Nobody knows so far if the VW Group has ever considered extending the Spanish division’s operations to more countries once again, but what’s getting stronger is the fact that Seat’s lineup is increasing more than ever its ability of being desired by clients from wherever it doesn’t work. After its priority became to improve the profits, its latest updates included receiving good-sellers such as Mii and the reinvented Toledo and dropping bad ones, like Exeo. But these plans wouldn’t ever be fully effective without involving MQB.
Seat’s enthusiasts will remember this is the very first time León receives new body variations besides four-door hatchback (the second one is SC). However, another easy fact to bring up is that offering too many options ends dividing the public too much – there will be several vehicles selling less units each rather than fewer with better numbers, which is preferable only for much bigger automakers. In other words, Seat’s current attitude would’ve been easily considered very negative… until some years ago. Working with modular platforms brings so many important benefits that it turns possible to say they manage to change parameters of projecting cars which used to be taken for granted. Examples of that are the average time and budget needed to develop a new vehicle, which were drastically reduced. These, in turn, enabled to make some changes at higher levels. Automakers which want to cut costs can replace their lines with cars which are more modern but also cheaper to produce, while the ones which try to expand their operations can do it like Seat, increasing the variety in order to attract new customers because the reductions turn that affordable.
The pictures anticipate that ST’s external exclusivities are restricted mostly to the sides. But it turns interesting for being much more than a stretched León: the additional 27 cm complete the 587-liter trunk (1.470 folding the rear backrests), but the design looks so “naturally good” because even the rear doors are exclusive: the four-door hatchback uses another set to complete its sportier window shape. This wagon will repeat the line’s engine options, which means TSI 1.2L, 1.4L and 1.8L with gasoline and TDI 1.6L and 2.0L – the sporty FR will achieve 180 hp with the first and 184 hp with the second. Performance numbers are expected to stay almost untouched because ST is only 45 kg heavier than the original León, which can be easily compensated with the typical better aerodynamics of a station wagon. The cabin is one more repetition of what was seen in León’s previous siblings, including improved steering and plenty of technology working for both comfort and safety: these vehicles don’t bring any surprises, but offer enough to match the direct competitors’ lists. There are lots of electronic systems for passive safety, possibility of choosing between three driving modes and the complete infotainment central with a 5.8” touchscreen.
