What is it?
This is the final production version of the Seat Leon SC, a new three-door derivative of the recently launched five-door hatch, here in FR sports trim and with a 1.8-litre TSI petrol engine and dual-clutch automatic transmission.
Despite its passing resemblance to the conventional five-door model, the SC is claimed by Seat to reflect a true ‘Sports Coupé' thanks to an exterior that’s redesigned from the A-pillars back.
Granting the SC a sleeker appearance is a more steeply raked rear windscreen, a lower roofline and a tweaked tailgate. The rear blisters are also larger than the five-door’s, giving the car a slightly lower and wider stance.
The changes aren’t purely cosmetic. The SC also has a 35mm shorter wheelbase, which gives a more sporting appearance and reputedly improved agility, but despite this interior space isn’t compromised excessively — there’s room for four adults and the 380-litre boot is the same size as the five-door's.
Seat's FR variants are further distinguished from the normal SC models by different front and rear bumpers with FR badging, 17-inch wheels, rear LED lights, rear privacy glass, red interior stitching and a flat-bottomed sports steering wheel.
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99bhp per litre not high-output
This isn't a high output motor by modern standards. By comparision, the new S3 has over 149 bhp per litre - roughly 50% more potent than the Seat. If this was a true high output 1.8 then it would be producing 260-270 bhp. Which it isn't.
Good all rounder
Just over 7 seconds to 62, yet nearly 50mpg and with a manual box it's going to be under £20k with discounts. Plus it has sensible wheels for our roads and is well equipped. The only issue is the slightly bland interior. I'm impressed. The Leon is growing on me a lot. Since the Octavia has grown, perhaps this is the thinking mans Golf?
Nice one
I like it; bit of deja-vu as my first-gen Leon Cupra had a 1781cc engine with the same output but it looks good.
Glad it got the multi-link rear suspension, and gladder still that you can have a 6 speed manual - maybe they should try this combination in the Ibiza? (Older hot Ibiza's used the 1.8 turbo of the era).
toptidy wrote: maybe they
The ibiza Cupra has the same 180hp from it's 1.4 twin charge.
Chip35 wrote: toptidy
I know, maybe I wasn't clear enough but my point was that the missing bit is the manual gearbox - that is not an option on the Ibiza Curpa (or the lower-powered FR).
Hello, not really as the Seat
Hello, not really as the Seat uk brochure says 7.5s for both the manual and the DSG.
Its viewable online here.
http://www.seat.co.uk/content/uk/brand/en/contact/request-a-brochure.html
It could be your information is more upto date and there is an error in the brochure.
The brochure also contains provisional weights which are different to the article, but it does not state the 0-62mph is provisional. But I guess the acceleration time must also be provisional if the weights could change, which they have.
RE: 0-62mph time
Hello supertax,
I think you may well be correct in assuming that there have been updates and revisions to the information. I did check with Seat prior to publication; they confirmed that the latest figures for the manual are 7.5sec and the DSG 7.2sec.
Hope you have a good weekend.
Best regards,
Lewis