The SEAT León, also spelled Leon in some other languages, is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer SEAT since October 1999.[3] It is named after the city of León (which also means "Lion" in Spanish).
The first two León generations used two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and shared many components with other Volkswagen Group cars. The third and fourth generation use the Volkswagen Group MQB platform, also used by the Audi A3 Mk3 and Mk4, Volkswagen Golf Mk7 and Mk8 and Škoda Octavia Mk3 and Mk4.
First generation (1M; 1999)
The Mk1 SEAT León hatchback (codename Typ 1M) launched in 1999,[4] and was produced at Martorell, with a small number of 13,401 cars assembled in Belgium.[5] Based on the Volkswagen Group A4 (PQ34) platform, it shared components with other VW Group models such as the Volkswagen Golf Mk4, but was marketed as a sportier and cheaper variant to that car. To reinforce this image it had a fastback design inspired by the Alfa Romeo Alfasud, and used firmer suspension with wider tyres to improve handling. The dashboard was derived from that of the first-generation Audi A3,[6] with the saloon version called the SEAT Toledo
Non-turbo petrol engines were the 1.4-litre 16 valve with 55 kW and 1.6-litre 8 valve with 74 kW. The facelift replacing the 8 valve with the 16 valve 77 kW unit. The sportier "León 20VT" (in the UK badged as "Cupra" and then "FR"), had a 1.8-litre Turbo with 132 kW. The fastest "Cupra R" had 154 kW, and later 165 kW.
The original Cupra was only available in the red, yellow and black colours of the Spanish and German national flags, as a homage to these countries collaborating on this project.[7]
In some countries there was a "Cupra 4" with a 2.8-litre VR6 delivering 150 kW and four-wheel drive (4WD). This uses the same Haldex Traction system as the Volkswagen Golf 4motion.[8]
A range of turbocharged direct injection (TDI) diesel engines were available, including a 110 kW version. Originally sold as a "Cupra 4 TDI" 4WD, it was only sold for one year in certain countries and then became 2WD. This facelift model was first badged "Cupra" in the UK, "Top Sport" in most European countries, and then "FR" everywhere. A limited number of "FR" cars were fitted with the "Cupra R" body kit and named "FR+". Lesser diesel versions were available with 66 kW, 81 kW and 96 kW.
All engines over 96 kW have a six-speed manual transmission. Rear suspension is semi-independent torsion beam, except for 4WD models fitted with multi-link independent rear suspension. All versions came with four wheel disc brakes.
In Switzerland there was an official tuner model by Abt Sportsline called "SEAT León Cupra 4 Kompressor". This version added a supercharger to the 2.8-litre VR6 producing 206 kW and 323 Nm of torque.[9][10][11]
Production of the Typ 1M ended in May 2006,[3] however the appreciation for the SEAT León Cupra R Mk1 continues. In a 2010 'best hot hatchback of all time' poll conducted by Autocar, its readers voted the Cupra R at number 7.[12]
Awards
- 'Carro do Ano' (Car of the Year) award in 2001, in Portugal[13]
- 'Most Satisfactory Car of the Year 2007' in Poland, by the Polish magazine Auto Swiat
Engine choices
The Typ 1M SEAT León was available with the following internal combustion engines, with all being shared with other marques of the Volkswagen Group:[3]
Second generation (1P; 2005)
Factory production of the second generation León, internal codename Typ 1P, commenced in May 2005.[3] Similar in design to the SEAT Altea that launched a year earlier, it debuted modern Alfa Romeo like design cues and vertically parked wipers. Volkswagen's Driver Steering Recommendation (DSR) was available as an option.
The Mk2 León used the new 16 valve 1.2-litre TSI petrol engine with 77 kW.[14] In some markets (e.g. Greece, Romania and Italy), the base Leon used the older 1.4-litre MPI engine producing 85 PS. Sportier FR badged variants began with the 110 kW 2.0-litre Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) and the popular 103 kW 2.0-litre Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine. Both were fitted with a six-speed manual transmission, with a six-speed or seven-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) as an option. A 136 kW 2.0 TFSI was introduced, but due to poor sales and the launch of FR models it was discontinued.
Third generation (5F; 2012)
The third generation of the León is based on the Volkswagen Group's latest MQB platform, which is shared with the seventh generation Volkswagen Golf.[43]
Compared to the previous generation, the León Mk3 is shorter by 5 cm and lighter by up to 90 kg; however, because its wheelbase has been extended by 5.8 cm, it has a roomier cabin with greater shoulder room for the front and rear passengers, more rear legroom and 380 L of boot space. The first official information and pictures of the car were released on 16 July 2012, with its public debut at the 2012 Paris Motor Show in September. It is the second car to be based on the MQB platform.
