The new SEAT Leon SC marks the first time that SEAT has offered a three-door version of the compact model. It is a true design icon and the perfect embodiment of the new SEAT design language, bringing even more style and sportiness into the medium hatchback segment without compromising everyday usability.

Its functional interior features a compelling mix of premium materials and outstanding craftsmanship and offers plenty of room in all seating positions. At 380 litres, the luggage compartment of the three-door SC is just as spacious as in the five-door bodyshell variant of the new SEAT Leon. At 4.23 metres long, the sports coupé catches the eye with an extra helping of athletic prowess, thanks to a wheelbase that is shorter than the five-door version by 35 millimetres, which contributes to its distinctive character.

Like its predecessor, the new SEAT Leon stands for driving fun and exceptional functionality. The new Leon SC is the second member of the current Leon family and celebrated its world premiere at the last Geneva Motor Show.

The new SEAT Leon SC is built at the Martorell plant near Barcelona in Spain. Since the premiere of the first Leon generation in 1999, SEAT has sold approximately 1.2 million vehicles from this successful model line.

The entire engine line-up for the new SEAT Leon SC is made up exclusively of turbocharged, direct-injection units. The TSI and TDI CR engines, ranging in displacement from 1.2 to 2.0 litres, span a power spectrum of 86 ps to 184 ps and combine excellent efficiency with refined dynamics. The 1.6 TDI CR with 105 ps and equipped with the Start/Stop system makes do with an average fuel consumption of just 3.8 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres, equating to a CO2 figure of just 99 grams per kilometre.



Just like the five-door Leon, SEAT is offering the Leon SC in the equipment lines Emotion, Reference and Style, as well as the especially sporty FR.

The very latest drives, systematic lightweight design, a perfectly tuned suspension, modern infotainment and intelligent assistance systems make the three-door Leon SC a true technology showcase - and all of it at an extremely attractive price. The Design - a powerful look

The new SEAT Leon SC cuts a fine figure with its perfectly balanced proportions. The relationship between its length, height and width, plus its short overhangs, convey its dynamics even at a standstill. Inspired by the IBE, IBL and IBX concept vehicles, the three-door compact car is the dynamic interpretation of the SEAT design language. The completely redesigned car has stunning appeal from every angle, with attractive, sporty aesthetics.

With the Leon SC, SEAT has systematically developed the brand's design identity, with the application of clear lines and taut surfaces conveying vitality and precision. Even the tiniest details express the high standards and quality with which the new SEAT Leon SC has been designed and developed - standards fulfilled by very few vehicle manufacturers.

"We have given the three-door Leon SC a highly distinctive character - just deleting two doors would not have been enough for us. That is why we opted for the shorter wheelbase - although it only measures 35 millimetres less, the visual effect is very powerful. The result is a big difference in the expression of dynamics," says Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Head of SEAT Design. "The SEAT design language has been perfected in the new Leon. This is most evident in the characteristic lines - it is a car that has personality."

Compared with the five-door Leon, the wheelbase of the new Leon SC is shorter by 35 millimetres. At the same time, the distinctive window graphic, which sees the lower rear edge pulled downward, has the visual effect of stretching the car's 4.23-metre overall length. This gives the Leon SC a look that is sporty and powerful, yet very compact. All the exterior lines have an intense three-dimensionality that makes the design even more characteristic and generates a fine interplay between light and shade.

The front end of the new SEAT Leon SC is characterised by an emotional design. All lines stretch toward a single imaginary point that lies in front of the vehicle. The clear and stable geometric form of the triangle is a fundamental element of the SEAT design language and is evident in many places throughout the new Leon SC, such as the headlamp design. The lamps are perfectly integrated into the sculptural form of the Leon SC - their sharp line a typical SEAT feature.

The optional full-LED version with its powerful illumination makes the Leon SC a technology pioneer. The innovative full-LED headlamps, which are available for the first time in the compact segment, consume less energy and have an extremely long lifecycle. Their colour temperature of 5,300 Kelvin is similar to that of daylight, putting less strain on the eyes.



