- Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Matthias Müller presented the latest models at the Volkswagen Group Night
- The SEAT Arona makes its international debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show
- The Leon Cupra R is SEAT’s most powerful road car in its history and also the most exclusive, with a limited 799 units being released
- Alexa, the interactive voice service developed by Amazon, will be available in the Ateca and Leon models at the end of 2017 and the Arona, Ibiza and large SUV in 2018
- SEAT presents the new Digital Cockpit for the first time at the IAA 2017
Frankfurt, 11/09/17 – SEAT presented its latest products at the Volkswagen Group’s Evening Event, the night before the official opening of the International Motorshow 2017 in Frankfurt. The new Arona and Leon CUPRA R, as well as Amazon Alexa, the innovative voice-activated digital service were SEAT’s protagonists on this special night. Chairman of the Board of Management of Volkswagen AG, Matthias Müller, was the master of ceremonies and responsible for the introduction of the latest models to which all the press were invited to get the scoop on the Volkswagen Group’s exciting releases.
Tomorrow, the Arona, Leon CUPRA R and Amazon Alexa will take centre stage on the first press day of the IAA in Frankfurt. At 11:15am (UK), the President of SEAT, Luca de Meo, will host a press conference at the SEAT stand to talk about the new Arona, Leon CUPRA R, Amazon Alexa and the shortlisted names of SEAT’s future large-size SUV. In the afternoon, at 2pm, Wayne Griffiths, Executive Vice-President for Sales and Marketing and Dr. Matthias Rabe, Executive Vice-President for Research and Development will talk about the new Leon CUPRA R, as well as future CUPRA projects. Finally, at 3:30pm, Ned Curic, Amazon Alexa Automotive Vice-president and Dr. Matthias Rabe will be speaking about the integration of the new innovative voice activated service Amazon Alexa, into the SEAT range.
New SEAT Arona
After making its first appearance in Barcelona in front of 250 international journalists in June, the New SEAT Arona will be presented internationally at the IAA Frankfurt.
The Arona, SEAT’s third launch in 2017 after the new Leon and Ibiza, is yet another step in the biggest ever product offensive carried out by the Barcelona-based brand. The large SUV that will arrive in 2018 is just a part of that. The Arona, the second model to be manufactured using the MQB A0 platform and that marks SEAT’s entrance into the compact crossover segment, is the younger brother to Ateca in SEAT’s growing SUV range. Manufactured exclusively in Martorell, the new SEAT Arona stands out from the rest through its wellthought out height and width, multiple customisation possibilities and the most advanced technology in safety and connectivity. Elegance, space, practicality and comfort from Monday to Friday and adventure, robustness, sportiness and efficiency at the weekend, the new SEAT Arona of course contains SEAT’s attractive, unique design and is destined for those drivers that are looking for excitement without sacrificing the dynamism, refinement and sportiness of the Spanish brand.
New Digital Cockpit
Another reason to visit the SEAT stand will be the new Digital Cockpit, featured for the first time in Arona, Leon ST CUPRA, Ibiza and Ateca. The Spanish brand is going to introduce the Digital Cockpit early in 2018 first in the Leon and the Ateca and later in the Ibiza and the Arona. Thanks to the new Digital Cockpit, the instrumentation not only has a more modern and versatile design, but will also give better functionality. The system can be configured to suit different driver tastes, and the whole instrumentation comes now with a fantastic resolution. It is not just about improving the design or the infotainment system, it is also about the advantages it brings to the driving experience, positively contributing to safety and comfort. This new feature, represents another important technological step forward for SEAT, and comes clearly in line with the company digitalisation strategy.
Leon CUPRA R
It can be said with all certainty that the new Leon CUPRA R will be turning heads at SEAT’s stand at the IAA 2017. The brand’s most powerful road car in its history is also its most exclusive, with a limited 799 units being produced. Available in the UK with a six-speed manual gearbox (310 PS) and front-wheel drive, the new SEAT Leon CUPRA R comes with exclusive carbon fibre details on the front and rear spoilers, side skirts and front diffuser. The wing mirrors come in copper, as well as other details on the alloy wheels, wheel arches and the new front bodywork with powerful air intakes. The SEAT Leon CUPRA R goes on sale later in 2017 and the lucky 799 owners will enjoy an interior that has also received the carbon fiber and copper treatment, as well as the steering wheel and gear stick knob upholstered in Alcantara®. UK buyers will have the choice of two colours; Midnight Black and Monsoon Grey. It also gets some special attention in terms of suspension, allied to Brembo brakes and a new sports exhaust system.
