Official SEAT Leon V2 pics & report now online

bjorndk

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Well I haven’t been active posting threads on seatcupra.net, but been a eager reader. So with the risk of upsetting some of the senior members here…..

I got a little upset seing the new Leon yesterday , and after reading the article today I am even more upset. For me Cupra is all about sharing interests of a great performance street-racer. A great performing car, with and a huge dedicated community who’re all into making it even faster and perfecting the handling.

Nevertheless, now I am reading things like “helping to remove the MPV look” and “MPV cousin”, and the worst “The result is a spacious cabin configured as a 2+2 with an emotional and sporty ambience” and “Cupra’s sporty character and reputation” - that’s gotta be from a TV commercial! Is that what it is all about now – paying tributes to trendy MPV’s! They can put 500BHP into the new Leon, it is still going to be a fast MPV. A street racer – never.

Well, getting kids and growing old is a part of life, but the Cupra is about brute street racing. Only a few months from turning 40 years, reading the postings cheering an MPV is a cruel reminder of that. Sobbing, yes – my best friend has just betrayed me.

The Cupra has left the building…………..
 

dave-v6

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bjorndk said:
Well I haven’t been active posting threads on seatcupra.net, but been a eager reader. So with the risk of upsetting some of the senior members here…..

I got a little upset seing the new Leon yesterday , and after reading the article today I am even more upset. For me Cupra is all about sharing interests of a great performance street-racer. A great performing car, with and a huge dedicated community who’re all into making it even faster and perfecting the handling.

Nevertheless, now I am reading things like “helping to remove the MPV look” and “MPV cousin”, and the worst “The result is a spacious cabin configured as a 2+2 with an emotional and sporty ambience” and “Cupra’s sporty character and reputation” - that’s gotta be from a TV commercial! Is that what it is all about now – paying tributes to trendy MPV’s! They can put 500BHP into the new Leon, it is still going to be a fast MPV. A street racer – never.

Well, getting kids and growing old is a part of life, but the Cupra is about brute street racing. Only a few months from turning 40 years, reading the postings cheering an MPV is a cruel reminder of that. Sobbing, yes – my best friend has just betrayed me.

The Cupra has left the building…………..

I don't get it, please can you explain why you think it looks like an MPV?? :confused:

Do you think the models in the photo below are 8ft tall or something?

1109686047_dsc_0020_small.jpg



Maybe you should think about getting your eyes checked. :blink:
 

m0rk

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I still can't see why people think it's an MPV

it's lower & wider than the current leon, it'll be a tad longer (damn that leg room) and will handle a lot better (independant rear susp)

if you're not keen on the shape, I hope you like old cars
 

bjorndk

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I think my eyes are good :=)

But driving up to the start line at the tunnels of Rotterdam, in a "MPV cousin", which is called "it-worked-for-the-Megane-so-we-should-probably-do-it-too". Sorry.........

What cars people like and dislike are 100% individual. There are probably people out there who think a Smart-car is the coolest you can drive, and it also counts for the handling and performance. But trust you agree that what we love about the Cupra is that it is a street machine, with it is only compromise being 4 doors. I am not very "arty", but I can see a lot of quality effort has been put into the design. Seat is following a trend, that'll make them good money (Good for them, they deserve the success!). That trend is style, safety, economy, environment etc. It is not brute power and handling - we take catalysators out of our exhausts - how trendy is that!
Just like Peugeot and Citroen is halfway out of WRC because it doesn't pay back, I think Seat moving away from the street racers - it is a trend and their following.

....and by the way, I hate old cars. I have had my share of old pieces of junk, 318iS, Lude's, and the worst, a GTV. The Cupra is what I am after, and it comes, sorry, came straight off the manufacturing line.
 

20vtB0b

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bjorndk said:
It is not brute power and handling

Look at all the reviews of the new Golf Gti - they all rate its handling as being excellent. Evo magazine even gave it the nod over their previous favourite the LCR ! I have no doubt that the Leon V2 Cupra will handle much better than the equivalent Golf (look at how much better the handling was for the Leon V1 than the Golf Mk4). As for power, it has a much smoother torque spread than the 1.8 20vt (which itself had a pretty good power band) so chances are the new Leon Cupra will have lots of power and will handle well. It may not be possible to chip it up to quite as much as the 20vt - but it is still early days yet so we will just have to wait and see.

As m0rk has already pointed out several times, the new model is actually lower the current Leon and is slightly longer so I'm not sure where you get the MPV thing from either :confused:

Personally I like the look of the prototype, as long as Seat don't dumb it down (and more importantly don't charge too much for it) then the new Cupra could be quite a desirable car :)

Bob
 

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I think the problem is that its still similar to the Altea and until we see some real life shots of the finshed article its true shape isn't clear.
 

