Volkswagen could have just as easily abandoned the SEAT brand with and focused on cove VW-badged cars, but they didn't. And because of that, we have the best Leon ever.
Gone is the pudgy, soft hatchback of old, replaced by a new design with triangular shapes and Audi-like creases.
The Spanish carmaker chose to continue making the Sport Coupe version as well, revealing a brand new three-door Leon in Geneva yesterday. The impression we got was of a well built yet slightly dull model. Sure, it's different from the five-door, but not by much, and it faces stiffer competition than ever.
Rivals like the Opel Astra GTC and Kia pro_cee'd currently on sale across Europe are a bit more stylish and will attract younger buyers.
Where the Leon SC claws back its lost lead is in the technology department. The brand new MQB platform and engine family used by the Golf VII, Europe's car of the year for 2013, is also present here. None of the Spanish lion's rivals can match the reputation TSI, TDI or DSG technologies have.
"We have given the three-door Leon SC a highly distinctive character – just deleting two doors would not have been enough for us. That is why we opted for the shorter wheelbase – although it is only 35 millimetres, the visual effect is very powerful. The result is a big difference in the expression of dynamics," said Alejandro Mesonero-Romanos, Head of Seat Design.
Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida. Full profile
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