It features new safety equipment, such as driver knee airbag, and a number of new safety systems, including (often as standard) a multi-collision braking system to automatically brake the car after an accident in order to avoid a second collision, a lane-keeping assistant, and driver fatigue detection. The braking system includes a hill-start assistant.
In the interior, there is a driver-oriented centre console hosting a 5.8-inch touch-screen infotainment display with some models featuring a proximity sensor, also used in the Volkswagen Golf, as well as ambient lighting.
A new feature available for the first time in its class are the optional full-LED headlamps combined with a full beam assistant. The full-LED headlamps offer numerous advantages over standard halogen bulbs such as improved illumination, a close to daylight colour temperature, lower energy consumption and an extended service life.
Fourth generation (KL1/KL8; 2020)
A fourth generation of León was presented on 28 January 2020. It shares the MQB platform with the Volkswagen Golf Mk8, Skoda Octavia Mk4 and Audi A3 Mk4. It has an all digital cluster, is full LED-Light equipped and will have a wide range of petrol, diesel, plug-in hybrid and electric engines.
The fourth-generation León is 16mm narrower and 90mm longer than the previous generation of León. The five-door León boot capacity of 380 litres has remained unchanged, and the Estate's storage is increased by 30 litres to 617 litres compared to the previous generation.[78]
Engine options are two petrol TSI engines – a 1-litre three-cylinder producing 108 bhp and a 1.5-litre four-cylinder with either 128 bhp or 148 bhp. The TDI diesel option is a 2-litre producing either 113 bhp or 148 bhp.[78]
Also available is a (CNG) compressed natural gas 1.5 litre TGI unit that produces 96 kW/130PS of power giving the CNG-powered SEAT León a CNG range of 440 km (273 miles). When CNG tanks are depleted, the engine switches automatically to run on petrol until the next CNG refuelling.[78]
Motorsport
The first generation SEAT León Cupra R was the basis of a one-make trophy, the SEAT Leon Supercopa.[95] It operated in Spain, UK, Germany and Turkey from 2003. The car was developed by SEAT Sport and power was raised to 184 kW. An "International Masters" final, featuring the best four drivers from each national series, was introduced in October 2005, as a support race for the Spanish GT Championship's final round at Montmeló. A TDI-powered version has raced in the ECTS, an Italian-based endurance series for touring cars.
In 2006, the Supercopa León was replaced by the new shape León. The car is potentially faster than the WTCC version, as it features a turbocharged 2.0-litre engine, with over 221 kW, increased torque, the DSG gearbox, better aerodynamics (it includes the WTCC car's front and rear spoilers, plus a venturi tunnel under the car, instead of a flat bottom), and 18 inch wheels, instead of the mandatory 17 inch wheels from the WTCC.
For 2007, the SEAT Cupra Championship in the UK (part of the TOCA Package) will run both 'New León' Cupra Race cars with 221 kW, as well as the Mk1 León Cupra R race car with 184 kW.
The SEAT Leon Eurocup began in 2008 as a support series for the World Touring Car Championship.
The car came top in Class D in the 2014 Liqui Moly Bathurst 12 Hour.
Sales and production figures
Since its launch in 1999, more than 2 million SEAT León cars have been produced and sold in its three generations up to the present, made in SEAT's Martorell plant and other Volkswagen Group's factories.
In the year 2011, the total annual retail sales number of SEAT León cars was 77,075 vehicles,[97] while the annual production of vehicles came up to 80,736 units.
The total production per year of SEAT/Cupra León cars, manufactured in SEAT and other Volkswagen Group's plants, is shown below :
External links
- SEAT Leon – official SEAT UK website
- SEAT Leon in movies and TV series
- SEATCupra.Net UK's #1 SEAT Community
- LeonOC.com León Owners Club
- SEAT Leon ST First Look
- SEAT Leon ST X-perience dimensions
- eHybrid Cupra Leon
References
- SEAT elimina las últimas versiones de 3 puertas, el León SC y el Mii 9 August 2018^
- SPANISH BRAND SEAT TO STOP MAKING CARS BY 2030, CEO CONFIRMS Driving UK, retrieved 2023-09-07^
- ETKA^