2009 Seat Bolero: Spanish Firm Unveils Details On Its Audi A4 Sized Sedan

Once upon a time, VW Group wanted to transform Seat, whom it had acquired (or rather saved) from Fiat, to a Spanish “Alfa Romeo”. Then all of a sudden we saw Seat presenting models like the Toledo, the Altea XL and recently, the Freetrack... Well, looks like VW’s white-collar workers have learned their lessons. Along with the announcement that they’ll present an all new C/D segment model available in sedan and station-wagon bodies in 2009, Seat also released a set of sketches featuring the sedan version. And yes, it has nothing to do with the abomination called Toledo.

Most probably based on the same, Audi A3/VW Golf/Seat Leon stretched platform that the VW Passat uses, the Toledo’s successor is rumored to be named Bolero. Judging from other VW models, the Bolero will probably get the Group’s latest 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TFSI engines. According to Seat, it will be built at the Martorell plant with the market launch planned for 2009. -Follow the jump for pics an the press release

PROGRESSES IN IMPROVEMENT PLAN FAVOUR DECISION

SEAT to produce two new C/D-segment models in Martorell

The Spanish car maker SEAT, S.A. will manufacture two new C/D-segment models at its plant in Martorell. This was announced today by SEAT chairman Erich Schmitt, during a meeting with several media representatives at the SEAT headquarters. In the future, SEAT will have two versions: a saloon and an estate car.

The decision to produce these models in Martorell, whose market launch is planned for 2009, contributes to considerably improve the capacity utilization of the Spanish plant. This announcement is the first made by SEAT since the dissolution of the brand groups and supports the progress of the Improvement Plan that was set in motion at the beginning of 2007 and whose most important objectives have been met by now.

Erich Schmitt said: “The assignment of the two new C/D-segment models to the plant in Martorell is an historic step for SEAT. By these means, we enlarge our current product range, which does not only give our clients the possibility to grow with the brand, but also enables us to increase the profitability of our dealer network thanks to the availability of these new models.”

Technorati: Seat, Toledo, Bolero, cars, Carscoop

Photo-Scoop: 2008 Seat Toledo

The Spanish edition of Car & Driver Magazine gives it's interpretation to as how the next generation of Seat's totally unsuccessful Toledo model should look like. The photoshop unveils a sporty sedan based on the Leon platform which looks rather nice with it's Cordoba / Alfa 156 rear end.

In my opinion this is the road that Seat should have followed from the beginning. Seat was supposed to be the sportiest brand among the marks in the VW group. Leaving aside the fact that it doesn't know if it's a hatchback, a sedan or a MPV, today's Toledo (picture on the left) is no where close to being characterized as a sporty model. The only characterization I can give it, is of being a Spanish interpretation of Renault's humpback styled Vel-Satis model (picture on the right).

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Xtra-ugLy: The 2007 Seat Altea XL

Oh my God!- And I thought things couldn't get any worse! After the atrocious Toledo - an Altea MPV with a boot, Seat presented this monstrocity: The Altea XL, something like a Spanish version of a Pontiac Aztec MPV...

Anyway, just for the record, the SEAT Altea XL measures 18.7 centimetres longer than the Altea. Consequently, the 409 litre capacity of the Altea's boot has increased to 532 litres in the Altea XL, while sliding the rear seats forwards by 14 centimetres expands the boot's volume further to 635 litres.

Compared to the Altea, the rear seats in the Altea XL can be moved back by an extra two centimetres, meaning additional legroom for passengers travelling in the rear. The fore-aft adjustment range of the rear seats has therefore been extended to 16 cm in the new XL.

The Altea XL will be launched with a choice of two petrol models -the 102 hp 1.6 and the 2.0 FSI developing 150 hp (only available with the six-speed Tiptronic gearshift) --and three diesel engines: the 1.9 TDI with 105 hp, the 140 hp 2.0 TDI (with the 6speed DSG gearshift as an option) as well as the 170 hp 2.0 TDI. These engines can be combined with three different trim lines: Reference, Stylance and Sport-Up.

Technorati Tags: Seat+Altea+XL, Paris+Motor+Show, 2006, autos, auto+news, cars, vehicles