SEAT León
Encyclopedia
The SEAT León is a small family car built by the Spanish
car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group
subsidiary SEAT, S.A.
since October 1998.
The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with the Volkswagen Golf
, Volkswagen Jetta
, Audi TT
, Audi A3
and Škoda Octavia
.
, and the relates saloon version was known as the SEAT Toledo
. It was based on the Volkswagen Group
A4 (PQ34) platform and, as such, shared many components in common with other VW Group models such as the Volkswagen Golf Mk4
, Bora and Audi A3
. As SEAT's first C-segment model as part of the VW Group, the León Mk1 was marketed as a sportier and cheaper variant of the Golf. To reinforce the sporty image, the vehicle had slightly more aggressive looks. The more expensive versions were equipped with relatively more powerful internal combustion engine
s, along with firmer suspension
to improve handling. In the interior, the dashboard
was derived from that of the first-generation Audi A3.
Available engines were the 1.4 litre 16 valve
petrol engine which produced a 55 kW, a 1.6 litre 8 valve petrol engine
74 kW (replaced later with a 16 valve 77 kW unit), and included two variants of the Volkswagen Group's 20 valve turbocharged
1.8 litre powerplant, (with some countries also getting the 2.8 litre VR6 engine
delivering 150 kW. The original "León Cupra" (which later became known as the "Cupra T") had a 1.8 litre Turbo with 132 kW, and the "León Cupra R" 154 kW, later becoming 165 kW.
In some countries, there was also a "Cupra 4"; equipped with a 2.8 litre VR6 delivering 150 kW and equipped with four-wheel drive
(4WD), based on the same Haldex Traction multi-plate clutch as the Volkswagen Golf
4motion
.
A range of Turbocharged Direct Injection
(TDI) diesel engine
s was available, including a 110 kW version of Volkswagen Group's 1.9 TDI engine, originally sold as a "Cupra 4 TDI", with 4WD, that was sold for one year only, and only in certain countries, then passed to "Evolution" series, then "Top Sport", and later rebranded as the "FR" ('Formula Racing'). Lesser diesel versions were available with 66 kW, 81 kW and 96 kW outputs.
All engines over 96 kW have a standard six-speed manual transmission
. Rear suspension was by semi-independent torsion beam for most variants, whilst high-end and 4WD models were fitted with a multi-link independent rear suspension
. All versions came with disc brakes on all four roadwheels (the front ventilated, and in some cars the rear too).
In Mexico, the León became a very popular car with upper class young people. The only problem the León has suffered in Mexico is the fact that the sport tuned suspension of the León is not designed to withstand the constant road imperfections such as potholes and speed bumps that abound in Mexican roads.
In Switzerland
, there was another official version tuned by Abt Sportsline
of the León called "SEAT León Cupra 4 Kompressor". This version had the same 4WD and 2.8 litre VR6 but with 206 kW and 323 newton metres (238 ft·lbf) of torque.
Factory production of the Typ 1M ended in May 2006. However, the appreciation for the SEAT León Cupra R Mk1's appeal remained clear - still up to the 'best hot hatchback of all time' poll conducted in 2010 by the British magazine Autocar
, in which its readers honoured the Cupra R with the seventh position in the top ten list of hatchbacks of all time in their preferences.
s, with most being shared from other marques of the Volkswagen Group
:
. It is built in Spain, and has a sharper exterior look with vertically parked windscreen wipers, and the external rear door handles more integrated, in a similar style to that seen on recent Alfa Romeo
models. Design was handled by Walter de'Silva
, and the car uses the same design style that started with the SEAT Altea
.
The base model on offer is the new 16 valve 1.2 litre TSI
petrol engine
with 77 kW. In some markets (e.g. Greece
), the León is available with a 1.4 litre MPI engine producing 63 kW. The sportier variants begin 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 are fitted with a standard six-speed manual transmission
, with the six-speed or seven-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox
(DSG) available as an option. A 136 kW variant of the 2.0 TFSI unique to the León was later introduced, but despite a low list price and rapid performance – attracted only minimal attention and average reviews, so this was later discontinued to make way for the sportier FR variants.
The first real sporty León within the new range is the León FR with twin-exhaust pipes to left rear, sport seats and gear stick with FR logo to distinguish it from lesser models, was introduced in June 2006, when it finally received the 147 kW 2.0 TFSI engine from the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GTI, as well as a 125 kW variant of the 2.0 TDI unit featured in the Golf and Audi A3
. Further standard equipment includes climate control air conditioning.
Next in the range is the 2.0 TFSI Cupra model. It features a 177 kW engine, and a 0-100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) time of 6.4 seconds. The Cupra comes with standard 18" 5 twin-spoke alloys, red brake calipers, and the standard Cupra oval exhaust, as well as new, unique paint finishes and bolstered sport seats complete with the Cupra logo. Also standard are drilled-aluminium sports pedals.
At the top of the range is the 2.0 TFSI Cupra R. This uses the same 195 kW engine found in the Audi S3, Golf R and Scirocco R. Capable of 0–100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in 6.2 seconds and a top speed limited to 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph).
From 2008, the K1 variant of the León Cupra was introduced in the UK, featuring extensively re-worked front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a more pronounced tailgate spoiler. It also gained a unique chrome-tipped, centrally-mounted, oval exhaust. The K1 is considered to be a limited edition model, as production was only for the year 2008–2009 and it only being available in the UK.
In 2009, the SEAT León Cupra was turned into a race car in the 'SEAT Cupra race' mobile game for Apple iPhone
/iPod touch
available through the iTunes
' App store.
In 2008, SEAT Deutschland announced the production of 55 units of the SEAT León Copa Edition. This limited edition is powered with 2.0 TFSI engine improved to 210 kW of maximum power, and 360 newton metres (266 ft·lbf). Maximum speed is 255 kilometres per hour (158.4 mph) and 0-100 km/h (62.1 mph) time is 5.9 seconds. The suspension is an Eibach
derived from the León Supercopa, and the brake
s have been improved to cope with the enhanced performance from the uprated engine. In addition, the car includes xenon HID headlights, 18 inch wheels and a spoiler with larger air intakes. The car colour is white with black stripes.
