The Leon SC Is No Longer!

[daniel_ley]

So while randomly browsing the Seat website on a quiet night shift I noticed the Leon SC didn't appear anywhere on the website... had a quick search online and it appears they've discontinued it!

The Leon is now only available as a 5 door. Seems they're following suit of most other manufactures now. I'm still a big 3 door fan but it seems I certainly won't be able to get one again.

They've also changed the line-up of the versions available, and have apparently taken away the ability to customise the vehicle (just like with the Arona).

You now choose whichever variant you want, including two new line ups 'FR Sport' and 'Xcellence Lux' and that's it... you're stuck with whatever options are part of that variant. At the moment, the only two versions of the Leon on the website are SE and SE Dynamic, not sure when the others will be available!

But this seems like a big shakeup...

 

[Lmbarrett83]

Hi mate,

This has been known for sometime - in the UK at least.

We have few threads on here that cover details.

Although SEAT say that the removal of the SC is down to the customer demand, a lot of these changes seem to linked to WLTP.


The threads below discuss what have been added and removed in preparation for WLTP

Discusses what can be ordered in MY19 for each model
https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/my19-easy-order-to-my19-easy-offer.445046/

Discusses which engines have been removed as a result of WLTP coming in from SEP 2018
https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/some-engines-removed-from-ordering.443760/

Discusses which options have been removed as a result of WLTP
https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/my18-options-removed-from-ordering.445171/

Although we've received confirmation on some models from SEAT, not all details have been released yet.


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[andycalvia]

Although SEAT say that the removal of the SC is down to the customer demand, a lot of these changes seem to linked to WLTP.


The threads below discuss what have been added and removed in preparation for WLTP

Excuse my ignorance but what is WLTP?

 

[Lmbarrett83]

Excuse my ignorance but what is WLTP?

WLTP stands for Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure. This is a worldwide standardised testing procedure for estimating fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

https://www.seat.co.uk/about-seat/wltp/introduction-to-wltp.html


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[andycalvia]

WLTP stands for Worldwide Harmonized Light-Duty Vehicles Test Procedure. This is a worldwide standardised testing procedure for estimating fuel consumption and exhaust emissions.

https://www.seat.co.uk/about-seat/wltp/introduction-to-wltp.html


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So it's basically, people who don't really care about cars and more about MPG asking for proper 'real world' figures.

In turn this makes it more costly for manufacturers so they restrict the amount of engine and chassis options to keep things simpler and keep costs down.

Therefore annoying car enthusiasts who used to just take 10-15 mpg off claimed figures to get a rough idea of 'real world's consumption.

 

[LouG]

My dealer said that the new testing procedure encompasses all available options that may affect economy, different alloys, weight increasing things like sunroofs, etc, etc.
This is obviously far more expensive to do. Guess who'll pay?
Another case of being careful what you wish for.

 

[daniel_ley]

Hi mate,

This has been known for sometime - in the UK at least.

We have few threads on here that cover details.

Although SEAT say that the removal of the SC is down to the customer demand, a lot of these changes seem to linked to WLTP.


The threads below discuss what have been added and removed in preparation for WLTP

Discusses what can be ordered in MY19 for each model
https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/my19-easy-order-to-my19-easy-offer.445046/

Discusses which engines have been removed as a result of WLTP coming in from SEP 2018
https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/some-engines-removed-from-ordering.443760/

Discusses which options have been removed as a result of WLTP
https://forums.seatcupra.net/index.php?threads/my18-options-removed-from-ordering.445171/

Although we've received confirmation on some models from SEAT, not all details have been released yet.


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Oh jeez, my bad sorry haha! Cheers, I just don't remember seeing any previous posts about it but I'll make sure to do some better research next time before I start a thread!

 

[Lmbarrett83]

Oh jeez, my bad sorry haha! Cheers, I just don't remember seeing any previous posts about it but I'll make sure to do some better research next time before I start a thread!

No worries mate - only reason I'm on it is because I ordered a Leon which has been affected by WLTP.

They cancelled my order for a manual as it became unavailable and they've had to fit a new exhaust to reduce CO2 which has has brought the power down. Then there's the delay on the lead times. It's a nightmare for those who are affected.

