Seat Leon will live to the next decade — a major update will be in 2029
Seat will release a seriously updated Leon in 2029. The company is betting on the existing line with internal combustion engines and waiting out the uncertainty that has arisen over the transition of the auto industry to electric vehicles.
What is known
The updated Leon will come after the facelifted versions of Ibiza and Arona next year, new mild-hybrid engines for these models in 2027, and a full-hybrid powertrain for the Leon in 2028.
Details of the 2029 update are kept secret, but it is most likely related to changes in the Volkswagen Golf, built on the same platform. The Golf itself is expected to receive a deep facelift to sell alongside the new fully electric Golf.
The Cupra version of the Leon will become electric in the next generation in the early 2030s — on the same SSP platform as the Golf. Seat/Cupra is likely to apply the same strategy: the Seat version will remain with ICE, while Cupra will switch to electricity.
Autocar told about the future of the Leon by the head of Seat's product direction Carlos Galindo. According to him, the main priority for Seat is to make the brand more "young".
Seat should become the "entry point" into the VW Group — a role that Skoda has historically occupied. But the model range and marketing will be aimed at a different audience, distinct from the more mature Skoda buyers.
Source: Autocar