SEAT México announced the production of 100 units of the Copa Edition in orange colour with black stripes in September 2008. The Mexican version has a sunroof, whilst the European León Copa does not.
, SEAT Schweiz released a facelifted version called León World Champion Edition, also limited to 200 units.
It comes only in Candy white or Infiri black. The Cupra 310 Limited Edition features beside the OEM Cupra equipment an engine management remapping by Abt Sportsline
, black Orion-alloy wheels, an alarm system, bluetooth connectivity and special 310 Limited Edition badges on the sides and the rear hatch. There are also stainless decals inside the front door frames displaying the 310 Ltd logo. A badge on the dashboard displays the serial number, and the car is delivered with a key ring to match. Full factory warranty is retained with the power increase that makes this car 259 kilometres per hour (160.9 mph) fast.
. This car was auctioned, and the benefits went to the charity through Pies Descalzos Foundation
. Mechanically, it is the same car as the León Cupra.
s, and like the previous generation, many are shared from other marques of the Volkswagen Group
:
A flexible-fuel vehicle
model is also on offer under the label "MultiFuel", featuring the 1.6 MPI E85 102 bhp engine.
Ecomotive is a series plug-in hybrid, powered by an electric motor, through lithium-ion batteries chargeable at a regular electrical socket, in combination with an internal combustion engine. The Twin Drive Ecomotive project is a first step towards a 100% electric car and is planned to go for production in 2014.
. Recent "spy shots" of the 2012 León being road tested at night have revealed that, for the first time in the León's history, a three-door model will be launched. According to SEAT sources, not only a three-door but also an estate model too shall be available in the range of the SEAT León's third generation, including Twin drive
hybrid powered derivative versions.
. 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.
During 2005, SEAT introduced the second generation León into the World Touring Car Championship
(WTCC) to replace the Toledo Cupra
which it had raced in the early rounds of the title. The car features several modifications, including a racing engine that develops over 191 kW, a Hewland
sequential-shift gearbox (unrelated to the DSG), and an aerodynamic package for increased downforce (with its hatchback shape, the León is disavantaged against conventional three-box
saloons). Minimum weight is 1140 kilograms (2,513.3 lb) with driver. SEAT Sport, in partnership with Oreca
, runs six cars in the WTCC. Two other cars are run by SEAT Sport UK (Northern South) based in Northampton, UK in the British Touring Car Championship
(BTCC). A further two cars are run by SEAT Sport Italia in the Italia Superturismo Championship.
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 León Eurocup
began in 2008 as a support series for the World Touring Car Championship.
In 2008, Yvan Muller
won the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Drivers
at the wheel of a León TDI, and SEAT won the Manufacturers' title.
In 2009, Gabriele Tarquini
became the Drivers' Champion with the León TDI, and SEAT won the Manufacturers' title for a second consecutive year.
In the year 2009, the total annual retail sales number of SEAT León cars was 64,447 vehicles, while the annual production of vehicles came up to 66,368 units.
The total production per year of SEAT León cars, manufactured in SEAT and other Volkswagen Group's plants, is shown in the following table :
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
subsidiary SEAT, S.A.
SEAT
SEAT, S.A. is a Spanish automobile manufacturer founded on May 9, 1950 by the Instituto Nacional de Industria , a state-owned industrial holding company....
since October 1998.
The two León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with the Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
, Volkswagen Jetta
Volkswagen Jetta
Although the Golf had reached considerable success, in the North American markets, Volkswagen observed that the hatchback body style lacked some of the appeal to those who preferred the traditional three-box configuration...
, Audi TT
Audi TT
The Audi TT is a two-door sports car manufactured by the German automaker and Volkswagen Group subsidiary Audi since 1998.The Audi TT has been produced in two generations. Both generations have been available in two car body styles; as a 2+2 Coupé, or two-seater Roadster...
, Audi A3
Audi A3
The Audi A3 is a small family car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1996. Two generations of A3 exist, both based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, which they share with several other models such as the Audi TT, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Touran as well as SEAT...
and Škoda Octavia
Škoda Octavia
The Škoda Octavia is a small family car produced by Czech automaker Škoda Auto since 1996, its name revived from a model originally produced between 1959 and 1971. The current Octavia is available in five-door liftback and station wagon....
.
Mk1 (Typ 1M, 1998–2006)
The initial SEAT León (Volkswagen Group Typ 1M), launched in 1999, available only as hatchbackHatchback
A Hatchback is a car body style incorporating a shared passenger and cargo volume, with rearmost accessibility via a rear third or fifth door, typically a top-hinged liftgate—and features such as fold-down rear seats to enable flexibility within the shared passenger/cargo volume. As a two-box...
, and the relates saloon version was known as the SEAT Toledo
SEAT Toledo
The second generation Toledo was introduced in 1998 and made its debut at the 1998 Paris Motor Show as a four-door notchback sedan. It was more rounded than the previous first generation shape and had a much more fluid design, although both were products of Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio...
. It was based on the Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
A4 (PQ34) platform and, as such, shared many components in common with other VW Group models such as the Volkswagen Golf Mk4
Volkswagen Golf Mk4
Launched in 1999, the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 was the best selling car in Europe in 2001 . The Mk4 was a deliberate attempt to take the Volkswagen Golf series further upmarket, with a high-quality interior and higher equipment levels...
, Bora and Audi A3
Audi A3
The Audi A3 is a small family car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1996. Two generations of A3 exist, both based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, which they share with several other models such as the Audi TT, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Touran as well as SEAT...
