3.3 4wd Leon

[panholio]

Was in my local SEAT Dealer on Saturday, picking up my LCR after a service and the two guys on the service desk say to me.. "have you heard about the new 3.3 Leon they're bringing out, engine out of an audi (I wasn't sure Audi did a 3.3 a 3.2 yes but hey) and 4wd". They told me no-one's supposed to know about it yet.

Are they talking nonsense?

 

[NeilW]

I would have to say yes. But, same as most people, I'd love to be proven wrong.

If it was going to happen then it wouldn't be for a good year or two as it would kill sales of the "Top of the range" Cupra.

 

[panholio]

They also told me they are off on a course next week to get briefed on it.

Be a nice thought, maybe a new Cupra R?

 

[acidstrato]

i'm sure the head guns of Seat and and vag group talk about the possibility alot but thats all it ever is. it was likely the same with the mk1 Cupra R.

but seat usually stick info on their media site way before anything solid is brought out to public knowledge so i'd say its not gonna happen myself. not in the UK anyway

 

[RobM]

Would be very interesting if Seat ever release a Cupra R, they used a non-turbo engine for it. Can't see it myself though.

 

[BanziBarn]

Suppose it makes sense. With the Golf the FSI isn't the range topper. They will however have to get a significant power increase out of the 3.2L engine to be much better than the Cupra.

Of course, with the A3 it's the other way round, the FSI is the ranger topper over and above the 3.2... interesting how it varies between the brands.

 

[cmc]

I think that the price they'd have to charge would be prohibitively expensive. The new cupra lists at about £19.5. The price they'd need to charge for a 3.2 4wd variant would push it into R32/ high spec A3 territory.

Would be great but...

 

[warren_cox]

They chose to use the 2.0T for the S3 as firstly it was lighter (better ride), and secondly more power could be extracted without massive spend. The 3.2 V6 is supposedly at its limits from an OE perspective without massive changes to specification. I doubt they would put an R36 lump in it (from the new R36 Passat), as its a big engine for that car, but you never know.

My SEAT dealer told me an R is on the way when I went to see the new Cupra, but I dismissed it as idle chatter. But this is the thing, you never know. Audi keep taunting they'll do a 2.5 twin turbo RS3 with 350bhp, but until I see it I won't be holding my breath.

If they designed it like the new Cupra Championship cars I'd certainly be tempted! Maybe they've woken up and realised they need a response to cars like the Focus RS, and Civic Type RR.

 

[fivetones]

I think in this day and age it's unlikely car manufacturers will be putting 3+ litre engines in relatively small cars in future.

I was never that impressed with the VR6 engine. Too heavy and by the time you've wound up that power you're going stupid speeds.

 

[ZBOYD]

According to all the official press pack info we got, no R is planned. For the simple fact that SEAT Sport do all the R cars. And SEAT Sport no longer have the time to produce road vehicles, as their WTCC responsibilities take priority.

They built the R cars in between the hiatus of stopping Rallying and moving into fulltime Touring cars.

The new Leon Cupra was designed by the SEAT design team at Martorell and built there, there wasn't really a great deal of SEAT Sport involvement. Other than a loose promotional involvement to do with the racing cars. But unlike the Ibiza R and Leon R's, that had actual SEAT Sport involvement during the preparation.

Even if they were to build a car like this, I'd not be bothered with it, the running costs would be silly.

 

[YIN]

They also told me they are off on a course next week to get briefed on it.

Be a nice thought, maybe a new Cupra R?

my dealer told me about this meeting next week but told me it was for a passat/A4 sized car

 

[ZBOYD]

my dealer told me about this meeting next week but told me it was for a passat/A4 sized car

FREETRACK

That's what they'll be going on a course for.

 

[agplant]

Ive heard about this, may be the leon, or altea body, but higher off the ground, suv style.

 

[WeeJase]

FREETRACK

That's what they'll be going on a course for.

first thing it thought

 

[Nathanio]

first thing it thought

Me too. I doubt Seat will gte much use of the V6 or 4wd as it would tread far too much on VW and Audis toes

 

[panholio]

Doesn't surprise me at all this! The two lads that told me said it was a new Leon. The same boys that asked me if my Cupra R was a petrol or a diesel.

Speaks volumes!

 

[Trident]

Ive heard about this, may be the leon, or altea body, but higher off the ground, suv style.

Could it be this ?

http://www.motorionline.com/motori/2007/03/06/seat-altea-freetrack-il-primo-4x4-di-casa-seat/

4x4 and looks like a bit like the leon as the mirrors are on the door panels- definately more of an altea though.

 

[m0rk]

That's the Leon Freetrack

http://www.seatcupra.net//seat_news/seat_worldwide_news/seat_altea_freetrack_prototype_581.html