Unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show, the new SEAT León and the new Altea 2009 range have just gone on sale in the Spanish market. The model line-up undergoes a considerable transformation, whose new identity traits are clearly visible on the front and at the rear of the different body styles, as well as on a renewed engine range that includes common rail Diesel variations, and a top-notch equipment list featuring sophisticated comfort and safety elements.

With the arrival of the 2009 versions, the new León and Altea offer has been unified, and has been equipped with virtually the same standard equipment. An additional entry level trim level has been added to the well-known Reference, Style and Sport names. To top it off, the León family also includes a sportier FR version, and a new CUPRA version is in the pipeline.

The company's new cars feature an exceptional equipment list, complete with the XDS electronic self-blocking mechanism – exclusive to the León 2009 – Hill Hold Control, dual xenon headlights with AFS and daytime driving lights, a new climate control, new audio equipment, cornering foglights, front and rear parking sensors and optical parking system displayed on the new navigation system.

New SEAT León 2009: Thrilling and sporty

The new SEAT León range is one of the most complete to be found on the market. The total launch offer includes 19 different versions with nine different engines, five petrol and four Diesel, four different gearboxes (five and six-speed manual, and six and seven-speed DSG), and three trim levels – Reference, Style and Sport, in addition to a new entry version and the sportiest FR model. In future the powerful CUPRA version will join the long list which is currently available.

The SEAT León 2009 is available with a broad equipment list as standard. The entry-level version features the 85 hp 1.4 and 90 hp 1.9 TDI engines, with elements such as ABS and TCS, ESP with EBA, driver and passenger airbag, side airbags, head airbag, passenger airbag disconnection, 15 inch steel rims, 195/65 tyres, rear Isofix anchoring points, front power one-touch anti-trap windows, heated door mirrors, tinted glass, double headlights and anti-theft roof aerial, among others.

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The next step up on the León range is the Reference trim level, which builds on the entry version with trip computer, CD radio + MP3 + 6 speakers + Aux in, low tyre pressure warning, air conditioning, body colour door mirrors and handles; while the Style version features Reference equipment plus the following elements – cornering foglights, three-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel, leather gearknob, rear power windows, cruise control, electric heated parking position door mirrors, Coming Home, chrome inside door handles, climate control, combined USB + Aux in connection, height adjustable driver and passenger seat with lumbar control, 16" ‘Enea' alloy rims, 205/55 tyres and visible twin tailpipe on versions with 140 hp or higher engines.

The sportiest versions of the new SEAT León 2009 feature the Sport and FR trim levels. Sport adds dark glass, sport seats with specific upholstery, sport suspension, 17" ‘Aroa' alloy rims and 225/45 tyres to the already complete equipment line-up of the Style version, while the new León FR builds on Sport with XDS, three-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel with the FR logo, leather gearknob with the FR logo, 2 additional speakers, volumetric alarm with back-up battery, 17" ‘Albea' alloy rims, 225/45 tyres and silver colour door mirrors.

Long list of optional elements

Depending on each trim level, the complete standard equipment list for the new SEAT León 2009 can be increased thanks to a broad choice of optional elements.

The Lifestyle Plus package is available on the Reference trim level, which includes cornering foglights, 16 inch alloy rims, steering wheel controls, heated door mirrors, sports seats with specific upholstery and sports suspension.

Two further interesting packages are Technology and Technology Plus, which are available on the Style, Sport and FR versions. The Technology package includes light sensors, rain sensing wipers, rear parking sensor, anti-dazzle rear-view mirror and two extra speakers; while the Technology Plus package includes dual xenon headlights + AFS, daylight driving lights, SEAT Mediasystem navigation system, Bluetooth and front parking sensors with parking optics. This package is exclusively associated to the Technology package.

The Style trim level is available with the Sport and Sport Plus packages, which include alloy rims (17 inch with the Sport package and 18 inch with the Sport Plus package), specific upholstery, sports suspension, sport seats and dark glass. The Sport Plus package is also available on the Sport trim level, but with 18 inch rims as standard equipment.