. As SEAT's first C-segment model as part of the VW Group, the León Mk1 was marketed as a sportier and cheaper variant of the Golf. To reinforce the sporty image, the vehicle had slightly more aggressive looks. The more expensive versions were equipped with relatively more powerful internal combustion engine
Internal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
s, along with firmer suspension
Suspension (vehicle)
Suspension is the term given to the system of springs, shock absorbers and linkages that connects a vehicle to its wheels. Suspension systems serve a dual purpose — contributing to the car's roadholding/handling and braking for good active safety and driving pleasure, and keeping vehicle occupants...
to improve handling. In the interior, the dashboard
Dashboard
A dashboard is a control panel placed in front of the driver of an automobile, housing instrumentation and controls for operation of the vehicle....
was derived from that of the first-generation Audi A3.
Available engines were the 1.4 litre 16 valve
Multi-valve
In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design...
petrol engine which produced a 55 kW, a 1.6 litre 8 valve petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
74 kW (replaced later with a 16 valve 77 kW unit), and included two variants of the Volkswagen Group's 20 valve turbocharged
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
1.8 litre powerplant, (with some countries also getting the 2.8 litre VR6 engine
VR6 engine
The VR6 engine is an internal combustion engine configuration, consisting of six cylinders. It was developed by the Volkswagen Group in the late 1980s, and evolutions of the original variant are still produced by them....
delivering 150 kW. The original "León Cupra" (which later became known as the "Cupra T") had a 1.8 litre Turbo with 132 kW, and the "León Cupra R" 154 kW, later becoming 165 kW.
In some countries, there was also a "Cupra 4"; equipped with a 2.8 litre VR6 delivering 150 kW and equipped with four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive
Four-wheel drive, 4WD, or 4×4 is a four-wheeled vehicle with a drivetrain that allows all four wheels to receive torque from the engine simultaneously...
(4WD), based on the same Haldex Traction multi-plate clutch as the Volkswagen Golf
Volkswagen Golf
The Volkswagen Golf is a small family car manufactured by Volkswagen since 1974 and marketed worldwide across six generations, in various body configurations and under various nameplates – as the Volkswagen Rabbit in the United States and Canada , and as the Volkswagen Caribe in Mexico .The...
4motion
4motion
4motion is a registered trademark of Volkswagen AG, used exclusively on Volkswagen-branded automobiles which utilise four-wheel drive systems. Volkswagen has previously used the term "Syncro" for its 4WD models....
.
A range of Turbocharged Direct Injection
Turbocharged Direct Injection
TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial...
(TDI) diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
s was available, including a 110 kW version of Volkswagen Group's 1.9 TDI engine, originally sold as a "Cupra 4 TDI", with 4WD, that was sold for one year only, and only in certain countries, then passed to "Evolution" series, then "Top Sport", and later rebranded as the "FR" ('Formula Racing'). Lesser diesel versions were available with 66 kW, 81 kW and 96 kW outputs.
All engines over 96 kW have a standard six-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
. Rear suspension was by semi-independent torsion beam for most variants, whilst high-end and 4WD models were fitted with a multi-link independent rear suspension
Multi-link suspension
A multi-link suspension is a type of vehicle suspension design typically used in independent suspensions, using three or more lateral arms, and one or more longitudinal arms....
. All versions came with disc brakes on all four roadwheels (the front ventilated, and in some cars the rear too).
In Mexico, the León became a very popular car with upper class young people. The only problem the León has suffered in Mexico is the fact that the sport tuned suspension of the León is not designed to withstand the constant road imperfections such as potholes and speed bumps that abound in Mexican roads.
In Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, there was another official version tuned by Abt Sportsline
Abt Sportsline
Abt Sportsline is a motor racing and auto tuning company based in Kempten im Allgäu, Germany. Abt mainly deals with Audi, and the related primary Volkswagen Group brands - Volkswagen, Škoda, and SEAT.-History:...
of the León called "SEAT León Cupra 4 Kompressor". This version had the same 4WD and 2.8 litre VR6 but with 206 kW and 323 newton metres (238 ft·lbf) of torque.
Factory production of the Typ 1M ended in May 2006. However, the appreciation for the SEAT León Cupra R Mk1's appeal remained clear - still up to the 'best hot hatchback of all time' poll conducted in 2010 by the British magazine Autocar
Autocar
Autocar is a weekly British automobile magazine published by Haymarket Motoring Publications Ltd. It refers to itself as "The World's oldest car magazine".-History:...
, in which its readers honoured the Cupra R with the seventh position in the top ten list of hatchbacks of all time in their preferences.
