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Filed under: Euro , Hatchbacks , SEAT Click either image for hi-res gallery of the SEAT Leon Linea R Volkswagen makes some pretty enticing hot hatches, but as we discovered when driving the Leon Cupra , sister-brand SEAT is where it's at. The Spanish subsidiary's hot hatches typically offer more power for less money in a more exciting package than their German counterparts. Now SEAT has widened the gap - on that last category, at least - with a new package for the Golf-based Leon. Called the Linea R, this newest variant draws inspiration from SEAT's championship-winning touring cars, and you can plainly see the association with the gaping air intakes cut into the body like an 80's slasher flick. The package also includes up-rated brakes, 225/40 R18 rubber and revised aero trim, plus a unique central grille, chrome mirror casings and the requisite boxful of badges. The interior is treated to some sporty touches as well, and the Linea R package is available with a range of...
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Paris Motor Show , SEAT Click the image above for a high-res gallery of the Seat Exeo Our Spanish colleagues tell us that the Iberians are none too happy about SEAT grabbing a previous generation A4 out of the garbage bin to make a new sedan. Never mind the opportunity to make an easy(-ier) profit - something that would have any automaker quaking with giddyness right now - the word "Exeo" right now translates as "It just ain't right!" Those of you who have seen the previous A4 won't be surprised by anything here, except perhaps the richness and quality of the suede interior. We can assure you it was impressive. The mirror housings are neat, too, but standard fare for SEAT. Based on the approval ratings of the old A4 by the time it retired, our guess is that new customers the Exeo is meant to attract won't be disappointed that they found their way to SEAT through these four doors. Check out the press release that makes the old...
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Filed under: Euro , Paris Motor Show , Hatchbacks , SEAT Click above for a high-res gallery of the SEAT Ibiza Cupra. In Europe, budget-minded pistonheads have a treasure trove of hot hatches to choose from, and SEAT will be adding another model to the mix later this year. The Ibiza Cupra will be officially unveiled in Paris, but Seat has dropped the first few images and a handful of specs ahead of its official unveiling in the City of Light this October. The Cupra is packing a twin-turbocharged, 1.4-liter TSI four underhood, sending 178 hp to the front wheels through a seven-speed DSG gearbox. Traction control and ESP are part of the package, along with a stiffer suspension, 17-inch wheels and bolstered buckets. The exterior benefits from a new fascia incorporating massive grilles and tiny fog lamps, side skirts and a new rear bumper. Prices and performance stats haven't been released yet, but the Renaultsport Clio 197 competitor should be priced around £16,000 when it hits dealers...
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Filed under: Sedans/Saloons , Wagons/Estates , Audi Click the image above for more renderings of the Seat Exeo VW subsidiary Seat is, like The Jeffersons , movin' on up, rolling out a new range of vehicles that will push it into new market segments. The image above is one of a set of the automaker's Exeo sedan given to the trademark office in Spain. According to the company, "the new name stems from the Latin word 'Exire', meaning "to go beyond", "to go further", and "The name Exeo is advanced, forceful and technological, which signals excellence and is highly suggestive of driving pleasure." Ok... Instead of creating something completely new to chart these unknown waters, Seat has taken a previous gen Audi A4 and given it front and rear clips in the Seat style. Seat will also use the A4 Avant body to create an Exeo wagon. The newish sedan is meant to compete with the Ford Mondeo, Renault Laguna, and Alfa Romeo 159 and will be launched...
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Filed under: Coupes , SEAT Click on the above image for high-res photos of the SEAT SportCoupé Following the launch of the SEAT Ibiza five-door in April, the Spanish automaker has debuted the new Ibiza SportCoupé. When compared to the five-door, the new three-door appears nearly identical from the front. However, a glance at the profile reveals striking differences in the C-pillar. Where the rear side window on the five-door sweeps upward towards the integrated spoiler, the window sill on the new coupe follows the contour defined by the crease in the fender. The rear of the vehicle, with the large hatch, seems nearly unchanged. Targeted towards a sportier clientele than its sibling, the SportCoupé sits 17mm (.67") lower than the five-door. When equipped with the 1.6-liter (105 PS) powerplant, the Ibiza will be offered with a seven-speed DSG double-clutch gearbox (courtesy of Volkswagen, SEAT's parent company). SEAT promises even high-performance Ibiza FR and...
