Paris 2008: Previous Gen Audi A4 Seat Exeo
by Jonathon Ramsey on Oct 3rd 2008 at 8:27PM 
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 new again after the jump, and our gallery of high-res photos below.
Gallery: Paris 2008: SEAT Exeo
Gallery: SEAT Exeo
PRESS RELEASE
PARIS: NEW SEAT EXEO IS A SPANISH SURPRISE
- New saloon is indicative of the Spanish brand's ambition
- Highest levels of quality and performance
- Advanced technology combined with exciting new equipment
Exclusive, elegant and sporty, the new Exeo – pronounced 'ex-ay-o' – represents a major leap in quality for SEAT, whose aim with this and other newcomers is to explore new markets and significantly broaden its already attractive model range.
Quality and precision of both manufacturing processes and materials were the underlying requirements when designing and producing Exeo, and their expert application results in a sporty, refined, safe and engaging car.
Distinctive personality
Distinctive, elegant styling abounds on the new Exeo. Outside, both the front and rear ends are clearly indicative of the Spanish brand's image – it is sporty with fluid forms, soft curves and prominent wings that heighten the car's athletic looks. The unmistakable SEAT grille, markedly larger on this model, plus the proportion of glass to metal lends an even sportier look to the car.
The new Exeo's assertive styling is enhanced on the Paris show car with stunning 18-inch alloy rims and a muscular twin exhaust pipe arrangement, both telltale signs for those 'in the know' that this is a potent piece of machinery.
Inside, the Exeo's extraordinarily ergonomic interior is especially comfortable. At the front of the passenger compartment the dashboard lines flow towards the door panels and the driver-facing central console, creating a pronounced and engaging wrap-around effect. The two-tone instrument panel's great looks are completed with dark brown wood inserts.
The interior colour scheme of the show car is particularly interesting. Entitled 'magnolia', it creates a feeling of spaciousness with light, airy tones. The comfortable leather seats and Alcantara lining on pillars and roof panel also underscore the Exeo cabin's feeling of style and roominess.
Naturally, the new car also provides an extremely comfortable driving experience. The front seats have four automatic memory positions, and the seat length offers exceptional leg support. And, in a touch of limousine-like luxury, even the rear sunshade can be controlled electrically to reduce incoming glare.
The bodywork construction includes a steel monocoque structure with integrated aluminium components. The further use of high strength steel helps reduce weight on the new car, guaranteeing excellent results in both occupant and pedestrian protection. These special elements are used on both the front-end structure and the passenger compartment.
SEAT's saloon also features ample boot space, with a volume of 460 litres, while the notably generous 1,000 mm loading width between the interior extrusions allows bulky objects to be loaded with ease.
Agile, dynamic and sporty
With the arrival of the Exeo, SEAT is demonstrating its efforts to design and manufacture truly 'made-to-measure' vehicles. Its compact size and exceptional manoeuvrability provide more comfortable, agile performance in both city driving and when parking. Add the exceptional long distance performance that comes with a top quality mid-size saloon and SEAT is confident its newcomer will have significant appeal.
The SEAT Exeo uses the Volkswagen Group's Premium platform, found on mid-sized saloons, to provide outstanding driving comfort for both passengers and driver. The platform's exceptional dynamic performance is due to the exhaustive work carried out on its rigidity and geometry, as well as significant modifications to suspension coils and shock absorbers.
The front suspension set-up is an independent multilink, with a trapezoidal link at the rear. Light alloy elements on both shafts also considerably reduce the unsuspended mass.
On board the Exeo, the driver immediately feels the vehicle's controlled behaviour, even when driving to the limit, with the car's body responding succinctly to the steering wheel and delivering minimal roll. Speed-dependent Servotronic power steering, where the degree of assistance depends on the car's speed, provides greater comfort and driving pleasure.
Technologically advanced
Driving enjoyment is at the very heart of the SEAT Exeo ethos and, as such, several solutions have been specifically added for both driver and passengers to deliver exceptional comfort.
Besides the many features expected on a saloon in this category, the Exeo also features double-thickness door windows which significantly reduce noise inside the car and are also a theft deterrent. It is also equipped with a tilt sensor alarm and an innovative 'solar roof', which provides enough electrical power to activate the car's ventilation system even allowing it to continue to work when the engine is turned off.
SEAT's new car also features latest generation Xenon Plus headlights, including stunning daytime running lights, providing an intense, even beam. The dynamic turning system is made up of swivelling lights that illuminate the inside of a curve when the car is travelling at a speed of at least seven miles an hour.
The twin-zone automatic climate control system is equipped with a sophisticated air quality sensor, which not only provides independent climate control on the driver and front passenger sides, but also detects and avoids the entry of noxious gases, maintaining a constant air quality for the vehicle's occupants.
The new car also naturally features a sophisticated satellite navigation system with two SD ports, MP3-type audio player and hard disc, including a map database of the whole of Western Europe.
Extensive safety measures
The Exeo is packed with the most sophisticated occupant protection measures, including two front airbags which deploy in two stages depending on the severity of the collision, two front side airbags, two curtain-type head airbags, driver knee airbag and rear side airbags.
