Fireworks as SEAT Celebrates a Brace of Scoty Wins

MILTON KEYNES, UNITED KINGDOM – November 8, 2010: Spanish car maker SEAT is celebrating scooping a brace of prestigious national awards with the news that versions of its recently-revised Leon family hatch have been named Eco Car of the Year and Sporting Car of the Year in Scotland.

The super-frugal Leon E Ecomotive took the Eco prize while the Spaniards’ fire-breathing Leon Cupra R saw off the challenge of a raft of exciting cars to be named Sporting Car of the Year north of the border.

As ever, the important awards were organised by the Association of Scottish Motoring Writers (ASMW) whose members voted for their favourites in a number of car categories including the new Eco class, launched just last year.

Director of SEAT UK Peter Wyhinny led the Brand’s celebrations at the ASMW’s glittering awards ceremony last night – Bonfire Night – at the prestigious Fairmont Hotel in St Andrews.

Since its revisions 12 months ago which saw the five-door Leon benefit from some subtly revised styling along with a raft of important engineering changes and equipment upgrades, Press and public reaction to the big-selling SEAT has been overwhelmingly positive.

And the arrival earlier this year of the 155 mph Leon Cupra R – SEAT’s most powerful production car to date with 265 PS at its driver’s disposal from a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol engine – only served to further heighten the excitement.

Capable of sprinting from rest to 62 mph in just 6.2 seconds, the front-wheel drive Cupra R is as environmentally responsible as it is exhilarating with CO2 emissions of just 190 g/km and a combined fuel economy figure of 34.9 mpg.

Meanwhile the latest generation Leon E Ecomotive – unveiled earlier this year with an all-new 105 PS 1.6-litre TDI powerplant that now boasts ultra-precise common rail fuelling – is deserving of its Eco award thanks to CO2 emissions that stand at just 99 g/km and a combined fuel economy figure of 74.3 mpg.

Giving his verdict on SEAT’s twin successes John Murdoch, President of the ASMW, said: ‘The Sporting category is always a crowded one and causes much debate among ASMW members. With so many great roads north of the border, champions are inevitably ones that have been tested to the limits.

‘In various forms our winner is already a familiar sight on Scottish roads but, in the new flagship Cupra R guise, we believe it is the most thrilling and value for money hot hatch on sale today.’

Turning to the Leon’s Eco triumph he said: ‘As well as being a great car to drive, our winner’s approach to maximising economy is applauded by our members. There is no complicated technology or heavy battery packs, just an efficient diesel engine and a variety of aerodynamic and mechanical tweaks.

‘The result is exceptional. In real world driving conditions the Leon E Ecomotive is more economical than any of its direct rivals, while its keen pricing and exemption from road tax make it a sure-fire winner with canny Scots.’

Welcoming the Leon’s double success in Scotland – a particularly rare achievement for one car in the hard-fought annual awards – SEAT UK’s Peter Wyhinny said: ‘I’m understandably thrilled by these two great votes of confidence in our car.

‘No matter what version you opt for the latest SEAT Leon provides a stylish, sporty and practical family hatch and I’m sure drivers all over the country will continue to appreciate its advantages in increasing numbers.’