Hello everybody! I am at Barcelona, to test Seat Leon SC, which stands for "Sport Coupe".
This is the third generation of Seat Leon and it is the first time when this model gets a 3-door version.
This car is not ONLY a 3-door version of Leon, is more than that.
The windshield is more inclined than the one of the 5-door version, the rooftop is a little lower,
and the rear window is 19 degrees more inclined. The wheelbase is 35 mm shorter,
and the total length of the car is also reduced by 27 mm.
Thanks to these small size and wheelbase differences, and also to the different settings,
Leon SC can notably differentiate itself from the 5-door version, and also from Leon estate
which will be launched in the fall of 2013.
This 3-door version is more nimble, Seat says, and I can only confirm that!
A huge contribution to the way Seat Leon can be driven goes to the Seat Drive Profile technology.
Through a button you can choose between Eco, Normal and Sport modes,
and the Individual profile allows you to combine the sport and eco settings.
For example, you can choose the sport steering and the eco air conditioning.
The steering of the car, in Sport mode, behaves much, much more pleasant than in other operating modes.
So it's a must have! On the Sport mode the steering acts
very, very promptly, it is a little heavier,
and the car becomes a real pleasure.
This Seat Drive Profile button is only available in FR sport versions. So, if you opt
for a lower spec version - Reference and Style – you will get a steering a little too soft that
works pretty artificial. Exactly the same way behaves the direction at FR if you drive in Normal or Eco modes.
But when you switch to the Sport mode, the steering reactions
noticeably change in a better way.
An interesting detail is that Leon received full LED headlights for the FR versions.
It is the only non-premium car that can have such headlights.
In Spain I drove a 2-liter TDI version, 150 PS/HP, as well as a gasoline one, 1.8 TSI with 180 PS/HP.
This last one sounds great and it reaches 100 km/in 7.2 seconds,
combined with the super-fast DSG double clutch gearbox. Here's how it accelerates!
As a conclusion, Seat Leon SC proved to be a very pleasant car to drive.
It is lightweight, dynamic and very nimble. Now, models like Opel/Vauxhall GTC Astra, Volkswagen Scirocco,
Renault Megane Coupe, and even 3-door Golf, have a strong rival in this Leon Sport Coupe!