1980 1300 which wasn't half as good as the 1200 Ti although at least it started. LOL.

[ed.]

Blatant Alfa arse imitation, still looks better than the VW’s IMHO

[lanciachris]

Ahem. look what im picking up on saturday



Of course, if thats a bit too impure for your taste, I know a chap who would part with this



for a 1000 notes, 500 more for it to be mint! hes selling it to fund his racing sud, which has a 1.7 engine. with a 1.2 box

[Rob_F]

Nobody's mentioned that the new Leon actually looks like a bag of shit?

Cheers,
Rob.

[lanciachris]

Rob_F said:

Nobody's mentioned that the new Leon actually looks like a bag of shit? Cheers, Rob.

Hes right you know

[cuprabri]

Rob_F said:

Nobody's mentioned that the new Leon actually looks like a bag of shit?

Just you then!

Criticsm delivered in a way that 99% of PH readers will ignore.

BTW - a statement does not require a question mark.

[alextgreen]

Not pretty - but very distinctive and purposeful. Got the same kind of feeling I did when I first saw the Focus.

I doubt the cooking versions will look anywhere near as good.

[FestivAli]

Nose of the car looks as if its reeling from a sharp coke intake. Quite like it though, doubt we'll get it in Australia.

[Cupramax]

LuS1fer said:

The Leon was always an updated Alfasud in my view.

And no bad thing for it. I had an Alfasud in the early eighties, what a brilliant car. The Leon went some way to recreating what the Sud had (not the handling sadly) I mean the verve the car had.