The car also features active front seat head restraints that protect driver and passenger from whiplash caused by a rear-end collision. The front passenger and rear seats are also equipped with Isofix anchoring points for the safe securing of child seats.
SEAT's new executive class saloon is also equipped with numerous active safety elements including ABS, TCS and ESP +, EBA and tyre pressure monitoring.
More horsepower, fewer g/km of emissions
The Exeo showcased in Paris boasts a powerful petrol engine in the shape of a turbo-charged direct injection 200 PS 2.0-litre TSI. It delivers maximum torque of 280 Nm at only 1,800 rpm, providing highly accessible performance. Fuel consumption comes in at 36.6 mpg on the (provisional) combined cycle, while CO2 emissions fall below 185 g/km.
Further details, prices and specification will be announced closer to the SEAT Exeo's UK launch during the first half of 2009.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 3)
Kumail 8:42PM (10/03/2008)
sad...
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SOhp101 12:34AM (10/04/2008)
Very funny guys, but it's October 3, not April 1.
Not even the US companies go to this extent in rebadging, but as long as this cheaper than the A4 then what the hell, go for it.
dea911 2:21AM (10/04/2008)
I love how in photo #5 there is an Audi display in the backround.
A little ironic
Joakim 4:14PM (10/05/2008)
As sad as the Crossfire beeing an old C-Class Merc, or even as sad as both the 300C and the mighty Challenger beeing a last generation E-Class ??
That One Person 1:41PM (10/04/2008)
Joakim...the 300 and Challenger are not rebadged E-Class. Why don't people get this? They share a few parts here and there...suspension design, wiring harness, transmission, front seat frames, steering column and a similar AWD system.
hayabusa55 8:44PM (10/03/2008)
They just took an A4 and made it ugly?
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3seriesisking 8:47PM (10/03/2008)
This is just getting ridiculous....
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paul 8:53PM (10/03/2008)
wtf.
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MikeW 9:10PM (10/03/2008)
Lets say this is the new 'jetta' (or Bora)
How much cheaper than the A4 could it be price at, 5-10K?
Not a bad idea:
Use new EA888 engine
Use 2nd generation ZF 6 speed automatic (let Audi use the 8 speed auto)
Torsen3 with the stick
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Shiftright 9:12PM (10/03/2008)
Talk about hand-me-downs...I don't get it; if every other Seat is a rebodied VW product, couldn't they have had rebodied this as well? Nothing wrong with the previous A4's underpinnings and oily bits, but at least try to make it seem like a new car. Then again, Seat's design language has been looking for an identity for a while, so maybe it's a good thing the A4's balanced proportions were kept, at least.
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Kitko 9:13PM (10/03/2008)
"With the arrival of the Exeo, SEAT is demonstrating its efforts to design and manufacture truly 'made-to-measure' vehicles."
VW Routan is German engineered, McCain helped to invent a Blackberry... What a perfect world we live in.
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Torrent 9:14PM (10/03/2008)
Well, aren't they innovative?
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RPM 9:24PM (10/03/2008)
At least the interior is from the A4 Convertible, which is better than the Sedan's interior.
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Will 9:26PM (10/03/2008)
I fail to see why everyone is bitching about this. VW is well known for recycling older platforms in other markets. I believe you can still buy the older model Jetta and Golf in Canada and Brazil has some of the very old models still in production. If it makes a great car affordable to more people then what is there to complain about? So many people on here complain about Toyota's hum-drum offerings, this is VW's way to make a proven car that is fun to drive affordable for more people.
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RPM 9:36PM (10/03/2008)
Ya I don't see anything wrong with this. In fact I wish other manufacturers would do the same, like the older Honda Civics and Accords are still great cars, and it would be cool to still be able to buy them new at a lower price.
Mattias 4:23AM (10/04/2008)
In South Africa you can still buy the Mark I Golf:
http://www.vw.co.za/models/citi/
leonjoramos 12:10AM (10/08/2008)
They did it already
http://mx.volkswagen.com/vwcms_publish/vwcms/master_public/virtualmaster/es_mx/models/jetta/ficha.html
tito 4:47AM (10/04/2008)
Exactly, yeah the old A4 was a great car, and yes it may not be the coolest thing to drive a car that it may seem like an old Audi handmedown, like if a chinese company did the same thing, that would be wrong, but since it´s VW and Seat right now needs to make profit, why not?
I bet the quality it´s gonna be great, because a car that´s been improved in so many ways in many years, means better quality for the last products, in this case a rebadged Seat.
And let´s be honest not EVERYONE will notice, so why be so harsh on them for making an honest try into solving some of the company´s issues this way.
Also americans are best known for making crappy rebadges on crappy cars, and this european rebadge at least it´s based on a great product.
Yago Bal 9:45PM (10/03/2008)
1. Geography lesson:
Iberian and spanish are 2 different things: the portuguese are iberian too.
2. Economics lesson:
Why would they be unhappy? A car with no development costs means profit even if only half a dozen cars are sold...
("...and the pedant of the month award goes toooo....")
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jjpg2000 9:56PM (10/03/2008)
"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."
This sentence doesn't make a lot of sense, weather you pronounce the word SEAT correctly, or like the thing you sit on.
SEAT is pronounced "Say-at".
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SEAT
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