Awards
- 'Carro do ano' award in 2001, in Portugal
- '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 engineInternal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
s, with most being shared from other marques of the Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
:
| engine designation | displacement Engine displacement Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches... , configuration Engine configuration Engine configuration is an engineering term for the layout of the major components of a reciprocating piston internal combustion engine. These components are the cylinders and crankshafts in particular but also, sometimes, the camshaft.... , valvetrain Valvetrain Valvetrain is an all-encompassing term used to describe the mechanisms and parts which control the operation of the valves. A traditional reciprocating internal combustion engine uses valves to control air and fuel flow into and out of the cylinders, facilitating combustion.-Layout:Valvetrain: The... , fuel system | at rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | max. torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... at rpm | engine ID code(s) | dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| petrol engine Petrol engine A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels.... s all multi-point electronic indirect Indirect injection In an internal combustion engine, the term indirect injection refers to a fuel injection where fuel is not directly injected into the combustion chamber... fuel injection Fuel injection Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s.... |
|||||
| 1.4 16v | 1390 cc inline-4 Straight-4 The inline-four engine or straight-four engine is an internal combustion engine with all four cylinders mounted in a straight line, or plane along the crankcase. The single bank of cylinders may be oriented in either a vertical or an inclined plane with all the pistons driving a common crankshaft.... DOHC 16v Multi-valve In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design... |
55 kW @ 5,000 |
126 N·m (93 ft·lbf) @ 3,800 |
AHW; APE; AUA; AXP; BCA |
11/99– 10/05 |
| 1.6 | 1595 cc inline-4 SOHC 8v |
74 kW @ 5,600 |
145 N·m (107 ft·lbf) @ 3,800 |
AEH; AKL | 08/99– 10/05 |
| 1.6 | 1595 cc inline-4 SOHC 8v |
75 kW @ 5,600 |
148 N·m (109 ft·lbf) @ 3,800 |
BFQ | 10/05– 06/06 |
| 1.6 16v | 1598 cc inline-4 DOHC 16v |
77 kW @ 5,700 |
148 N·m (109 ft·lbf) @ 4,500 |
AUS; AZD; BCB |
06/00– 06/06 |
| 1.8 20v | 1781 cc inline-4 DOHC 20v |
92 kW @ 6,000 |
170 N·m (125 ft·lbf) @ 4,200 |
AGN; APG | 11/99– 10/05 |
| 1.8 20vT Cupra |
1781 cc inline-4 DOHC 20v Turbo Turbocharger A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance... |
132 kW @ 5,500 |
235 N·m (173 ft·lbf) @ 1,950–5,000 |
AJQ; APP; ARY; AUQ |
08/99– 10/05 |
| 1.8 20vT Cupra R |
1781 cc inline-4 DOHC 20v Turbo |
154 kW | 270 N·m (199 ft·lbf) | AMK | 05/02– 05/03 |
| 1.8 20vT Cupra R |
1781 cc inline-4 DOHC 20v Turbo |
165 kW @ 5,900 |
280 N·m (207 ft·lbf) @ 2,200–5,500 |
BAM | 05/03– 06/06 |
| 2.8 VR6 24v Cupra 4 |
2792 cc 15° VR6 VR6 engine The VR6 engine is an internal combustion engine configuration, consisting of six cylinders. It was developed by the Volkswagen Group in the late 1980s, and evolutions of the original variant are still produced by them.... DOHC 24v |
150 kW @ 6,200 |
265 N·m (195 ft·lbf) @ 3,400 |
AUE; BDE | 10/00– 04/04 |
| diesel engine Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... s all direct injected |
|||||
| 1.9 SDI Suction Diesel Injection The SDI engine is a design of naturally aspirated direct injection diesel engine developed and produced by Volkswagen Group for use in cars and vans, along with marine engine and Volkswagen Industrial Motor applications.... |
1896 cc inline-4 SOHC 8v, VP37 distributor-type injection pump |
50 kW @ 4,000 |
133 N·m (98 ft·lbf) @ 1,800 |
AQM | 06/00– 10/03 |
| 1.9 TDI Turbocharged Direct Injection TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial... |
1896 cc inline-4 SOHC 8v, VP37 distributor-type injection pump |
66 kW @ 3,750 |
210 N·m (155 ft·lbf) @ 1,900 |
AGR; ALH | 11/99– 10/05 |
| 1.9 TDI | 1896 cc inline-4 SOHC 8v, Pumpe Düse Unit Injector Unit Injector Unit Injector is an integrated direct fuel injection system for diesel engines, combining the injector nozzle and the injection pump in a single component... s (PD) |
74 kW @ 4,000 |
240 N·m (177 ft·lbf) @ 1,800–2,400 |
AXR | 10/05– 06/06 |
| 1.9 TDI | 1896 cc inline-4 SOHC 8v, VP37 distributor-type injection pump |
81 kW @ 4,150 |
235 N·m (173 ft·lbf) @ 1,900 |
AHF; ASV | 10/99– 10/05 |
| 1.9 TDI | 1896 cc inline-4 SOHC 8v, Pumpe Düse unit injectors (PD) |
96 kW @ 4,000 |
310 N·m (229 ft·lbf) @ 1,900 |
ASZ | 05/03– 06/06 |
| 1.9 TDI | 1896 cc inline-4 SOHC 8v, Pumpe Düse unit injectors (PD) |
110 kW @ 4,000 |
320 N·m (236 ft·lbf) @ 1,900 |
ARL | 09/00– 12/05 |
Mk2 (Typ 1P, 2005–present)
The current León, Typ 1P, was released in 2005, with factory production commencing May 2005. It is based on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform, most notably used by the Volkswagen Golf Mk5Volkswagen Golf Mk5
The fifth generation Volkswagen Golf Mk5 , built on the Volkswagen Group A5 platform was unveiled at the Frankfurt Motor Show in October 2003 and went on sale in Europe one month later. To commemorate this, Wolfsburg was renamed "Golfsburg" for a week. It reached North American markets in June...
. It is built in Spain, and has a sharper exterior look with vertically parked windscreen wipers, and the external rear door handles more integrated, in a similar style to that seen on recent Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo
Alfa Romeo Automobiles S.p.A. is an Italian manufacturer of cars. Founded as A.L.F.A. on June 24, 1910, in Milan, the company has been involved in car racing since 1911, and has a reputation for building expensive sports cars...
models. Design was handled by Walter de'Silva
Walter de'Silva
Walter Maria de'Silva is an Italian car designer who is currently Head of Volkswagen Group Design, and is currently responsible for oversight on the design of all Volkswagen Group passenger car brands including Audi, Volkswagen, SEAT, Škoda as well as Bentley, Lamborghini and Bugatti...
, and the car uses the same design style that started with the SEAT Altea
SEAT Altea
The SEAT Altea is a compact MPV produced by Spanish automaker SEAT, S.A. and named after Altea, Spain. The vehicle was designed by the Italian Walter de'Silva and launched in 2004 as the first example of SEAT's new corporate look...
.
The base model on offer is the new 16 valve 1.2 litre TSI
TSI
-Science, technology and engineering:*Thyroid Stimulating Immunoglobulin*Time-Slot Interchange, a technique used to switch networks*Total Solar Irradiance, the total energy output of the sun*Trophic state index...
petrol engine
Petrol engine
A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels....
with 77 kW. In some markets (e.g. Greece
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
), the León is available with a 1.4 litre MPI engine producing 63 kW. The sportier variants begin with the 110 kW 2.0 litre Fuel Stratified Injection
Gasoline direct injection
In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines...
