2009 SEAT Leon & Altea pics released
February 10, 2009 by Matt Brogan
Though we won’t see any SEAT branded vehicles in Australia any time in the foreseeable future, the brand have released these pics of its revised Leon (pictured below) and Altea family of vehicles ahead of their imminent public debut at the forthcoming Geneva Motor Show.
A wide array of changes to its big-selling compact family hatchback and five-seat MPV offerings are set to further strengthen the cars’ already broad appeal, adding fresh visual charm as well as extensive engineering and equipment improvements.
SEAT’s trademark Arrow Design, first seen on the new Ibiza, makes its debut on the revised Leon and Altea models. There are subtle but important changes front and rear adding a coherent ‘family’ face and making the cars instantly recognisable on the road.
They now boast smoother, more elegant lines, a new grille with a smaller SEAT logo and more stylised chrome surround as well as larger headlights, new door mirrors and new wheel designs. Meanwhile, at the rear, the glass area is made larger to deliver greater visibility, while the rear hatch and light clusters have also been modified.
Inside, there are important modifications to the instrument panel and centre console as well as changes to the door panel trim and materials resulting in a modern, more ergonomically efficient passenger compartment.
The revisions to SEAT’s Leon and Altea family are much more than skin deep, though. Cutting-edge XDS electronic traction control technology which mimicks the function of a conventional limited slip differential, SEAT’s famous Agile Chassis concept, in addition to no less that ten engine choices – five petrol and five diesel.
Safety includes standard ABS, Traction Control, EBA, EBD and ESP.
Equipment lists have also been upgraded with additions including Hill Hold Control, bi-xenon headlights (with AFS), daytime running lights, climate control, cornering fog lights, front and rear parking sensors and an optical parking system displayed on the new navigation system.
Head of Marketing at SEAT UK, Steve Robertson, said “These subtle design changes allied to the significant engineering and equipment improvements combine to make the new Leon, Altea and Altea XL models more appealing than ever. The revisions come at the perfect time, too, as SEAT looks to build on a strong start to 2009 and further strengthen its position as a maker of sporty, lively, and design-driven cars.”
Print it: 
Always been a big fan of SEAT’s cars. But this facelift is typical VAG fashion; very very minor and takes you a while to notice them =p
Are the revised models on the ‘revised’ PQ35 platform (i.e. Mk 6 Golf)?
I am loving these straight line designs. Simple, clean aggressive and eligant all in one. It fits into a growing market segment. Maybe SEAT will make a come back?
^Not anytime soon IMO, VW Australia still have to establish Skoda before adding another brand. Shame, the Leon is a nice looking car.
I reckon Myke’s right. Aussies need to accept Skoda first. The Roomster’s one of my favourite cars, but I’ve probably seen 2.
I think Seat won’t make it in Australia again, people won’t buy their cars that much because the badge doesn’t have enough kudos here, together with their patchy reliability record (comparing with some Japanese and Korean brands) and their value for money equation.
Unless people here, particularly young people, start to desire more European models because they want to be more individual/want to make a bit of a fashion statement and don’t really care how reliable a car will be, Seat and maybe Skoda will find it quite tough to sell enough cars to make the investment here worthwhile, particularly now during this economic downturn.
Post Script: Skoda is NOW quite reliable (long term?), perhaps even more reliable than Volkswagen, but is Seat? So Skoda should deserve to succeed in Australia!
It would succeed if they were priced low enough. For example the Leon would have to be atleast $3k-5k cheaper than the Golf and with decent equipment and engine.
VW Australia made a huge mistake choosing Skoda over SEAT for reintroduction back onto the Aussie market. Each new model SEAT releases overseas proves that.
I would buy a new SEAT tomorrow if given the chance, I can’t say the same for Skoda.
I see think there isn’t enough models in the SEAT lineup that would suite Australia, I can understand why VW Australia when with Skoda.
I knew it wouldnt take long for some twit to say something obnoxious here…
Basically, VW AU chose Skoda over SEAT because Skodas are a fresh start to the Aussie market (being here last in the mid-80’s), whereas SEAT left in the early 2000’s. The bad memory from SEAT would still be evident to people here, whereas only relatively old people would only remember Skoda (but it would be pointless because the only shared bits between old and new is the name Skoda!). AND also, Skoda is selling ALOT more cars than SEAT, and the only nice cars that SEAT make are the Leon Cupra and new Ibiza. The “new” Exeo looks nice but is too similar to the old A4, which it essentially is. Skodas are starting to sell over here and I (being an Ocatvia RS owner) are starting to see more than 3 a day. People like Sc (what does that stand for???) only judge a car on looks (like the Roomster, i love every bit of it but i can see why people wouldn’t like it) but not how they drive or anything like that, and then judge the whole range of cars on this one car. Its very stupid and shows how much you know about cars. Not much!
At least Skodas dont look similar….unlike SEATs!
In my opinion Seat make ugly cars.
I disagree, I think VW should have brought SEAT instead of Skoda to Australia
SEAT would cost more to import, more costly than the Golf’s from South Africa….and their design is a bit lacking, to Spanish bull like..while Skoda is much more grown up with European flair, and in the end that’s what Australian’s always desire!
Seats are better looking than a number of cars from some of the more recognised brands.
Compare the look of the Ibiza SC; Leon; Altea; Cordoba not to mention the Cupra or FR series to the Nissan – Micra Tiida; Murano; or Dualis; or Renault – Koleos; Megane; or Laguna.
If you drive around Europe you will see that Seat’s are a rare sight outside of their native Spain. Why? Because they are not very good cars. They’re not terrible, but no class-leader has ever worn a Seat badge.
VW Australia was right to pull the plug on them.
As Philip said that there is allot more Skoda’s on the road in Europe than Seat’s.
I did a 6 week driving holiday in a 1.4 Petrol Fiat Punto across Europe in 2006 and all i saw was Skoda’s!!!