- SEAT’s most powerful and exclusive model bursts onto the scene, priced at £34,995 on-the-road
- UK exclusivity guaranteed with allocation of 24 cars destined for these shores
- Customer ordering is now open, ahead of first deliveries in January 2018
Fresh from wowing the crowds at the Frankfurt Motor Show just a few weeks ago, the Leon CUPRA R, SEAT’s most powerful and exclusive car to date, is now available to order priced at £34,995 on-the-road.
A limited production run has been confirmed for the eagerly-awaited Leon CUPRA R, a model that will combine power and performance with sophisticated styling and a premium finish. Just 799 models will be built for global sale in the first half of 2018, of which 24 are initially destined for the UK.
Since its unveiling, SEAT has been overwhelmed by initial customer interest. It’s not hard to see why. The Leon CUPRA 300 is a great platform from which to start and the firm’s R&D team have taken full advantage by upgrading the standard car with a series of enhancements to create the finest Leon road car yet, the CUPRA R.
Among the improvements on the technical side are a new steering system, modified camber angles on the front axle, four piston Brembo brake callipers and crucially, a retuned exhaust system with even racier note. In terms of performance, the Leon CUPRA R is limited to 155 mph and will despatch 0-62 mph in just 5.8 seconds.
In the UK, the new front-wheel-drive SEAT Leon CUPRA R, boasting 310PS, will be available with a six-speed manual gearbox. Two metallic paint options are available, Monsoon Grey and Midnight Black, both of which are included in the car’s price.
The Leon CUPRA looks have also been given even greater impact in ‘R’ form, through carbon fibre details for the rear spoiler, lower lip spoiler, side skirts and rear diffuser. The newly extended wheel arches and the front also benefit from a more powerful design around the air intakes. Copper colouring is also a key theme and comes into play on the door mirrors, CUPRA tailgate lettering, and copper and black 19-inch CUPRA R alloy wheels.
Inevitably, as the flagship of the Leon CUPRA range, the R also ushers in an upgraded interior. The copper treatment continues on the inside, with the hue being carried through to the detailing on the dashboard, centre console, door panel stitching and steering wheel CUPRA logo. Rounding off the sport-oriented look and feel is Alcantara® for the gearstick, steering wheel and front bucket seats with copper stitching. Underlining their exclusivity, each car will also feature a numbered plaque.
The equipment specification of the Leon CUPRA R is as impressive as its looks and performance. Over the Leon CUPRA 300, the new flagship receives KESSY (Keyless Enter & Go with Wireless Phone Charger), Winter Pack (heated front seats and headlight washers), rear view camera, Safety Pack (Tiredness recognition System and rear seatbelt reminder), BeatsAudio sound system with 10 speakers, adaptive cruise control and lastly, Navigation System High (eight-inch touchscreen, Full Link, dynamic route guidance with 3D map display and 3D emblematic buildings, 10GB hard disk drive).
Amazon Alexa, your personal voice service
Turning to Amazon Alexa, SEAT will be the first car brand in Europe to integrate this interactive voice service developed by the well-known online American company into its cars while you are on the go.
Amazon Alexa will be available at the end of this year in the Leon and Ateca and in the Ibiza, Arona and the large SUV in 2018. Launched onto the market in 2014 in its voice-activated service for home guise, Amazon Alexa will be integrated into SEAT’s models and will offer drivers the most advanced connectivity with 20,000 ‘skills’ that are included, thanks to its open universe with more than 150 partners that are in constant growth and evolution.
Controlled by the driver’s voice, Amazon Alexa allows the driver to manage their personal agenda, look for songs, find points of interest, listen to the online news in real time or find the nearest car dealer among other functions, all under a strict privacy protocol. In its first integration phase, Amazon Alexa will be available in English and German, the two languages currently available for the system.
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