[nadepalma]

We knew this was in the works, but didn't expect pictures to show up so quickly.

Regardless, this looks good for what it is: The Audi A4 that just went out of production with a Seat front and rear fascia grafted on.

Even the interior is mostly from the A4 with a few updates.

Who knows what this will do to Audi resale values or Audi's "image" in Europe, but its certainly a boon for Seat.

Perhaps we'll get a look at it down the line, as Seat IS sold in Mexico.

VW/Audi is hoping to position this as an alternative offering to the likes of the Mondeo, Vectra (Insignia), Alfa 159, and others.

SOURCE: Motor Authority

The once cash-strapped Seat brand is on the verge of developing a range of new models, with no less than four different vehicles planned for production within the next three to four years. The launch of the Ibiza hatch in April was just the tip of the iceberg as the Spanish carmaker is now working on developing a new minicar, compact SUV, estate crossover and a midsized sports sedan.

The new sedan is the next model in the pipeline after the Ibiza and is due to be released next year as a 2010 model. The car will be called the Exeo and it will be available in both sedan and wagon bodystyles. While official renderings of the car were leaked from the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) database last month, and official teaser shots of the car were released on Seat's website last week, today several high-resolution photos of the upcoming car were leaked onto the internet.

The teasers, taken together with the previous leaked renderings showed that designers chose to play it safe with a very conservative look for the new model, and the leaked photos confirm that approach. The rear of the car takes obvious styling influences from sister brand Audi, while the front end features a trademark Seat identity with an almost identical grille and bumper design as the new Ibiza. The wing mirrors are also unique to the Seat version of the car, though the overall look of the car is still very similar to that of the B7 Audi A4.

At launch, the new EXEO will feature three petrol-engines ranging from 102hp (75kW) to 200hp (147kW) and three common rail diesel engines of latest generation ranging in power from 120hp (88kW) to 170hp (125kW). The car on show at Paris is fitted with the 2.0L, 200hp (147kW) petrol TSI engine, which is rated at 36.6mpg (6.4L/100km). Unsurprisingly, the Exeo features chassis and mechanical components essentially identical to the B7 Audi A4, including four-link independent front suspension and trapezoidal rear suspension for solid driving dynamics.

MORE HERE

 

[t-rex]

Thank G-d. SEAT's range has been nothing but hatchbacks and goofy Eurotrash MPVs for the past few years, with only the small Cordoba as a sedan offering. Odd considering the "three-box" format sells so much better in Spain than in the rest of Western Europe.

Goes to show how a good a car is when you can give it to your "lesser" divisions as a hand-me-down, and it's still a thoroughly competent product.

Personally I like the SEAT styling touches and think they mix well with the Audi bodywork.

 

[Ttple]

In 20 years there will be only a few car makers.

 

[Mr. Burns]

This is pretty much what happens when you uglify an Audi A4 and put a hot girl next to it.

 

[nadepalma]

Thank G-d. SEAT's range has been nothing but hatchbacks and goofy Eurotrash MPVs for the past few years, with only the small Cordoba as a sedan offering. Odd considering the "three-box" format sells so much better in Spain than in the rest of Western Europe.

Goes to show how a good a car is when you can give it to your "lesser" divisions as a hand-me-down, and it's still a thoroughly competent product.

Personally I like the SEAT styling touches and think they mix well with the Audi bodywork.

Good point. The last gen-A4 was cerainly a solid car, and knowing it still has legs on it will serve Seat well for the next few years.

I like the way it looks as well. The rear is kind of a blend of the old Audi look and a bit of Alfa and Mazda infused in there as well. But that's just me.

The front end is very traditional, but still handsome, and the interior updates are still attractive and should be good for a few years.

Perhaps there is a lesson in there for GM, FoMoCo, and Chrysler to take advantage of as well in some way --- even if all they do is repackage older products and sell them around the world. GM and Ford do this to an extent in markets like Brazil and South Africa, but not sure if Chrysler does.

Just a thought.

 

[ohmywrd8]

Looks ok but what's the point?

 

[SpaceCowboy]

I'm really not too sure what to make of this. I'm never really a fan of badge engineering and this car is a major offender, yet it still looks tidy although it is lacking in the trademark agression of recent Seat designs. This does go to show though that obviously VW thinks there is still like left in the old B7 platform yet, plus it helps Seat plug a rather large gap in their model lineup. What do you think the chances of seeing a performance version are using the old RS4 mechanical package? Only a pipe dream I know but how much fun would that be!!

 

[baloo]

Looks ok but what's the point?

Reusing the previous gen A4 platform. Good idea, but it looks too boring imho.

 

[rata87]

mmmmmm it looks photoshopped.... i have exactly a a4 b7 in that color and frankly i doubt those are real photos.

 

[Bravada]

Reusing the previous gen A4 platform.

Not platform. CAR!

It looks very sad to me. They didn't even bother to change the handles from the ancient cassette design... A good way to get a cheap Audi, I guess, but I also think I'd rather get a second-hand ACTUAL Audi... And why isn't it called "Toledo"?

 

[mgescuro]

Yup.
Just as I had feared... VW's taking more and more pages from GM's playbook.

 

[mbukukanyau]

They (VW) want to overtake GM/Toyota in a mere 8 years. This is their game plan, I suppose.
See this story HERE and HERE

 

[mgescuro]

They (VW) want to overtake GM/Toyota in a mere 5 years. This is their game plan, I suppose.

Then they'll have GM's reputation for platform overuse and rebadging. And they'll have Toyota's reputation for cookie cutter cars and overuse of parts bin.

