SEAT debuts Leon FR, announces pricing
Autoblog Spanish has full coverage of the debut of SEAT's new competitor in the hot hatch wars, the Leon FR, courtesy of our man in Madrid, Alberto Ballestin. We're posting a few of his live shots here, the full set of pics is online here.
According to What Car? Volkswagen's Spanish subsidiary is pricing its 197 hp FR at $31,910 USD, about $5,630 less than VW's GTI, which uses the same TFSI 2-liter engine.
SEAT announced that an even hotter 240 hp version of the Leon, the Cupra, will debut in July at the British Motor Show.
More photos after the jump!
[Sources: Autoblog Spanish, What Car?]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Peter W. 8:11AM (5/26/2006)
Shouldn't they call it the SEAT Leon FF?
I mean, it's basically yet-another-entry into the "ridiculously overpowered FWD compact" market alongside the Corolla XRs, Caliber SRT-4, Mazdaspeed3, Civic Si, GTI, Cobalt/Ion Redline, and base A3... It's like all these companies took a look at Mitsubishi and Subaru and thought people wouldn't notice that their feat-of-engineering compacts had AWD in addition to gussied-up four-cylinders.
I guess at this point I feel like I should sit back and wait for the Fit Si, Yaris xRS, Polo GTi, and Swift GTi which will be even lighter and cheaper...
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Richard Warren 8:15AM (5/26/2006)
Bring them here!
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CJ 8:32AM (5/26/2006)
I wish you bloggers would do us a favor and stop quoting vehicle prices in USD. This car is sold primarily in europe and will be sold in Euros. People who live in the euro zone earn euros - so relate it to what they earn. This car would not be sold in the US for $32,000. Please stop. Thanks
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Fred 8:43AM (5/26/2006)
Actually CJ, not everyone in Europe earns and purchases in Euros. And if they're quoting directly from WhatCar? then the price should be in pounds stirling, as quoted on the website.
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Yaroukh 9:20AM (5/26/2006)
After checking following URL I have to ask myself whether there will be a single person who would actually buy the Leon.
http://www.deutsche-neufahrzeuge-24.de/liste-%3Cb%3Efocus-%3C-b%3Est-%28deutschland%29_frei%20konfigurierbare%20_2892_st--5-t%C3%BCrer.php
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BCM 9:20AM (5/26/2006)
Zoom zoom zoom...
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MikeInNC 9:50AM (5/26/2006)
32k for this? I mean, I like the design but it seems a bit high doesn't it???
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CJ 10:06AM (5/26/2006)
Yup Fred of course its true a lot of the EU is not on the euro (yet, or by choice), but Spain is. But I assume you get my point.
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easy 11:00AM (5/26/2006)
For your information, the prices in Spain will be:
León FR 2.0 TFSI 200HP 24.300€
León FR 2.0 TDI 170HP 24.600€
and compared with Golf:
Golf GTI 2.0 TFSI 200HP 27.700€
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Hernan 11:58AM (5/26/2006)
CJ,
How about we use the common measure of Ass. In which case the interior of that car looks like a ton of Ass (in either europe or the US)
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CJ 12:21PM (5/26/2006)
Hernan:
Still does not work, unless you set the metric standard KiloAss
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zeroSignal 6:08AM (5/27/2006)
Interior is a bit drab yes, but imo the exterior looks great.
So.. Golf GTI underpinnings, Golf GTI engine, looks better than the Golf GTI, and it's cheaper.
Gimme.
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tom 10:59AM (5/28/2006)
Slightly bigger rims and its a killer.
lol @ #11
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emil109 7:34PM (6/10/2006)
I ordered a Focus ST 2 from Ford who then decided after three weeks to tell me that they will not be able to fill my order til the end of the year......have to say I was a bit so so about the ST, I am primarily a diesel driver and needed something to compete with the torque of my BORA 150 TDI SPORT, anyway cancelled the ST and have ordered me the TDI version of one of these babies, at least it still keeps the basic Leons shape but with more stylish upgrades unlike the ST which is basicly a normal Focus with over the top extensions bolted.....decided to ditch the chav for the salsa...the Leon just looks much more raaarreerrr gorgeous can't wait roll on July 17th (UK).......
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