(FSI) and the popular 103 kW 2.0 litre Turbocharged Direct Injection
Turbocharged Direct Injection
TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial...
(TDI) diesel engine
Diesel engine
A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber...
. Both are fitted with a standard six-speed manual transmission
Manual transmission
A manual transmission, also known as a manual gearbox or standard transmission is a type of transmission used in motor vehicle applications...
, with the six-speed or seven-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox
Direct-Shift Gearbox
The Direct-Shift Gearbox , commonly abbreviated to DSG, is an electronically controlled dual clutch multiple-shaft manual gearbox, in a transaxle design - without a conventional clutch pedal, and with full automatic, or semi-manual control...
(DSG) available as an option. A 136 kW variant of the 2.0 TFSI unique to the León was later introduced, but despite a low list price and rapid performance – attracted only minimal attention and average reviews, so this was later discontinued to make way for the sportier FR variants.
The first real sporty León within the new range is the León FR with twin-exhaust pipes to left rear, sport seats and gear stick with FR logo to distinguish it from lesser models, was introduced in June 2006, when it finally received the 147 kW 2.0 TFSI engine from the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GTI, as well as a 125 kW variant of the 2.0 TDI unit featured in the Golf and Audi A3
Audi A3
The Audi A3 is a small family car produced by the German automaker Audi since 1996. Two generations of A3 exist, both based on the Volkswagen Group A platform, which they share with several other models such as the Audi TT, Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Caddy and Volkswagen Touran as well as SEAT...
. Further standard equipment includes climate control air conditioning.
Next in the range is the 2.0 TFSI Cupra model. It features a 177 kW engine, and a 0-100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) time of 6.4 seconds. The Cupra comes with standard 18" 5 twin-spoke alloys, red brake calipers, and the standard Cupra oval exhaust, as well as new, unique paint finishes and bolstered sport seats complete with the Cupra logo. Also standard are drilled-aluminium sports pedals.
At the top of the range is the 2.0 TFSI Cupra R. This uses the same 195 kW engine found in the Audi S3, Golf R and Scirocco R. Capable of 0–100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) in 6.2 seconds and a top speed limited to 250 kilometres per hour (155 mph).
From 2008, the K1 variant of the León Cupra was introduced in the UK, featuring extensively re-worked front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a more pronounced tailgate spoiler. It also gained a unique chrome-tipped, centrally-mounted, oval exhaust. The K1 is considered to be a limited edition model, as production was only for the year 2008–2009 and it only being available in the UK.
In 2009, the SEAT León Cupra was turned into a race car in the 'SEAT Cupra race' mobile game for Apple iPhone
IPhone
The iPhone is a line of Internet and multimedia-enabled smartphones marketed by Apple Inc. The first iPhone was unveiled by Steve Jobs, then CEO of Apple, on January 9, 2007, and released on June 29, 2007...
/iPod touch
IPod touch
The iPod Touch is a portable media player, personal digital assistant, handheld game console, and Wi-Fi mobile device designed and marketed by Apple Inc. The iPod Touch adds the multi-touch graphical user interface to the iPod line...
available through the iTunes
ITunes
iTunes is a media player computer program, used for playing, downloading, and organizing digital music and video files on desktop computers. It can also manage contents on iPod, iPhone, iPod Touch and iPad....
' App store.
Awards
- 'Red dot' award in 2006
- 'Best Car of the Year 2009' for the import compact car segment in Germany, by the German magazine Auto-motor-und-sport
- 'Firmenauto des Jahres 2006', by the German magazine Firmenauto
- 'Car of the Year 2006' in Denmark
- 'Diesel Car of the Year 2006' in Scotland (for the 170 hp 2.0 TDI Leon FR)
- ‘Auto 1’ of the Year 2006 in Spain, by the ‘Auto Bild’ magazine
- 'University Car of the Year 2007' in Spain, by Spanish university students
- 'Hellenic Car of the Year 2007'
- 'GTI of the Year 2006–2007' in Greece for the SEAT León Cupra, by the Greek magazine 4-Trohoi
Copa Edition
Eibach
Eibach stands forPlaces* a borough of Nuremberg, see Eibach * a borough of Dillenburg, see Eibach Rivers* a stream located in Swiss canton Basel-Country, see Eibach Buildings...
derived from the León Supercopa, and the brake
Brake
A brake is a mechanical device which inhibits motion. Its opposite component is a clutch. The rest of this article is dedicated to various types of vehicular brakes....
s have been improved to cope with the enhanced performance from the uprated engine. In addition, the car includes xenon HID headlights, 18 inch wheels and a spoiler with larger air intakes. The car colour is white with black stripes.
SEAT México announced the production of 100 units of the Copa Edition in orange colour with black stripes in September 2008. The Mexican version has a sunroof, whilst the European León Copa does not.
Streetcopa and World Champion Edition
At the 2008 Geneva Auto Show, the León Streetcopa limited edition was released. It was a similar edition of León Copa Edition with some changes, designed for the Swiss market and limited to 200 units. Lately, after SEAT won World Touring Car ChampionshipWorld Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
, SEAT Schweiz released a facelifted version called León World Champion Edition, also limited to 200 units.
Cupra 310 Limited Edition
SEAT Nederland announces the production of León Cupra 310 Limited Edition, with 2.0 TFSI engine upgraded to 228 kW of maximum power and 425 newton metres (313 ft·lbf). The production has limited to 100 units.Abt Sportsline
Abt Sportsline is a motor racing and auto tuning company based in Kempten im Allgäu, Germany. Abt mainly deals with Audi, and the related primary Volkswagen Group brands - Volkswagen, Škoda, and SEAT.-History:...
