2013 Seat Leon

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2013 Seat Leon is first car in its segment to receive full LED headlamps

Looking more aggressive than the previous model.

Later on this week Seat will introduce the new generation of the Leon at the Paris Motor Show. They will showcase only the five-door hatchback version which later on will be joined by the more practical ST and the sportier three-door SC coupe. The Spanish automaker has announced that the new Leon will be presented in both FR and SE specifications.

Advertised as being the first car in its segment to receive full LED headlamps, the 2013 Leon will be offered with a choice of five engines (depending on the market), with outputs varying from 89 hp to 181 hp (135 kW) for the 2.0-liter TDI. The most powerful gasoline engine to be available at first is going to be the 1.8-liter TSI with 178 hp (132 kW). Depending on the choice of the engine, the new Leon can get a 5- or a 6-speed manual transmission or a 6- and 7-speed DSG gearbox.

Riding on the MQB platform (Audi A3, VW Golf VII), the new Leon is about 198 lbs (90 kg) lighter than the model it replaces and will be available in a more frugal Ecomotive variant that promises to return 74.3 mpg UK (61.8 mpg US or 3.8 liters / 100 km) and have CO2 emissions of only 99 g/km.

Under the hood, a variety of engines will be available. Choices include:

• A 1.6-liter TDI with outputs of 90 PS (66 kW / 89) as well as 105 PS (77 kW / 104 hp) and 250 Nm (184 lb-ft) of torque
  
• A 2.0-liter TDI with outputs of 150 PS (110 kW / 148 hp) and 320 Nm (236 lb-ft) of torque as well as 184 PS (135 kW / 181 hp) and 380 Nm (280 lb-ft) of torque
  
• A 1.2-liter TSI with outputs of 86 PS (63 kW / 85 hp) and 105 PS (77 kW / 104 hp)
  
• A 1.4-liter TSI with 122 PS (90 kW / 120 hp)
  
• A 1.8-liter TSI with 180 PS (132 kW / 178 hp)
  

[tsupersonic]

I see a lot of Audi inspiration as well as some other German features/design...

[Astra.Xtreme]

As a perspective from a "dumb" American, are these SEAT cars considered a good-name brand over in Europe?

It looks pretty nice, but seeing as it's owned by VW, who knows.

Just curious. :)

[Praetor]

looks so much different from the previous model, bears a similance from the older models.

As a perspective from a "dumb" American, are these SEAT cars considered a good-name brand over in Europe?

It looks pretty nice, but seeing as it's owned by VW, who knows.

Just curious. :)

It's a brand getting more and more market share; in my country i see buckets of Seat cars :)

not cheap, mind you.

[philcruicks]

As a perspective from a "dumb" American, are these SEAT cars considered a good-name brand over in Europe?

It looks pretty nice, but seeing as it's owned by VW, who knows.

Just curious. :)

Its got an OK rep over here...but as you said owned by VW so most people would choose a golf over a leon, polo over an ibiza etc...

[Phouchg]

Poor man's A3 :)

[HawkMan]

Poor man's A3 :)

Also breaks less and costs a fraction to fix when it does break. But it's still "German" so I'd look elsewhere anyway.

Too much "perfect" engineering which is just another word for, breaks easy. Ooh, something is 0,2 nano meters out of alignment, the engine needs to be completely stripped and rebuilt.

[qdave]

It looks very Golf-like, but i quite like it!

And with " 3.8 liters / 100 km" i'd take it any day!

Too bad seats are not available in Canada.