The SEAT León (Spanish pronunciation: [leˈon]) is a small family car built by the Spanish car manufacturer, and Volkswagen Group subsidiary SEAT, S.A. since October 1998. Both León generations are, or have been built upon two differing variants of the Volkswagen Group A platform, and they also share many other components with the Volkswagen Golf, Volkswagen Jetta, Audi TT, Audi A3 and Škoda Octavia. The initial SEAT León (Volkswagen Group Typ 1M), launched in 1999, was the hatchback version of the SEAT Toledo. It was based on the Volkswagen Group A4 (PQ34) platform and, as such, shared many components in common with other VW Group models such as the Volkswagen Golf Mk4, Bora and Audi A3. As SEAT's first C-segment model as part of the VW Group, the León Mk1 was marketed as a sportier and cheaper variant of the Golf. To reinforce the sporty image, the vehicle had slightly more aggressive looks. The more expensive versions were equipped with powerful internal combustion engines, along with firmer suspension to improve handling. In the interior, the dashboard was derived from that of the first-generation Audi A3. Available engines were the 1.4 litre 16 valve petrol engine which produced a 55 kilowatts (75 PS; 74 bhp), a 1.6 litre 8 valve petrol engine 74 kilowatts (101 PS; 99 bhp) (quickly replaced with a 16 valve 77 kilowatts (105 PS; 103 bhp) unit), and included two variants of the Volkswagen Group's 20 valve turbocharged 1.8 litre powerplant, (with some countries also getting the 2.8 litre VR6 engine delivering 150 kilowatts (204 PS; 201 bhp). The original "León Cupra" (which later became known as the "Cupra T") had a 1.8 litre Turbo with 132 kilowatts (179 PS; 177 bhp), and the "León Cupra R" 154 kilowatts (209 PS; 207 bhp), later becoming 165 kilowatts (224 PS; 221 bhp). In some countries, there was also a "Cupra 4", equipped with a 2.8 litre VR6 delivering 150 kilowatts (204 PS; 201 bhp) equipped with four-wheel drive, based on the same Haldex Traction multi-plate clutch as the Volkswagen Golf 4motio. A range of Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engines was available, including a 110 kilowatts (150 PS; 148 bhp) version of Volkswagen Group's 1.9 TDI engine, originally sold as a "Cupra 4 TDI", with 4WD, that was sold for one year only, and only in certain countries, then passed to "Evolution" series, then "Top Sport", and later rebranded as the "FR" (formula Racing). Lesser diesel versions were available with 66 kilowatts (90 PS; 89 bhp), 81 kilowatts (110 PS; 109 bhp) and 96 kilowatts (131 PS; 129 bhp) outputs. All engines over 96 kilowatts (131 PS; 129 bhp) have a standard six-speed manual transmission. Rear suspension was by torsion beam for most variants, whilst high-end models were fitted with a multi-link independent rear suspension. All versions came with disc brakes on all four wheels (the front ventilated, and in some cars the rear too).
Seat Leon Agility
The current León, Typ 1P, was released in 2005, with factory production commencing May 2005. It is based on the Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform, most notably used by the Volkswagen Golf Mk5. It is built in Spain, and has a sharper exterior look with vertically parked windscreen wipers, and the external rear door handles more integrated, in a similar style to that seen on recent Alfa Romeo models. Design was handled by Walter de'Silva, and the car uses the same design style that started with the SEAT Altea. The base model on offer is the new 16 valve 1.2 litre TSI petrol engine with 77 kilowatts (105 PS; 103 bhp). In some markets (e.g. Greece), the Leon is available with a 1.4 litre MPI engine producing 63 kilowatts (86 PS; 84 bhp). The sportier variants begin with the 110 kilowatts (150 PS; 148 bhp) 2.0 litre Fuel Stratified Injection (FSI) and the popular 103 kilowatts (140 PS; 138 bhp) 2.0 litre Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) diesel engine. Both are fitted with a standard six-speed manual transmission, with the six-speed or seven-speed Direct-Shift Gearbox (DSG) available as an option. A 136 kilowatts (185 PS; 182 bhp) variant of the 2.0 TFSI unique to the León was later introduced, but despite a low list price and rapid performance – attracted only minimal attention and average reviews, so this was later discontinued to make way for the sportier FR variants. The first real sporty León within the new range is the León FR with rear twin-exhaust pipes to one side, sport seats and gear stick with FR logo to distinguish it from lesser models, was introduced in June 2006, when it finally received the 147 kilowatts (200 PS; 197 bhp) 2.0 TFSI engine from the Volkswagen Golf Mk5 GTI, as well as a 125 kilowatts (170 PS; 168 bhp) variant of the 2.0 TDI unit featured in the Golf and Audi A3. Further standard equipment includes climate control air conditioning. Next in the range is the 2.0 TFSI Cupra model. It features a 177 kilowatts (241 PS; 237 bhp) engine, and a 0-100 kilometres per hour (62.1 mph) time of 6.4 seconds. The Cupra comes with standard 18" 5 twin-spoke alloys, red brake calipers, and the standard Cupra oval exhaust, as well as new, unique paint finishes and bolstered sport seats complete with the Cupra logo. Also standard are drilled-aluminium sports pedals. At the top of the range is the 2.0 TFSI Cupra R. This uses the same 265 bhp engine found in the Audi S3, Golf and Scirocco R. Capable of 0–62 in 6.2 seconds and a top speed limited to 155 mph. From 2008, the K1 variant of the León Cupra was introduced in the UK, featuring extensively re-worked front and rear bumpers, side skirts, a more pronounced tailgate spoiler. It also gained a unique chrome-tipped, centrally-mounted, oval exhaust. The K1 is considered to be a limited edition model, as production was only for the year 2008–2009 and it only being available in the UK. In 2009 the SEAT León Cupra was turned into a race car in the ‘SEAT Cupra race’ mobile game for Apple iPhone/iPod touch available through the iTunes' App store.
The first generation SEAT León Cupra R was the basis of a one-make trophy, the SEAT León Supercopa. It operated in Spain, UK, Germany and Turkey from 2003. The car was developed by SEAT Sport and power was raised to 184 kilowatts (250 PS; 247 bhp). An "International Masters" final, featuring the best four drivers from each national series, was introduced in October 2005, as a support race for the Spanish GT Championship's final round at Montmeló. A TDI-powered version has raced in the ECTS, an Italian-based endurance series for touring cars. During 2005, SEAT introduced the second generation León into the World Touring Car Championship (WTCC) to replace the Toledo Cupra which it had raced in the early rounds of the title. The car features several modifications, including a racing engine that develops over 191 kW (260 PS; 256 bhp), a Hewland sequential-shift gearbox (unrelated to the DSG), and an aerodynamic package for increased downforce (with its hatchback shape, the León is disavantaged against conventional three-box saloons). Minimum weight is 1,140 kilograms (2,513.3 lb) with driver. SEAT Sport, in partnership with Oreca, runs six cars in the WTCC. Two other cars are run by SEAT Sport UK (Northern South) based in Northampton, UK in the British Touring Car Championship (BTCC). A further two cars are run by SEAT Sport Italia in the Italia Superturismo Championship. In 2006, the Supercopa León was replaced by the new shape León. The car is potentially faster than the WTCC version, as it features a turbocharged 2.0 litre engine, with over 221 kW (300 PS; 296 bhp), increased torque, the DSG gearbox, better aerodynamics (it includes the WTCC car's front and rear spoilers, plus a venturi tunnel under the car, instead of a flat bottom), and 18 inch wheels, instead of the mandatory 17 inch wheels from the WTCC. For 2007, the SEAT Cupra Championship in the UK (part of the TOCA Package) will run both 'New León' Cupra Race cars with 221 kW (300 PS; 296 bhp), as well as the Mk1 León Cupra R race car with 184 kW (250 PS; 247 bhp). The SEAT León Eurocup began in 2008 as a support series for the World Touring Car Championship. In 2008, Yvan Muller won the FIA World Touring Car Championship for Drivers at the wheel of a León TDI, and SEAT won the Manufacturers' title. In 2009, Gabriele Tarquini became the Drivers' Champion with the León TDI, and SEAT won the Manufacturers' title for a second consecutive year.