, black Orion-alloy wheels, an alarm system, bluetooth connectivity and special 310 Limited Edition badges on the sides and the rear hatch. There are also stainless decals inside the front door frames displaying the 310 Ltd logo. A badge on the dashboard displays the serial number, and the car is delivered with a key ring to match. Full factory warranty is retained with the power increase that makes this car 259 kilometres per hour (160.9 mph) fast.
Cupra Pies Descalzos
In 2007, SEAT prepared a sole car customized by ShakiraShakira
Shakira Isabel Mebarak Ripoll , known professionally as Shakira , is a Colombian singer who emerged in the music scene of Colombia and Latin America in the early 1990s...
. This car was auctioned, and the benefits went to the charity through Pies Descalzos Foundation
Pies Descalzos Foundation
Pies Descalzos Foundation is a Colombian charity founded by pop artist Shakira in 1997. with the aim of helping poor and impoverished children....
. Mechanically, it is the same car as the León Cupra.
Engine specifications
The Typ 1P SEAT León is available with the following internal combustion engineInternal combustion engine
The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine...
s, and like the previous generation, many are shared from other marques of the Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group
Volkswagen Group is a German multinational automobile manufacturing group. , Volkswagen was ranked as the world’s third largest motor vehicle manufacturer and Europe's largest....
:
| all available internal combustion engine Internal combustion engine The internal combustion engine is an engine in which the combustion of a fuel occurs with an oxidizer in a combustion chamber. In an internal combustion engine, the expansion of the high-temperature and high -pressure gases produced by combustion apply direct force to some component of the engine... s are inline four cylinder (I4) four-stroke designs |
||||||
| engine designation / model | engine displacement Engine displacement Engine displacement is the volume swept by all the pistons inside the cylinders of an internal combustion engine in a single movement from top dead centre to bottom dead centre . It is commonly specified in cubic centimeters , litres , or cubic inches... | valvetrain Valvetrain Valvetrain is an all-encompassing term used to describe the mechanisms and parts which control the operation of the valves. A traditional reciprocating internal combustion engine uses valves to control air and fuel flow into and out of the cylinders, facilitating combustion.-Layout:Valvetrain: The... , fuel system | at rpm Revolutions per minute Revolutions per minute is a measure of the frequency of a rotation. It annotates the number of full rotations completed in one minute around a fixed axis... | max. torque Torque Torque, moment or moment of force , is the tendency of a force to rotate an object about an axis, fulcrum, or pivot. Just as a force is a push or a pull, a torque can be thought of as a twist.... at rpm | engine ID code(s) | dates |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| petrol engine Petrol engine A petrol engine is an internal combustion engine with spark-ignition, designed to run on petrol and similar volatile fuels.... s all fuel injected Fuel injection Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s.... |
||||||
| 1.2 TSI | 1197 cc | 8v Multi-valve In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design... SOHC Fuel Stratified Injection Gasoline direct injection In internal combustion engines, gasoline direct injection , also known as petrol direct injection or direct petrol injection, is a variant of fuel injection employed in modern two-stroke and four-stroke gasoline engines... |
77 kW @ 5,000 rpm |
175 N·m (129 ft·lbf) @ 1,550–5100 rpm |
CBZ | 2010– present |
| 1.4 | 1390 cc | 16v DOHC multi-point fuel injection Fuel injection Fuel injection is a system for admitting fuel into an internal combustion engine. It has become the primary fuel delivery system used in automotive petrol engines, having almost completely replaced carburetors in the late 1980s.... |
63 kW @ 5,000 rpm |
130 N·m (96 ft·lbf) @ 3,600 rpm |
BXW/CGG | 2007– present |
| 1.4 TSI | 1390 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
92 kW @ 5,600 rpm |
200 N·m (148 ft·lbf) @ 1,500–4,000 rpm |
CAXC | 2007– present |
| 1.6 | 1595 cc | 8v SOHC multi-point fuel injection |
75 kW @ 5,600 rpm |
148 N·m (109 ft·lbf) @ 3,800 rpm |
BSE/ BSF/CCSA |
2005– present |
| 1.8 TSI | 1798 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
118 kW @ 4,500–6,200 rpm |
250 N·m (184 ft·lbf) @ 1,500–4,500 rpm |
BZB/ CDAA |
2007– present |
| 2.0 FSI | 1984 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
110 kW @ 6,000 rpm |
200 N·m (148 ft·lbf) @ 3,500 rpm |
BLR/BLY BVY/BVZ |
2005– 2009 |
| 2.0 TFSI | 1984 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
136 kW @ 5,100–6,000 rpm |
270 N·m (199 ft·lbf) @ 1,800–5,000 rpm |
BWA | 2005– 2006 |
| 2.0 TFSI (TSI) FR |
1984 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
147 kW @ 5,100–6,000 rpm |
280 N·m (207 ft·lbf) @ 1,800–5,000 rpm |
BWA | 2006– 2009 |
| 2.0 TSI FR |
1984 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
154 kW @ 5,300–6,200 rpm |
280 N·m (207 ft·lbf) @ 1,700–5,200 rpm |
CCZB/ CAWB |
2009– present |
| 2.0 TSI Cupra |
1984 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
177 kW @ 5,700–6,300 rpm |
320 N·m (236 ft·lbf) @ 2,200–5,500 rpm |
BWJ | 2006– present |
| 2.0 TSI Cupra R |
1984 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
195 kW @ 6,000 rpm |
350 N·m (258 ft·lbf) @ 2,500–5,000 rpm |
CDLA | 2009– present |
| 2.0 TFSI Copa Edition |
