Currently reading: Geneva motor show 2013: Seat Leon SC

The second of three Leon models has arrived in the shortened, lowered and sportier guise of the SC

Seat has unveiled a rakish three-door version of the new Seat Leon, the second model of three to join the expanded line-up. The Leon SC (Sports Coupé) is shorter, lower and wider than the five-door model on which it is based, but without losing any of the 380 litres of boot capacity or compromising too much on space for rear passengers.

After its Geneva motor show reveal, the Leon SC is expected to find its way into showrooms in July. The Leon range will be completed later this year with the introduction of a new ST estate model, before hot Cupra versions of all three bodystyles are launched next year.

Compared with the standard five-door model, the Leon SC is completely new from the A-pillars back. The wheelbase has been reduced by 35mm to 2600mm and the roofline has been lowered and more sharply raked to give the car its sporty profile, which has been inspired by the Seat IBE concept car from 2010.

In its lightest form, the Leon SC weighs just 1168kg. The suspension set-up is taken from the five-door model, so there are MacPherson struts up front and a torsion beam at the rear for models with less than 150bhp or a multi-link set-up for models with more than 150bhp.

The engines for the Leon SC are carried over from the five-door model. This means that the 178bhp 1.8 TSI will be the initial range-topping petrol model and a 181bhp 2.0 TDI with CO2 emissions of 112g/km the most potent diesel.

Three trim levels will be offered in the UK: S, SE and FR. The range-topping FR will have bespoke bumpers, lowered suspension and 18-inch alloy wheels.

See our first drive review of the Seat Leon SC here

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Read our review

Car review

Seat's third-generation Leon is attractive and capable, but it can't quite reach the benchmark set by the imperious Volkswagen Golf

Mark Tisshaw

mark-tisshaw-autocar
Title: Editor

Mark is a journalist with more than a decade of top-level experience in the automotive industry. He first joined Autocar in 2009, having previously worked in local newspapers. He has held several roles at Autocar, including news editor, deputy editor, digital editor and his current position of editor, one he has held since 2017.

From this position he oversees all of Autocar’s content across the print magazine, autocar.co.uk website, social media, video, and podcast channels, as well as our recent launch, Autocar Business. Mark regularly interviews the very top global executives in the automotive industry, telling their stories and holding them to account, meeting them at shows and events around the world.

Mark is a Car of the Year juror, a prestigious annual award that Autocar is one of the main sponsors of. He has made media appearances on the likes of the BBC, and contributed to titles including What Car?Move Electric and Pistonheads, and has written a column for The Sun.

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Vimeous 13 February 2013

Tidy

Quite a tidy design that should lend itself well to further enhancements. The rear in particular is neat and I can easily picture Audi RS-style box arch extensions with a lower stance to really set it off.

I suspect the Cupra will be a very handy motor indeed.

Crixter 13 February 2013

When it was all covered up

When it was all covered up and spied testing...it did look like it might be rakish....but now...it's not. I think it's quite nice...but 'quite nice' perhaps isn't enough really is it?

IMO the Astra 3dr is still one of the best looking 3dr versions around.

erly5 12 February 2013

Rakish?

Really? I'm not seeing it myself. Looks like a bog-standard 3 door version of the 5 door. The previous Leon still looks better than the new version to my eyes. Too much Ibiza in the styling!