In March 2005, at the Geneva Motorshow, SEAT unveiled the Leon Prototype, a virtually definite foretaste of the imminent second generation of the brand's successful compact car. It was powered by an exceptional 2.0 TFSI engine, which later that year gave birth to the most powerful version of the early Leon II range… (leer más)
Launch: March 2005
End of production: End 2012
Price: 22.145 €
Number built: 675.915 (total León II)
Petrol, 4 cylinders in-line
Position: At front, transversal
Bore x stroke: 82,5 mm x 92,8 mm
Capacity: 1.984 cc
Valve gear: DOHC, 4 valves per cylinder
Fuel system: Direct injection, variable intake, turbo, intercooler
Power output: 185 CV at 6.000 rpm
Max. torque: 270 Nm from 1.800 rpm
Top speed: 221 km/h
Drive: FWD
Gearbox: 6-speed manual, plus reverse
Clutch: Dry single-plate
Front suspension:
Independent, McPherson struts, coil springs, anti-roll bar
Rear suspension:
Multilink, coil springs
Steering: Rack and pinion, power-assisted
Front/rear: Ventilated discs/Discs
225/45 R17
Body: 5-door hatchback, 5 seats
Length/width/height: 4.315/1.768/1.458 mm
Wheelbase: 2.578 mm
Weight: 1.334 kg
In March 2005, at the Geneva Motorshow, SEAT unveiled the Leon Prototype, a virtually definite foretaste of the imminent second generation of the brand's successful compact car. It was powered by an exceptional 2.0 TFSI engine, which later that year gave birth to the most powerful version of the early Leon II range.
The final SEAT Leon II was launched at the 2005 Barcelona Motorshow, just a month after the Geneva Leon Prototype unveiling, and was on sale from summer. But people had to wait until mid-October to enjoy the Leon powered by the direct injection, turbocharged 2.0 TFSI engine, with a power output of 185 HP in the standard version, 6-speed gearbox and Sport-up trim level, the highest of the range.
The Leon II was based directly on the Walter de'Silva-designed Salsa concept car. The silhouette is very attractive, thanks in no small part to the rear door handles hidden in the door's frame, a detail that highlighted the sporting looks of the Leon II, making it more similar to a coupe than a 5-door hatchback.
Direct successor of the previous first-generation Leon 1.8 20VT, the Leon TFSI had made a great leap forward in road holding terms, because now the whole Leon II range featured fully independent multilink rear suspension, something only the four-wheel drive Leon I versions were fitted with before. It was one of the features of the Agile Chassis concept, developed at Martorell's Technical Centre. On the outside, it could only be distinguished from its range siblings by the "TFSI" side badges and the 17" wheels.
Combined with a totally new platform, which SEAT was already using in the Altea and Toledo III, the Leon TFSI was an exceptional platform that SEAT soon put to the test in motor racing. In that same Barcelona Motorshow, the brand had already unveiled the Leon WTCC, that made its debut in the World Touring Car Championship at the end of August. The racing Leon was powered by the TFSI engine tuned to 260 HP. Before the season was over, Jordi Gené achieved the first WTCC victory for SEAT.
In addition, the Leon TFSI was also the basis for the new 2006 Leon Supercopa, SEAT's one-make championship racing car, with a power output of 280 HP.
In the 2006 Madrid Motorshow, one year after the Leon II launch, the Leon FR was unveiled, in petrol or Diesel versions and sporting new, bigger bumpers. The petrol Leon FR replaced the Leon TFSI Sport-up, so the latter had a relatively short career. Now the engine delivered 200 HP (211 from 2010) and the FR was also available with dual-clutch DSG gearbox. In 2007, the same TFSI engine was used in the first second-generation Leon CUPRA. Specially tuned to deliver 240 HP, it was the most powerful SEAT yet - until the arrival in 2009 of the 265 HP CUPRA R version.
SEAT HISTÓRICOS keeps the Leon II chassis 107, one of the very first Leon TFSI (or TSI in the current terminology). A car with performance and dynamic qualities on a par with its discreet but stylized silhouette.