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[Wings988]

My dealer said that the new testing procedure encompasses all available options that may affect economy, different alloys, weight increasing things like sunroofs, etc, etc.
This is obviously far more expensive to do. Guess who'll pay?
Another case of being careful what you wish for.

The irony being they've now discontinued the lightest version of the mk3 Leon which in these new testing procedures would more likely of come out better in terms of emissions. They have also stopped the manual box which was lighter than the dsg. The testing procedures are still flawed as they allow the oem to code auto box software to change up at very low revs and so making them look great on the test bed against a manual which is made to rev higher before gear changes. In reality if people switch on sport or use manual dsg the figures are worse but never get tested.

 

[Scrogg]

The Leon SC being discontinued has nothing to do with WLTP.

A tiny number of SEAT owners on here lamenting it doesn't change the fact that demand for three door hatchbacks continues to decline, so it is no longer economically viable for SEAT to give up production capacity to the SC that could be used for the infinitely more popular 5dr/ST versions.

 

[Wings988]

The Leon SC being discontinued has nothing to do with WLTP.

A tiny number of SEAT owners on here lamenting it doesn't change the fact that demand for three door hatchbacks continues to decline, so it is no longer economically viable for SEAT to give up production capacity to the SC that could be used for the infinitely more popular 5dr/ST versions.

Out of interest do you know what the sales split was between sc/st/5 door?

I'm just old school and remember when most hot hatches were only available in 3 door and even those that could be had in 5 door were few and far between. I just wonder why the market has shifted away from 3 door? Is it because they've become so expensive older people with kids buy them now more than folk who simply don't use the back seats, in the last 5 years I've had rear seat passengers maybe 10 times so don't want or need 5 doors. I can't imagine many taxi firms using hot hatches, although many years ago I used a local taxi who had a Renault 19 16V chamade

 

[Deleted member 103408]

The irony being they've now discontinued the lightest version of the mk3 Leon which in these new testing procedures would more likely of come out better in terms of emissions. They have also stopped the manual box which was lighter than the dsg. The testing procedures are still flawed as they allow the oem to code auto box software to change up at very low revs and so making them look great on the test bed against a manual which is made to rev higher before gear changes. In reality if people switch on sport or use manual dsg the figures are worse but never get tested.

I may be wrong but I thought I saw on one of these threads that the ST is still going to be 300 because its a heavier car so can pass the WLTP where as the 5 and 3 door could not pass.

 

[C_ED_99]

The Leon SC being discontinued has nothing to do with WLTP.

A tiny number of SEAT owners on here lamenting it doesn't change the fact that demand for three door hatchbacks continues to decline, so it is no longer economically viable for SEAT to give up production capacity to the SC that could be used for the infinitely more popular 5dr/ST versions.

Why then did Seat bother changing from the Mk2 5 door that looks like a 3 door to the Mk3 3Dr and 5Dr?

 

[Deleted member 103408]

I guess because it takes a long time to go from an idea of a car to a production of a car.

As this article (and @Scrogg) points out the VW Group are dropping the 3 door but so are many other manufacturers because they don't sell anymore.

 

[Lmbarrett83]

Why then did Seat bother changing from the Mk2 5 door that looks like a 3 door to the Mk3 3Dr and 5Dr?

It's been posted on here before and I do remember reading elsewhere.

The mk2 5 door with the hidden handles unfortunately hurt sales.

"We just didn’t appear on enough people’s radar,” Buckell said of the hidden door handles. “We sold to enthusiasts – people who wanted the coupé look and the five-door practicality – but I hate to think how many sales we missed because other potential buyers dismissed the car as a three-door.”

https://www.carscoops.com/2013/03/seat-official-says-hidden-rear-door/

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[Lmbarrett83]

I may be wrong but I thought I saw on one of these threads that the ST is still going to be 300 because its a heavier car so can pass the WLTP where as the 5 and 3 door could not pass.

I've read something similar too, but it was suggesting that it was the all wheel drive system that allowed it to keep it's 300 BHP.

It could be the weight added by the all wheel drive system.

That said all the golf R models will also feature a 300 BHP tune down from 310 BHP. I've not heard that the Golf R waggon will be retaining it's 310 BHP because of it's weight.

Not heard anything official from the Audi camp but it's the same car underneath so I'm guessing they'll be affected too.

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