Still on the topic of rims, optional 16 inch "Elio" alloy rims are available on the Reference trim level (as standard on the 125 hp 1.4 TSI engine); 17 inch "Agra" rims on Style and 18 inch "Draco" rims on Sport. Finally, 18 inch "Iberia" rims are available on the sporty FR version.

New SEAT Altea 2009 range: The most dynamic family size car

The complete launch offer of the SEAT Altea and Altea XL 2009 range includes 35 different versions divided into two body styles, nine engine choices – five petrol and four Diesel, four gearboxes (5 and 6-speed manual, and 6 and 7-speed DSG), and three trim levels – Reference, Style and Sport. The offer is complete with a new entry-level version and the Altea freetrack model, which is available with either two or four-wheel drive and the Sport trim level.

The new Altea 2009 range is available with a broad equipment list as standard. The entry-level version features the 85 hp 1.4 and 90 hp 1.9 TDI engines on the Altea and only the 90 hp 1.9 TDI on the Altea XL, with elements such as ABS and TCS, ESP with EBA, driver and passenger airbag, side airbags, head airbag, rear Isofix anchoring points, front power one-touch anti-trap windows, remote controlled central locking, tinted glass, 15 inch steel rims, 195/65 tyres, double headlights, anti-theft roof aerial, sliding rear seats, storage compartments on the sides of the front and rear seats, central console storage compartment, storage hooks on the boot sides and rear parcel shelf with storage compartments, among others.

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As with the León, the Altea range continues with the Reference version, which builds on the entry-level version with trip computer, CD radio + MP3 + 6 speakers + Aux in, low tyre pressure warning, air conditioning, body colour door mirrors and handles, front active headrests (on the Altea XL) and rear door folding shades (also on the Altea XL).

Style builds on Reference with several more elements, such as cornering foglights, three-spoke leather multi-function steering wheel, leather gearknob, rear power windows, electric heated folding door mirrors, cruise control, Coming Home, chrome inside door handles, climate control, combined USB + Aux in connection, height adjustable driver and passenger seat with lumbar control, 16" ‘Enea' alloy rims, 205/55 tyres and visible twin tailpipe on versions with 140 hp or higher engines.

The top of the new Altea 2009 range is finished in Sport trim, which builds on Style with dark glass, sport seats with specific upholstery, 17" ‘Aroa' alloy rims, 225/45 tyres and sports suspension.

Complete list of optional elements

The new Altea 2009 range features a long list of optional elements that significantly increase onboard comfort and safety.

The Lifestyle Plus package is available on the Reference trim level, which includes cornering foglights, 16 inch alloy rims, multi-function steering wheel and heated door mirrors.

As on the León, the Technology and Technology Plus packages are available on the Style and Sport versions. The Technology package includes rain sensing wipers, rear parking sensor, anti-dazzle rear-view mirror and two extra speakers; while the Technology Plus package includes dual xenon headlights + AFS, the SEAT Mediasystem navigation system, Bluetooth and front parking sensors with parking optics. This package is exclusively associated to the Technology package.

The Style trim level is available with the Sport and Sport Plus packages, which include alloy rims (17 inch with the Sport package and 18 inch with the Sport Plus package), specific upholstery, sports suspension, sport seats and dark glass. The Sport Plus package is also available on the Sport trim level, but with 18 inch rims as standard equipment.

The new Altea XL 2009 is available with an exclusive Family package, which provides onboard comfort and entertainment with the addition of ceiling storage with a 7 inch TFT screen and RCA connectors, dark glass and the Technology package.

As for rims, optional 16 inch "Elio" alloy rims are available on the Reference trim level (as standard on the 125 hp 1.4 TSI engine); 17 inch "Agra" rims on Style and 18 inch "Draco" rims on Sport.