Davidp

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m0rk said:
I still can't see why people think it's an MPV

it's lower & wider than the current leon, it'll be a tad longer (damn that leg room) and will handle a lot better (independant rear susp)

if you're not keen on the shape, I hope you like old cars

I like it. :)
Much better than I was expecting. I think people have got this 'MPV' idea because the original pics made it look like a flattened Altea.
Looking forward to seeing it in the showroom. Not sure about that honeycomb front spoiler. Love the jet engine look of the back end with the totally over the top exhaust hole. Reminds me of those pics from the 1950's of the back end of the Rover P4 called 'jet one' that had a jet engine in it. Oh dear I think I'm fantasising again. :rolleyes:
 
Yep, still growing on me even more... :thumbup:
Stood by my Leon visualising a 100mm/4" lower and somewhat wider beasty, that looks a tad more 'modern' or dare I say 'futuristic'... Don't get me wrong (and don't :flamed: me) I love my Leon and I'm not drooling over the new version just 'cos it's 'new' or the latest must-have.

By the time it's released in a decent derv version, I may just be able to afford one anyway... ;)

Bottom line - I'm pleased that they've not followed the MPV look or 'played safe' like the dull-as-dishwater looking new Focus.

Me like. :D
 

m0rk

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done some overlays (tho they're not andyb quality so will stay on my computer)

The old leon has a taller arse, a steeper windscreen & wheels more inboard. looks dated tho

also removed the rear doors to give it a 'coupe' look & that looks nice. massive doors though :)
 

big ALI H

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Sooty torques said:
Bottom line - I'm pleased that they've not followed the MPV look or 'played safe' like the dull-as-dishwater looking new Focus.

Me like. :D

Agreed mate, the only thing giving it a slightly MPV look is the little windows just behind the a pillars, that and also that the front end is similar to the Altea IMO.

Like has been said, a lot of the way it looks is down to regulations for safety but at least the design is interesting, especialy compared to the 307, new Focus etc.

If its 4 inch lower and its also wider, its gonna look very muscular, especially in Cupra guise. Can't wait for prices and specs for production models (derv in particular)
 

Turbowayne

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the Leon looks promising but i must say it reminds me of the new Mazda 3 (or am i the only one?)[/QUOTE]


:confused: :confused: :confused:

Mazda 3, no never nothing like it at all. The BMW one {1} well yes that and the mazda have identical side type body design but the Leon i just cannot see a comparison sorry !
 

bjorndk

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I should have been chatting with you guys long ago. This is good fun. I did post a few tech-questions in the past to which nobody replied, so I have only been in to read on this page once in a while.

I actually think the reason why I don't like the new Leon, is that I was expecting the look that was launched. There are no sales in GTi’s in Europe, that’s been washed away by EU regulations, taxes, speed bumps and cameras. I believe the only reason the new Golf GTi got so much attention, is that it is a fullblood GTi, and not like the Megane Sport and Stilo which are fullblood compromises (- and also fight over being ranked lowest and 2nd lowest in almost all GTi tests). So the big Q is if the new Leon Cupra will be a fullblood compromise or fullblood GTi.

What made Leon Cupra unique, was that Seat put their hearts into making it a real street racer. That kind of dedication is very uncommon, and I doubt that Seat will be able to keep that flag up forever. So I am afraid the Salsa-era is a compromise-era. I still consider the Leon Cupra an engineering masterpiece, equal to the launch of Golf GTi, but if Seat doesn’t think so, it doesn’t matter what I think.
 

andyb

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mazda 3

actually there are a lot of similarites.

gallery6_med.jpg
gallery4_med.jpg


At the front you have a large dominating grille with large headlamps, with body colour between. You then have a strong shoulder line that runs from the outer section of the grille to the door/wing, similar to the "Altleoledo"(!) From the side view, its very high waisted (i.e: window line is high realtive to its height). The rear quarter window is also similar.

At the rear you have lights that are a corss between the Leon and the Altea, a thick c-pillar a similar shaped tailgate, so actually of all the cars mentioned, this is probably the closest in design terms.

Have to say, although I'm still not entirely convinced by the non-prototype Leon, its better than the Mazda 3-Sport
 

TDi-TAZ

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well wot can i say spoke to the guys at me local stealers and they are rubbin there hands together... as long as the FR and CUPRA models look anythin like the prototype.
personally i love it ive put my car purchase on hold i need to see the top range model when it hits the showrooms if its anythin like that then im gettin one, i was worried SEAT were goin to ruin it as this is a make or break car for them after the followin the V1 leon got.. but its a big :thumbup: from me.
Still cant see where people are gettin this its an mpv stuff from as said earlier in the thread are the models 8ft tall?? :bleh:
bring it on time to start saving me thinks :drool:
 

andyb

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Autocar report the same thoughts as us, in that the big bumpers and the four seat layout will dissapear....so as per the Silver and Black cars liked on the article

Also, the FR will have the 197 FSi unit
 
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