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Filed under: Economy , Euro , Hatchbacks , Audi , Volkswagen , SEAT Click above for a high-res gallery of the Audi metroproject quattro Concept. Buyers of the next generation of Volkswagen-developed small cars will have one more option box to tick when placing their order: all-wheel-drive. The new platform, dubbed PQ25, will find its way underneath a handful of new models, spanning the range from the low-end (SEAT), mid-grade (VW) and luxury (Audi). All-wheel-drive won't be an option for the new SEAT Ibiza, but consumers of the next VW Polo (specifically the CrossPolo) might be able to outfit their tiny runabout with AWD, while the Audi A1, due out in late 2009, will continue the automaker's love affair with quattro. Gallery: Audi metroproject quattro Concept [Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd] Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Motorsports , Coupes , Euro , Hatchbacks , SEAT Click image to enlarge The SEAT Leon Supercopa series that visits tracks in seven European countries is, according to SEAT, "the most powerful single-brand competition in Europe." In celebration of the series, Seat is making a special edition SEAT Leon Copa Edition that arguably looks even hotter than the race car. The 2007 race car had a turbocharged inline 4 with 301 horsepower. The special edition version for the street gets the 2.0-liter TFSI, putting out 285 hp and 265 lb-ft. That means you get sixteen fewer chevaux than the race car, but fourteen more pounds of churn. With Eibach springs, bigger brakes, a SEAT Sport bodykit and 18" wheels, the package is good for a 5.9-second run to 62-MPH. If you want one, you'll need to scrounge up €38,500, and you'll need to hurry: SEAT is only making 55 of them. Oh, and you'll need to live in Europe, too. [Source: Zer Customs ] Read | Permalink | Email...
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Filed under: Garage , Euro , Hatchbacks , Driving , SEAT Click above for more high-res shots of the SEAT Leon Cupra Draw up a list of the top hot-hatches in the world. The SEAT Leon Cupra may not be on it - although it might be - but the Volkswagen GTI will most definitely. At least it should, because the GTI is a performance icon, forged over decades of performance tempered with versatility and accessibility. And the current-generation GTI certainly lives up to the legend, burning rubber with the best Germany has to offer. But if this article is about the SEAT Leon Cupra, then why are we talking about the Volkswagen GTI? What do they have in common? Well, almost everything. Almost. Gallery: First Drive: SEAT Leon Cupra Continue reading First Drive: SEAT Leon Cupra Permalink | Email this | Comments
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Filed under: Euro , Videos , Hatchbacks , SEAT Click above to view more of the SEAT Ibiza unveiling in hi-res Just yesterday we brought you news of the new SEAT Ibiza . Previewed by the black-mouthed Bocanegtra concept unveiled in Geneva, the new Ibiza itself previews the subtle change in direction to SEAT's design language, incorporating sharp intersecting lines with a more crowd-pleasing grille. European customers, however, will have to wait a little longer to see the 3-door versions, as well as for the high-performance Cupra model. In the meantime, the Spanish Volkswagen subsidiary has now unleashed a whole corral of images of the new five-door hatch, plus a video of the car from every angle. Unveiling at the SEAT facility on the outskirts of Barcelona, the new Ibiza will have its motor show debut in Madrid late next month and will hit European markets shortly thereafter. Click on the thumbnails below to see all the images in alta resolución and follow the jump for el vídeo...
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Filed under: Economy , Euro , Hatchbacks , SEAT Click image for a high-res gallery of the new SEAT Ibiza SEAT, the Spanish manufacturer owned by Volkswagen, teased Geneva Motor Show visitors this year with the 3-door Bocanegra concept car. Today it unveiled the production version, which, as expected, takes on the Ibiza nameplate. The attractive 5-door had a lot of work done at the plastic surgeon's office, as the old car's bland lines have been transformed completely. Flat is definitely out, and the pair of diagonal character lines first shown on Bocanegra now adorn the new compact. In front, the Ibiza wears a new face -- one that European shoppers should get used to, as it's likely to trickle through to other SEATs over time. The most obvious change is the wider, more traditional-looking grille, which helps to mainstream the SEAT's appearance compared to the quirky faces you'll find on some of its stablemates. Gallery: 2008 SEAT Ibiza [Source: SEAT] Continue reading...