The side profile of the new SEAT Leon SC displays a balanced relationship between metal and glass surfaces - vertically, this is around 2/3 to 1/3. This emphasises the solidity and underscores the car's firm stance. The characteristic, interrupted "Línea Dinámica" runs rearward over the wheel arches. The precisely sculpted "blisters" on the sides are not completely straight, running instead in a very slight arc to increase the tension. The expansive rear windscreen, with its coupé-like sweep, is 19 degrees more angled than on the five-door variant and takes the form of an up-turned, stylised pentagon - a further characteristic feature of the new SEAT Leon SC.

The new SEAT logo symbolises the core values of the brand - purist design and a high standard of workmanship. The new Leon SC is among the first SEAT models to bear the new logo - on the front, on the wheels, at the rear and on the steering wheel.

The Interior - elegant and bright

The dynamic aesthetic of the exterior continues into the interior of the new SEAT Leon SC - it looks uncluttered, bright and clean. The materials are of the finest quality and the craftsmanship first class.

Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Head of SEAT Design says of the interior: "We used ergonomics as the benchmark in designing the light and elegant interior, orientating our thinking around the precision of an aircraft cockpit. The driver of the Leon SC has no unnecessary distraction and can concentrate fully on driving."

The space for the driver and front-seat passenger has a clear and harmonious design. All switches, buttons and levers are where he/she would intuitively expect to find them. The broad centre console with its clear driver focus is particularly distinctive. The instrument panel is extremely elegant, with its two-tone design making it appear almost to float.

Fine details highlight the very high level of workmanship in the new Leon SC - details such as the large air vents, the easy-to-understand air conditioning controls and the three-dimensional trim elements. All surfaces have a soft-touch finish for a satisfying tactile experience. In some versions, the premium feel is further enhanced through fine chrome and leather applications.

The large instrument dials are easy to read, with the driver information system standard as of the Reference line. The display is located directly in the driver's line of sight and provides information on average fuel consumption, range and speed. Depending on the version, it also provides data from the navigation system, the driver assistance systems or from a mobile phone connected via Bluetooth. The beautifully crafted steering wheel, featuring the new SEAT logo on the airbag cover, is available with optional multi-function controls.

Certain versions of the new SEAT Leon SC are equipped with premium ambient lighting. In the FR, LEDs in the door panels enhance the contours of the interior design and bring even greater refinement to the interior. The ambient lighting offers occupants improved orientation, as well as an even more pleasant feeling of space.



On-board stowage

In designing the new SEAT Leon SC, a great deal of emphasis was laid on functionality and flexibility. There are no fewer than a dozen stowage trays and cubbies plus five closed storage bins located in the doors, the centre console and in front of and between the front seats.

The front stowage cubby in the centre console is very spacious. Keys, mobile phones or other everyday articles can be stored here quickly and safely. This is also the location for the optional connections (aux-in, USB, SD and iPod cable) that enable multimedia devices to be connected to the vehicle network.

Seats and luggage compartment

The newly designed driver and front passenger seats in the Leon SC are low-slung and sporty and extremely comfortable for people of all sizes. The seats guarantee the very best grip under dynamic driving conditions and are extremely comfortable over long distances. This was achieved through ergonomic design of the foam contours, as well as further improvement to the spring and damping characteristics of the cold-cure foam cushion elements. A large selection of premium fabrics, leather and Alcantara upholstery ensures that all individual desires are fulfilled.

Weight was saved during the development of the standard-fit driver and passenger side airbags, which are now installed without plastic housings. Instead, the folded airbags are now integrated into the seat backs. The weight saving of around 25 percent is paired with a significant improvement in protection.

Height adjustment for the driver's seat is standard in all trim levels, while it is delivered as an option for the passenger seat in Reference and as standard with Style and FR.

Access to the rear is easy, thanks to the wide-opening doors and the Easy Entry function lever, which releases the seat-back to fold forward. As well as folding the seat-back forward, the lever allows the entire seat to slide towards the dashboard, leaving a wide aperture through which rear passengers can enter.