Volkswagen Tiguan is a compact crossover vehicle (CUV) built by the German automaker Auto 5000, based on the PQ35 platform of the Volkswagen Golf. Production started in the winter of 2007 in Wolfsburg, Germany, and started selling shortly after. All Tiguans are four-cylinder powered. The Volkswagen Tiguan was announced at the 2006 Los Angeles International Auto Show held in November 2006 as a concept vehicle. The production Tiguan was released at the 2007 Frankfurt Motor Show, and debuted as a 2008 model for Europe and elsewhere and in North America as a 2009 model. Sales of the Tiguan in Canada began in April 2008. As of 2011, more than 700,000 Tiguans have been sold worldwide since September 2007. The Tiguan's largest markets (in order by sales) are Europe, Russia, the United States, China, Brazil, and Australia. The Tiguan is available in two bodystyles and three specification levels, they are: Tiguan Trend & Fun, Tiguan Sport & Style, and Tiguan Track & Field. The Trend & Fun and Sport & Style both have maximum approach angles of 18 degrees, while the Track Field has a 28-degree maximum approach angle. In The Netherlands another version is delivered namely the Comfort & Design. This is basically a Trend & Fun to which some accessories have been added. This version was created by the Dutch distributor for the Dutch market. In the UK, trim levels are S, Match, Sport and Escape. Tiguan was tested by the European New Car Assessment Programme (Euro NCAP) and received a five-star safety rating.
The Trend & Fun specification is the entry level road oriented Tiguan. Features it includes are six airbags, ESP, Trailer Stability Program integrated with the ESP, Isofix child seat anchorages on the rear bench and electronic parking brake with auto-hold function, RCD 210 radio with integrated CD player, “Climatic” semi-automatic climate control system, four electric window lifts, electrically-adjustable and heated outside mirrors, Multifunctional Display Plus (trip computer), RF remote control of central locking and various storage compartments and bins. In addition over the Trend & Fun the Sport & Style has these features, 17-inch alloy wheels, chrome roof rail, chrome strips on front bumper and surrounding side window lining, tinted windows, sport seats with height-adjustable lumbar supports center console with folding and height-adjustable armrest, folding front passenger seat, drawers under the front seats, folding table and storage pockets on the backs of the front seats, leather for steering wheel, gear shift knob and gear shift boot, fabric seats with Alcantara accents, cruise control system and tire pressure indicator.The off-road oriented Tiguan features a redesigned front module with a 28-degree approach angle, hill descent assistant, modified driving pedal characteristic, EDS adaptation (electronic differential locks are activated at the slightest slip), ABS adaptation (which aids with braking on loose substrates), hill ascent assistance, automatic transmission gear level pre-selection (including optimal engine braking effect), 16-inch “San Diego” alloy wheels, tire pressure indicator, black roof rails, engine underbody protection, compass display and special door impact guard strips. The Tiguan Track & Field is also equipped with “Comfort seats” which feature adjustable lumbar support. This makes the vehicle particularly nimble, considering its 202" overall length.
As part of a marketing strategy by Volkswagen the name was chosen by the public through the Auto Bild group with over 350,000 voters through Auto Bild's magazines and Web sites. The other possible names were Namib, Rockton, Liger, Samun and Nanuk. Tiguan is a combination of the German words Tiger (“tiger”) and Leguan (“iguana”). At the 2007 Michelin Challenge Bibendum in Shanghai, China, Volkswagen showed the Tiguan HY MOTION study powered by a hydrogen fuel cell. The fuel cell produces an output power of 80 kW and the electric motor has 100 kW. These figures give the Tiguan HY.MOTION a top speed of 150 km/h and an acceleration from 0 to 100 km/h in 14 seconds. The lithium-ion battery has a charge capacity of 6.8 ampere-hours and is an auxiliary energy storage system. Power output from the lithium-ion battery is 22 kW. Battery charge is recovered from braking energy or the hydrogen fuel cell. The 2010 model year was the beginning of the Tiguan R availability in the European markets. The import version of Tiguan appears on the Chinese market in 2009, but soon a locally built version (aka Shanghai-Volkswagen Tiguan) was revealed at 2009 Guangzhou Motor Show. The Chinese-built Tiguan uses 1.8TSI (118 kW) and 2.0TSI (147 kW), and has a revised front facia. At the same time the import Tiguan is still sold in China, which has 2.0TDI and R-Line kit as highlights. The basic design of the import model is the same as the international one. In order to differ locally-built and import models, Shanghai-VW Tiguan is given a Chinese name, known as 途观 (tuguan), and the import one keeps the original letter name. On July 17, 2010, the GM of Shanghai Volkswagen, plus the company's public relations chief and two other executives of the company, died in a company-owned VW Tiguan in a high-speed traffic accident. According to Chinese media reports, Shanghai VW General Manager Liu Jian and PR chief Zeng Jialin, plus two other executives, were traveling at 220 km/h (140 mph) — far exceeding the expressway maximum of 110 km/h (68 mph) — when the Tiguan hit a truck and burst into flames.