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Filed under: Hatchbacks , SEAT While it sister company Audi continues to forge ahead in Le Mans-class racing under diesel power, the SEAT division is likewise launching an assault on the British Touring Car Championship with an oil-burning Leon TDI . The Spanish automaker is also launching a special edition Leon for the road to coincide with its competition counterpart's race debut. Mechanically, the limited-edition Leon FR550 is largely the same as the standard FR - one rung down on the SEAT performance ladder from the top-of-the-line Cupra - powered by the same two-liter turbodiesel on the Leon FR TDI. The details are what set the FR550 apart, carrying such touches as racing-style buckets seats, special badging, USB connectivity, 18-inch "Draco" alloys and a range of special colors. The turbodiesel Leon FR will hit sixty in 8.2 and return 39.2 mpg city/47 mpg highway. If they act fast enough, British customers can pick up one of the 550 examples of the FR550 being offered...
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Filed under: Trucks/Pickups , Recalls/TSBs , Safety , Ford If you own a 2008 Ford F-Series truck, your Fun Friday is made less so by the news of a recall for your truck that involves its seats. Apparently, the front driver's seat on these trucks fail to comply with federal rules for seat back strength, as a weld that connects a bracket and the seat back could crack. The report didn't mention whether cracks have occurred during normal use of the seats or when they're subjected to high loads such as in an accident, though it did say no accidents or injuries had been reported due to the weak welds. Of the 100,000+ vehicles subject to recall, 87,000 of the trucks are in the United States, while the remaining 14,000 are in Canada, and all are either F-250 or F-550 Super Duty Models. Ford won't be sending notifications out until later this month, so F-Series owners who just can't wait can call Ford at (800) 392-3673 for more information. Gallery: 2008 Ford Super-Duty [Source...
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Filed under: Concept Cars , Geneva Motor Show , Hatchbacks , SEAT Click above for high-res gallery of the SEAT Bocanegra Concept SEAT is set to unveil the Bocanegra Concept tomorrow during the first press day of the 2008 Geneva Motor Show , and it previews the upcoming replacement for the production Ibiza model. For those familiar with the rather homely looking Ibiza , the Bocanegra (which literally means "black mouth") should be a welcome portent of things to come. SEAT, a subsidiary of Volkswagen, was always supposed to be the Kia to Volkswagen's Hyundai, but has not done a great job of mixing performance and low prices together. Well, it got the latter down. The Bocanegra Concept, however, sports an aggressive, expressive design that, while not altogether original (we see Euro Focus and BMW 1-Series cues), is a major leap forward for the Spanish brand. Sources say the concept's sheetmetal is pretty darn close to what the production model will be when it debuts later...
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Filed under: Sports/GTs , Euro , Hatchbacks , SEAT , UK Click image for a hi-res gallery of the SEAT Leon Cupra K¹ Every so often, we wish that Volkswagen's SEAT brand was available here in the US. Sure, the Spanish automaker's vehicles are badge-engineering exercises that raid the corporate partsbin for powertrains, switchgear, and the like, but their styling is unique and some of the packages have definite appeal. Take, for instance, the just-announced UK-market Leon Cupra K¹. With the stylish Leon Cupra as its base, the K¹ adds an appearance package that is, to put it plainly, pretty bitchin'. Intended to make the car look more like the Cupra BTCC racers, the kit includes new front and rear treatments, side skirts, and a sweet-looking center-exit exhaust. We think the K¹ kit is actually better-looking than the BTCC bodywork. Like its standard-bodied counterpart , the K¹ gets power from a 240 PS (236 HP) version of VW's 2.0...
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Filed under: Hirings/Firings , Plants/Manufacturing , SEAT SEAT has some ambitious plans. The Spanish subsidiary of Volkswagen is targeting a twofold increase in sales from 400,000 to 800,000 units by 2018, but currently has a line-up of seven models that, for the most part, are little more than rebodied VWs with a poorer reputation. While speaking with the German newspaper Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung , SEAT CEO Erich Schmitt outlined an aggressive expansion plan that involves cutting down its workforce, reducing manufacturing times, drastically broadening its model range and improving the brand's image. Having recently laid-off 900 workers, Schmitt says his company needs to trim another 700. Production time for the next-generation Ibiza hatchback will be cut down to 18 hours, compared to the 27 it takes to assemble the current version. But here's the kicker: Schmitt says that its model line-up will more than double from the current seven to fifteen by 2012 and shoot up to forty...
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