1984 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
210 kW @ 6,000 rpm |
360 N·m (266 ft·lbf) @ 2,500 rpm |
N/A (EA113) |
2008– present |
| 2.0 TFSI Cupra 310 Limited Edition |
1984 cc | 16v DOHC Fuel Stratified Injection |
228 kW @ 6,000 rpm |
425 N·m (313 ft·lbf) @ 3,000–5,000 rpm |
N/A (EA113) |
2008– 2009 |
| Liquefied Petroleum Gas engines (LPG) |
||||||
| 1.6 LPG | 1595 cc | 75 kW @ 5,600 rpm |
148 N·m (109 ft·lbf) @ 3,800 rpm |
CHG | 2009– present |
|
| diesel engine Diesel engine A diesel engine is an internal combustion engine that uses the heat of compression to initiate ignition to burn the fuel, which is injected into the combustion chamber... s all Turbocharged Direct Injection Turbocharged Direct Injection TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial... (TDI) |
||||||
| 1.6 TDI DPF Diesel Particulate Filter A diesel particulate filter is a device designed to remove diesel particulate matter or soot from the exhaust gas of a diesel engine. Wall-flow diesel particulate filters usually remove 85% or more of the soot, and under certain conditions can attain soot removal efficiencies of close to 100%... |
1598 cc | 16v Multi-valve In automotive engineering a multi-valve or multivalve engine is one where each cylinder has more than two valves. A multi-valve engine has better breathing and can operate at higher revolutions per minute than a two-valve engine, delivering more power.- Multi-valve rationale :A multi-valve design... DOHC common rail Common rail Common rail direct fuel injection is a modern variant of direct fuel injection system for petrol and diesel engines.On diesel engines, it features a high-pressure fuel rail feeding individual solenoid valves, as opposed to low-pressure fuel pump feeding unit injectors... |
77 kW @ 4,400 rpm |
250 N·m (184 ft·lbf) @ 1,500–2,500 rpm |
CAYC | planned for 2010 |
| 1.9 TDI | 1896 cc | 8v SOHC Pumpe Düse Unit Injector Unit Injector Unit Injector is an integrated direct fuel injection system for diesel engines, combining the injector nozzle and the injection pump in a single component... |
66 kW @ 4,000 rpm |
210 N·m (155 ft·lbf) @ 1,800–2,500 rpm |
BXF | 2007– present |
| 1.9 TDI | 1896 cc | 8v SOHC Pumpe Düse Unit Injector |
77 kW @ 4,000 rpm |
250 N·m (184 ft·lbf) @ 1,900 rpm |
BKC/BLS BXE |
2005– present |
| 2.0 TDI | 1968 cc | 16v DOHC Pumpe Düse Unit Injector |
100 kW @ 4,000 rpm |
320 N·m (236 ft·lbf) @ 1,750–2,500 rpm |
AZV | 2005– 2007 |
| 2.0 TDI | 1968 cc | 16v DOHC Pumpe Düse Unit Injector |
103 kW @ 4,000 rpm |
320 N·m (236 ft·lbf) @ 1,750–2,500 rpm |
BKD | 2005– present |
| 2.0 TDI DPF | 1968 cc | 8v SOHC Pumpe Düse Unit Injector |
103 kW @ 4,000 rpm |
320 N·m (236 ft·lbf) @ 1,750–2,500 rpm |
BMM | 2006– present |
| 2.0 TDI DPF | 1968 cc | 16v DOHC common rail |
103 kW @ 4,200 rpm |
320 N·m (236 ft·lbf) @ 1,750–2,500 rpm |
CBDB | planned for 2010 |
| 2.0 TDI DPF FR |
1968 cc | 16v DOHC Pumpe Düse Unit Injector |
125 kW @ 4,200 rpm |
350 N·m (258 ft·lbf) @ 1,750–2,500 rpm |
BMN | 2006– 2009 |
| 2.0 TDI DPF FR |
1968 cc | 16v DOHC common rail |
125 kW @ 4,200 rpm |
350 N·m (258 ft·lbf) @ 1,750–2,500 rpm |
CEGA | 2009– present |
A flexible-fuel vehicle
Flexible-fuel vehicle
A flexible-fuel vehicle or dual-fuel vehicle is an alternative fuel vehicle with an internal combustion engine designed to run on more than one fuel, usually gasoline blended with either ethanol or methanol fuel, and both fuels are stored in the same common tank...
model is also on offer under the label "MultiFuel", featuring the 1.6 MPI E85 102 bhp engine.
Electric version
SEAT León Twin driveSEAT León Twin drive
The SEAT León Twin drive concept car is an electrically driven vehicle prototype presented at the SEAT Martorell facilities on May 2009 in front of Spanish officials as well as members of Volkswagen’s Executive committee, based on a second generation SEAT León that features modified gearbox, power...
Ecomotive is a series plug-in hybrid, powered by an electric motor, through lithium-ion batteries chargeable at a regular electrical socket, in combination with an internal combustion engine. The Twin Drive Ecomotive project is a first step towards a 100% electric car and is planned to go for production in 2014.
Mk3 (2012-)
The third generation of the SEAT León is expected in 2012, and will be based on the Volkswagen Group's latest MQB platformVolkswagen Group MQB platform
The Volkswagen Group MQB platform is one of a range of automobile platforms of the Volkswagen Group. MQB stands for the German Modularer Querbaukasten, which can be loosely translated as "Modular Transverse Matrix"...
. Recent "spy shots" of the 2012 León being road tested at night have revealed that, for the first time in the León's history, a three-door model will be launched. According to SEAT sources, not only a three-door but also an estate model too shall be available in the range of the SEAT León's third generation, including Twin drive
SEAT León Twin drive
The SEAT León Twin drive concept car is an electrically driven vehicle prototype presented at the SEAT Martorell facilities on May 2009 in front of Spanish officials as well as members of Volkswagen’s Executive committee, based on a second generation SEAT León that features modified gearbox, power...
hybrid powered derivative versions.
SEAT León in motorsport
The first generation SEAT León Cupra R was the basis of a one-make trophy, the SEAT León SupercopaSEAT León Supercopa
The SEAT León Supercopa is a one-make racing series, organised by SEAT Sport, the motorsport division of Spanish car manufacturer SEAT. It uses a modified version of the SEAT León road car, and championships are currently run in Spain, Germany, Italy and France...
