SEAT CONFIRMS IT WILL PRODUCE ITS FIRST EVER SUV

Much-anticipated SEAT SUV will come to market in 2016

SEAT has today confirmed that it will produce a new compact SUV model, which will come to market in 2016. The Spanish company has been working on the design and development of the new model at its Martorell facility for almost two years.

“This is an excellent piece of news, since it takes SEAT into a new territory, in one of the largest and fastest growing segments in the world,” declared SEAT Chairman Jürgen Stackmann today in the Annual Results Press Presentation. “The SUV is an important pillar in the future corporate strategy and is a major step forward on the road to reaching sustainable profitability for the company,” he added.

Confirmation of the production of a SEAT SUV is a clear sign of the Volkswagen Group’s commitment to the Spanish brand. The new model will achieve a foothold in a growing segment that represents close to one million cars per year in Europe alone – a segment that has increased more than 40 per cent over the past five years, and will continue to grow in the future.

The new SUV will further broaden SEAT’s product range, enabling the brand to maintain its current growth momentum following the successful launch of the Leon family, which is receiving numerous accolades and awards across Europe.

Development of the SUV will continue at the SEAT Technical Centre in Martorell, a unique hub of excellence in southern Europe with more than 900 engineers dedicated to innovation.

Note: pictures shown are of SEAT's IBX Concept from 2011. There are no images available of the planned SUV.

 SEAT success at Fleet News awards

21 March 2014

Leon beats Ford Focus and BMW 1-Series to claim best Lower-Medium Car award

Leon won the best medium-sized car category at the biggest awards event in the fleet industry, the Fleet News awards. The annual ceremony was held in London on Wednesday 19 March 2014.

The award marks the Leon out as the most outstanding medium-sized family hatchback for fleet users, according to the Fleet News panel of experts.

“The Leon is one of the great all-rounders in the sector with desirable looks, strong residual values and very low running costs.

The new model represents a big leap forward compared to the old car. It’s bang on the fleet button with a range of body styles, good kerbside appeal and a quality interior,”

enthused Stephen Briers, Fleet News Editor-in-Chief. 

SEAT UK's Head of Fleet and Business Sales said: “These awards often go to premium manufacturers (BMW and Mercedes Benz won the majority of this year’s awards).This year we beat all of them in what is probably the most important award of the evening. “Winning the best lower-medium car category with Leon is a great accolade for our fleet team and the Brand. It shows that the judges, who are from leasing companies and influencers in the fleet industry, have great confidence in our product and the service our network provides.

“This year we hosted 14 of our most important fleet customers at the event,” said Peter. “That’s a first for us, and they were as genuinely excited about our win as we were.

“We’re seeing a massive growth in true fleet volume this year. In March we sold two and half times more cars than in March 2013. This award will accelerate that growth!

On the night, SEAT was nominated for three awards for the first time in its history:

• Small Car for Ibiza
• Medium Car for Leon
• Estate Car for Leon ST

Pulman SEAT
Burntland Avenue,
Southwick,
Sunderland,
SR5 2ET
Telephone: 0191 537 0010

SEAT Leon Cupra Launches Tomorrow At Pulman SEAT.

 Introducing the all-new SEAT Leon Cupra and Cupra 280

/   Two versions of the new Leon flagship: Cupra and Cupra 280

/   New Leon Cupra 280 is SEAT’s most powerful series production car ever

/   New 2.0-litre engine combines razor-sharp responsiveness with surprising efficiency, in 265 PS and 280 PS guises

/   Cupra 280 DSG completes 0-62 mph sprint in just 5.7 seconds, yet returns 42.2 mpg; every Cupra hits 62 mph in less than six seconds

/   Order books open today (8 January) with prices from just £25,690

/   First deliveries expected early March 2014

Tomorrow SEAT will officially release the quickest and most powerful series production car it has ever made: the SEAT Leon Cupra 280.

The Cupra 280 sits at the top of a five-strong family of brand new Cupra models that begins with the 265 PS Leon SC Cupra and ends with the five-door Cupra 280 DSG. Here’s the range at a glance:

Every Leon Cupra completes the benchmark 0-62 mph sprint in less than six seconds, while all manual versions return exceptional 44.1 mpg average fuel consumption.

The drive: stunning performance as standard

Cupra stands for power, performance and dynamics – and the new Leon Cupra and Cupra 280 have all those qualities in abundance. The Cupra 280, with optional DSG transmission, catapults from zero to 62 mph in just 5.7 seconds, or 5.8 seconds with the six-speed manual gearbox equipped; every Cupra model has a 155 mph limited top speed.

The 350 Nm maximum torque of both versions spreads from just 1,750 rpm all the way up to 5,300 rpm, guaranteeing impressive pulling power and overtaking flexibility.

Against this, the new Leon Cupra is astonishingly efficient. The average fuel consumption for both power variants is just 44.1 mpg with a manual gearbox equipped, and 42.2 mpg with DSG. This equates to CO2 figures of just 149 g/km and 155 g/km; by comparison the second generation Leon Cupra R with 265 PS emitted 190 g/km CO2.

The engine: cutting edge technology

As a true sports engine, the 2.0 TSI turbo petrol unit of the Leon Cupra and Cupra 280 reacts spontaneously to every movement of the accelerator pedal and is wonderfully high revving. This is paired with a rich and refined sound that is aided and modulated by a standard sound actuator.

The all-new power unit, with its exceptionally responsive turbocharger, is packed with hi- tech and ground-breaking features. The dual-injection system, for example, combines direct injection with manifold injection under partial load, which optimises fuel economy and reduces particulate emissions. Cylinder fill is always in the optimum range: the camshafts are adjustable, with the valve lift system regulating opening on the exhaust side. The exhaust manifold is integrated into the cylinder head and is part of the intelligent thermal management system. In addition, a new kind of coating on the aluminium pistons and the bearings keeps friction to a minimum.

And like every other Leon in the range, the Cupra efficiency package also includes Start/Stop and Energy Recovery systems.

Key equipment

In the UK, additional standard equipment for the Leon Cupra over and above the FR model (and the aforementioned styling details) includes 18-inch alloy wheels, full-LED headlights, DAB digital radio, SEAT Media System Plus, aluminium front door sill trims with Cupra logo, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlights.

The Cupra 280 is distinguishable by its standard 19-inch alloy wheels, gloss black mirror caps, black exterior mouldings and frames, black rear roof spoiler, red brake callipers with Cupra logo, and black interior inserts. Satellite navigation comes as standard with the Cupra 280, too.

Cupra Drive Profile

The Cupra Drive Profile enables the characteristics of the new Leon Cupra to be adapted across a very wide range to meet the individual preferences of the driver. Alongside the Comfort and Sport modes, the Cupra mode was a focal point for the engineers in Martorell. Throttle response is particularly sensitive in this setting, while the DSG

operates in its sportiest shifting mode and the sound actuator accentuates the full tone of the turbocharged engine. DCC dynamic chassis control, progressive steering and the front-axle differential lock also operate at their sportiest settings.

The SEAT Leon Cupra is officially launched tomorrow and available to test drive on Tuesday 4th March 2014 at Pulman SEAT. For more information please go to our website http://www.pulmanseat.co.uk/. Or contact us on 0191 549 2926.