Wonderful

 

[powervette]

I feel the same about this as I felt about crappy Skoda Octavia. I'd rather have a slightly used Passat/golf.

 

[mbukukanyau]

Then they'll have GM's reputation for platform overuse and rebadging. And they'll have Toyota's reputation for cookie cutter cars and overuse of parts bin.

Wonderful

It is a proven model for growth. Think about it, Toyota had to add brands to get where they are.
This I think also explains why VW wanted Proton.

 

[nadepalma]

... And why isn't it called "Toledo"?

I was wondering the same thing. Perhaps they want to "break with the past" and call it something else to make the point?

Exeo, I believe is Latin derived - which I guess means they are ditching their current nominclature of giving their products Spanish city names?

They (VW) want to overtake GM/Toyota in a mere 8 years. This is their game plan, I suppose.
See this story HERE and HERE

Its very possible and SEAT may fit into those plans very well.

VW always kind of sytled SEAT as a "cheap Alfa Romeo" - taking note of their shared "Latin heritage" with the Italian marque and the styling that was influenced by former Alfa/Fiat top designer Walter da'Silva (It was da'Silva who revived Alfa's design language in the late 1990s that is still felt today).

There were rumors for awhile that VW was looking to possibly launch the SEAT brand in the US to slot below the VW brand itself. The idea was that, since VW was moving more and more upscale at the time with products like the Toureg and the Pheaton, it was abandoning a lot of buyers at the bottom end of the spectrum where it traditionally existed. To plug the hole, SEAT would be introduced and sell "discounted" cars - This would shield the more "upscale" VW brand from appearing too cheap and still let them cash in on customers they arguably abandoned by moving so far upscale.

Believe it or not, it was also believed to be a good move since it would take advantage of America's growing population of immigrants from Hispanic nations. SEAT is sold in Mexico and a few markets outside of Europe, and VW thought this would be an easy way to attract that population.

Those plans were kinda shelved though, and as far as I know there is no plan to return to the US market right now. But if VW does plan on taking on Toyota, then they'll need every brand to have more of a world presence. VW knows this; there are already plans to push SEAT into more and more markets so maybe it will eventually come to the US.

 

[nadepalma]

I feel the same about this as I felt about crappy Skoda Octavia. I'd rather have a slightly used Passat/golf.

Are Skodas really crappy? I had the impression that Skodas were a very good car since VW took over, no?

I even think somone said once on GMI that "if you wanted a great VW at a very attractive price, go and get a Skoda" since you wouldn't be overcharged for it like VW models built in Germany.

Just repeating what I heard.

 

[t-rex]

Are Skodas really crappy? I had the impression that Skodas were a very good car since VW took over, no?

I even think somone said once on GMI that "if you wanted a great VW at a very attractive price, go and get a Skoda" since you wouldn't be overcharged for it like VW models built in Germany.

Just repeating what I heard.

In many markets where they're sold, Skodas are lauded for offering incredible build quality (even the old COMECON Skodas had bodies built like tanks) at such attractive prices. And in many eyes, they're better-looking than Volkswagen's own offerings.

I would say they're only let down by VW's overall reliability issues. Europeans though seem to be more tolerant of this than customers in other parts of the world.

As for SEAT, they don't seem to be having much success outside of Europe and Latin America. The Australian operation was a disaster and the brand's just been pulled from the South African market due to poor sales. The marque isn't represented at all in Asia or the Middle East.

 

[powervette]

Are Skodas really crappy? I had the impression that Skodas were a very good car since VW took over, no?

I even think somone said once on GMI that "if you wanted a great VW at a very attractive price, go and get a Skoda" since you wouldn't be overcharged for it like VW models built in Germany.

Just repeating what I heard.

they are crappy designwise. As far as their reliability is concerned Skodas are superior to anything that's made in France (unfortunately because French have much design potential). The funniest thing is Octavia built on old VW platform is much more reliable than the new Passat. I was having tie rods (I ordered the more expensive ones made by Delphi) on my Astra replaced a few days ago and had a chat with mechanic. He said that if everyone drove French cars, German Fords and Mercedes, he would be a rich guy. He also complained about new Passat and it's poorly made suspension. Maybe he was a little biased because his whole family own Opels and he drives an Octavia himself. Just repeating what I heard

 

[Bravada]

I'd hardly call the Octavia crappy. Both generations were limited perhaps only by VW's stubby B-platform of extremely short wheelbase, otherwise they offer great room for the size, elegant exteriors, pleasing interiors (IMHO Skodas look nicer inside than VWs) and are generally more practical and packed with more thought-out details than German Volkswagens. Of interesting note is that Skoda does all of their design work in-house, in the Czech Republic.

The quality of Skodas is excellent. They regularly come first or second (behind Honda) in UK's JD Power and other rankings, and it is now a given they will come much higher than any VW group brand in any quality, reliability or ownership satisfaction-based ranking. They also tend to come reasonably ahead of Opel (unfortunately for GM). They have basically taken over VW's position as the most reasonable, if a bit dull, choice.

As concern SEAT, they had their own, rather unique (if slightly bland) style until de'Silva defected from Alfa Romeo. For some reason VW and de'Silva thought it would be the best to emulate Alfa somehow, even though SEAT was nowhere near the position to even rival Alfa, and their model programme was never intended to, both before and after Silvanization.

The current "angry warthog" Seat look is not de'Silva's (who's moved to the more senior VW position and now takes credit for the new Golf), but Luc Donckerwolke's, who, surprisingly, designed the rather appealing Audi R8 and all of the present-day Lamborghinis. It seems to be some "Seat curse" - however good a designer is, he loses all good taste when he starts to do Seats...