Seat Leon ST, the new member of the Leon family

SEAT unveiled the all-new Leon ST. It becomes the third member of the new Leon family, which now comprises five-door hatchback, three-door SC and five-door ST estate.

The new Leon ST (Sport Tourer) retains the sporty characteristics of the five-door and SC models, but adds practicality. “Nobody has to choose anymore between sporty and practical. The new Leon ST offers both,” said Jürgen Stackmann, President and CEO of SEAT S.A. during the presentation.

The fuel-efficient TDI and TSI engines of the SEAT Leon ST, with displacements ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 litres and output from 105 PS to 184 PS, all feature direct injection and turbocharging.

In the base version, the Leon ST weighs in at just 1,233 kg, making it a mere 45 kg heavier than the five-door Leon and the lightest estate in its class. Nevertheless, the ST offers a host of functional equipment details that benefit everyday usability.

The rear seat backrests are easy to fold down from the luggage compartment, while the double floor makes the boot easy to load and unload. The passenger-seat backrest can be folded over to accommodate especially long items.

The ST follows the same design language of the Leon range. Sculpted lines along the sides deliver an interplay of light and shade. It also features sharp lines and precise edges.

The rear end, extended by 27 cm, provides an indication of the load space, while the angled rear windscreen, the roofline and shoulders emphasise the dynamic driving pleasure, claims the manufacturer.  The Leon ST is 4.54 metres long.

The well-balanced chassis makes the Leon ST brilliantly dynamic to drive, claims SEAT. The steering rack provides excellent feedback, while the suspension gets rid of road surface irregularities.

The FR version, based on competition cars, offers a new Adaptive Chassis Control (DCC) system with different driving modes.

In “Sport” mode, for example, the Leon ST is even more agile. The optional Dynamic Pack includes Progressive Steering, which reduces steering effort when parking, while at the same time improving handling with more direct steering characteristics on winding roads.

When it comes to driver assistance and infotainment solutions, the new SEAT Leon ST includes Multi-Collision Brake, Tiredness Recognition and Lane Assist, while the SEAT Easy Connect infotainment operating system is a way of controlling entertainment and communication. Easy Connect includes a standard colour touch-screen and full Bluetooth phone and music connectivity.

Price to be confirmed.