. 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
Spanish GT Championship
The Spanish GT Championship is a Spanish auto racing series founded in 1999 and organised by the GT Sport Organización. The series runs multiple classes of grand tourer cars in events around Spain and Portugal...
's final round at Montmeló
Circuit de Catalunya
The Circuit de Catalunya is a racetrack in Montmeló, to the north of Barcelona, Catalonia, Spain. With long straights and a variety of corners, the Circuit de Catalunya is seen as an all-rounder circuit.-History:...
. A TDI
Turbocharged Direct Injection
TDI or Turbocharged Direct Injection is a design of turbodiesel engines, which feature turbocharging and cylinder-direct fuel injection, developed and produced by Volkswagen Group. These TDI engines are widely used in all mainstream Volkswagen Group marques of passenger cars and light commercial...
-powered version has raced in the ECTS, an Italian-based endurance series for touring cars.
During 2005, SEAT introduced the second generation León into the World Touring Car Championship
World Touring Car Championship
For the video game, known as World Touring Car Championship in Japan, see TOCA World Touring CarsThe FIA World Touring Car Championship is an international Touring Car championship sanctioned by the FIA.-History:...
(WTCC) to replace the Toledo Cupra
SEAT Toledo
The second generation Toledo was introduced in 1998 and made its debut at the 1998 Paris Motor Show as a four-door notchback sedan. It was more rounded than the previous first generation shape and had a much more fluid design, although both were products of Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio...
which it had raced in the early rounds of the title. The car features several modifications, including a racing engine that develops over 191 kW, a Hewland
Hewland
Founded by Mike Hewland in 1957, Hewland is a British engineering company specialising in racing-car gearboxes. Hewland was the first company to manufacture a bespoke racing-car gearbox....
sequential-shift gearbox (unrelated to the DSG), and an aerodynamic package for increased downforce (with its hatchback shape, the León is disavantaged against conventional three-box
Three-box styling
Three-box design is a broad automotive styling term describing a coupé, sedan, notchback or hatchback where — when viewed in profile — principal volumes are articulated into three separate compartments or boxes: engine, passenger and cargo....
saloons). Minimum weight is 1140 kilograms (2,513.3 lb) with driver. SEAT Sport, in partnership with Oreca
Oreca
Oreca is a French racing team, founded and run by Hugues de Chaunac, former team manager of F1 team AGS. Oreca has had success in many areas of motorsport including Formula Three where drivers including Alain Prost, Jacques Laffite and Jean Alesi have won the French Formula Three Championship for...
, runs six cars in the WTCC. Two other cars are run by SEAT Sport UK (Northern South) based in Northampton, UK in the British Touring Car Championship
British Touring Car Championship
The British Touring Car Championship is a touring car racing series held each year in the United Kingdom. The Championship was established in 1958 as the British Saloon Car Championship and has run to various rules over the years – "production cars", then FIA Group 1 or 2 in the late 1960s...
(BTCC). A further two cars are run by SEAT Sport Italia in the Italia Superturismo Championship.
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
Turbocharger
A turbocharger, or turbo , from the Greek "τύρβη" is a centrifugal compressor powered by a turbine that is driven by an engine's exhaust gases. Its benefit lies with the compressor increasing the mass of air entering the engine , thereby resulting in greater performance...
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
Venturi effect
The Venturi effect is the reduction in fluid pressure that results when a fluid flows through a constricted section of pipe. The Venturi effect is named after Giovanni Battista Venturi , an Italian physicist.-Background:...
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
SEAT Cupra Championship
The SEAT Cupra Championship was a one make series that ran for six years between 2003 and 2008, the last five of which ran as a support package to the British Touring Car Championship. The series will not continue for 2009, due to SEAT UK ending its racing activities...
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 León Eurocup
SEAT León Eurocup
The SEAT León Eurocup was a one-make touring car racing series which uses SEAT Leóns, run by SEAT Sport.-Background:The championship began in 2008, making its debut at Circuit de Valencia, as a support series for the World Touring Car Championship, in which SEAT is a leading manufacturer...
began in 2008 as a support series for the World Touring Car Championship.
In 2008, Yvan Muller
Yvan Muller
Yvan Muller is a French auto racing driver most noted for success in touring car racing. He is a two-time and the reigning World Touring Car Champion.-Single-seaters:...
won the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Drivers
2008 World Touring Car Championship season
The 2008 World Touring Car Championship season was the fifth World Touring Car Championship season, the fourth since its 2005 return. It began on March 2, and ended on November 16, after twenty-four races...
at the wheel of a León TDI, and SEAT won the Manufacturers' title.
In 2009, Gabriele Tarquini
Gabriele Tarquini
Gabriele Tarquini is a racing driver from Italy. He participated in 78 Formula One Grands Prix, debuting on May 3, 1987. He scored 1 championship point, and holds the record for the most failed attempts to qualify...
became the Drivers' Champion with the León TDI, and SEAT won the Manufacturers' title for a second consecutive year.
Sales and production figures
Since its launch in 1999, more than 1 million SEAT León cars have been produced and sold in its two generations up to the present, made in SEAT's Martorell plant and other Volkswagen Group's factories.In the year 2009, the total annual retail sales number of SEAT León cars was 64,447 vehicles, while the annual production of vehicles came up to 66,368 units.
The total production per year of SEAT León cars, manufactured in SEAT and other Volkswagen Group's plants, is shown in the following table :
| model | 1999 | 2000 | 2001 | 2002 | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SEAT León Total annual production |
6,080 | 93,123 | 91,939 | 93,606 | 96,536 | 90,850 | 98,130 | 126,511 | 120,630 | 96,761 | 66,368 | 79,462 |
External links
- SEAT León – official SEAT UK website
- SEAT León in movies and TV series
- LeonOC.com Leon Owners Club