MADRID – SEAT unveils the fourth generation of its popular Leon, with the Spanish automaker promising new levels of connectivity, efficiency and safety.
“The SEAT Leon is our best-selling model and we want to continue its great track,” says Carsten Isensee, vice president-finance and IT, who has served as acting president since the departure three weeks ago of Luca de Meo, who took over as CEO of French automaker Renault.
“Therefore, SEAT has invested more than €1.1 billion ($1.2 billion), mainly in vehicle development and in the improvement of the production facilities,” Isensee says.
In addition to the basic 5-door hatchback version, the fourth-generation Leon also will be offered in a Sportstourer station-wagon version (below, left). Buyers will have a choice of gasoline, diesel, compressed natural gas, mild-hybrid and plug-in hybrid propulsion systems. SEAT’s first fully connected model will include a SIM card.
Prices for the different combinations will be announced in March at the Geneva auto show, where the new Leon will first be exhibited to the public. Sales of the hatchback begin in April, followed in June by the Sportstourer.
SEAT has sold more than 2.2 million Leons over its first three generations. Isensee says at the new Leon’s unveiling that SEAT sold 574,000 vehicles in 2019, the most in the Volkswagen affiliate’s 70-year history.
Wayne Griffiths, vice president-sales and marketing and CEO of Cupra, SEAT’s standalone sporty brand, adds that the Leon was Spain’s sales leader for a fifth straight year in 2019 with 150,000 deliveries.
“With the arrival of the Tarraco model to complete SEAT’s SUV range with the Ateca and Arona, SUVs are already half of SEAT sales, so we forecast very good economic results, given that the average price per car sold will rise,” Griffiths says.
