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Global Viewpoints
SEAT goes for power
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Spanish car maker SEAT (part of the VW Group) revealed its first four-wheel-drive car — and its most powerful — at the Frankfurt Motor Show. The hatchback Leon is based on the Golf platform as part of VW's platform-sharing philosophy and underlines SEAT's marketing aim of creating a sporting image for the marque. The VW Group's individual companies are each establishing (or have established) marque identity through frontal styling, and SEAT is no exception, with its prominent "S" symbol. Although SEAT is majoring on sportiness, that does not prevent it from including a choice of three outputs for its 1.9-L diesel engine lineup, from a naturally aspirated 51 kW (68 hp) to a turbocharged (using variable geometry technology) 82 kW (110 hp). The most powerful version of the Leon is the 1.8-L 132-kW (180-hp) gasoline unit, giving it a top speed of 229 km/h (142 mph) and a 0-100 km/h (0-62 mph) time of 7.7 s, driving through a six-speed gearbox. Suspension uses MacPherson struts at the front and semi-independent beam axle at the rear. The four-wheel-drive version of the Leon uses a hydromechanical Haldex clutch, which incorporates an intelligent torque distribution system.
Stuart Birch
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