Once installed in the rear of the new SEAT Leon SC, shoulder, knee and head room are extremely generous. The comfortable rear bench is equipped with three head restraints. In the interests of the very youngest passengers, standard equipment includes Isofix and Top Tether anchors for child seats. Thanks to systematic lightweight design, the rear bench back rest is more than 15 percent lighter than in the previous model - without any sacrifice in comfort.

The luggage compartment of the new Leon SC has a capacity of 380 litres, which is exactly the same as for the five-door variant. The rear bench back rest is extremely straightforward to fold forward - and comes with a 60:40 split as of the Reference line. Once folded forward, the load floor is almost completely flat and measures 1,530 millimetres in length.

The Bodyshell - systematic lightweight design

Its low kerb weight is one of the great strengths of the new SEAT Leon SC. In its base version, the compact three-door weighs just 1,093 kilograms on-the-road - an incredibly competitive figure.

"Systematic lightweight design is a clear strength of the new Leon SC, too. The low vehicle weight aids dynamics and efficiency to the same degree," says Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice President of Research and Development for SEAT S.A. "The extremely stiff bodyshell also forms the basis for excellent overall quality."

High-strength and ultra-high-strength steels

A bodyshell that offers optimum safety and the best possible comfort has to be solid. An intelligent structure guarantees that the vehicle remains lightweight and efficient.

With an eye on optimum value for money, costly materials like magnesium and carbon fibre were avoided - instead, the bodyshell features a high proportion of high-strength and ultra-high-strength steels. The hot-formed, hi-tech steels alone reduce weight by 18 kilograms, while ensuring increased passenger cell stiffness.

The excellent bodyshell stiffness lays the groundwork for the high production quality, for the precise handling and for the quiet passenger cabin, virtually undisturbed by unpleasant frequencies. Thanks to careful insulation, the interior of the new SEAT Leon SC is as quiet as that of a car from the next class up. Its aerodynamic refinements include underbody cladding and the airflow through the engine bay.

Systematic lightweight design extends across every one of the vehicle's sub-assemblies - many parts in the engines, running gear and interior also contribute to weight reduction.

Climate control

One example of the many lightweight design initiatives is the all-new air conditioning. With its highly efficient cold circulation system and quiet operation, it sets the benchmark in efficiency and comfort. Ideal air distribution was as much the focus of development work as was fast and even windscreen de-icing in frosty temperatures. The significant weight saving of 2.7 kilograms was achieved through optimisation of the design and packaging.

The Drive - efficient dynamics

The Leon SC comes with an extensive engine line-up. SEAT is sending the new sports coupé into battle with powerful and fuel-efficient TDI CR and TSI power units ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 litres displacement. All engines feature direct injection with turbocharging and have been optimised for low internal friction and rapid warm-up.

"Our engines use state-of-the-art efficiency technologies and have outstanding fuel consumption figures," says Dr. Matthias Rabe, Vice President of Research and Development for SEAT S.A. "We are vigorously pursuing our strategy of offering performance and driving fun combined with optimum resource conservation."

TDI CR engines

The diesel line-up offered in the SEAT Leon SC covers a broad performance spectrum ranging from 90 to 184 ps. The state-of-the-art TDI power units are notable for their excellent fuel consumption and low CO2 figures.

The 1.6 TDI CR with 105 ps generates 250 Nm of torque from a displacement of 1,598 cm3. In the version with the Start/Stop and recuperation system, it consumes just 3.8 litres of diesel per 100 kilometres, which equates to 99 grams of CO2 per kilometre.

The 2.0 TDI CR with the Start/Stop system makes do with an average of just 4.1 litres of fuel per 100 km. With 150 ps and 320 Nm of torque, the TDI engine with a displacement of 1,968 cm3 provides the new SEAT Leon with ample propulsion.

The diesel range is further enhanced by the 1.6 TDI CR with 90 ps and a respectable 230 Nm of torque; it consumes 4.1 litres per 100 km and emits 108 grams of CO2 per km. The highlight of the TDI line-up is the 2.0 TDI CR with 184 ps and 380 Nm of torque, which is available exclusively in the new FR.