Seat Promises V2X Connectivity for New Leon

Paul Myles

TU-Editor

---

29th January 2020

Seat has promised to include the first mass-market application of V2X technology in its new mid-segment Leon model.

To be sold in hatchback and station wagon versions in the European market, the Spanish sub-brand of the Volkswagen Group hopes to draw on its on-street V2X experiments near its base in Barcelona carried out with domestic telco provider Telefónica. The automaker announced its technology as a concept at World Mobile Congress 2019 it said was proof of using 5G for full V2X connectivity.

The Leon’s system, dubbed a more consumer-friendly also Car2X connectivity, is a cloud-based technology that claims to deliver advanced warning on the status of upcoming traffic lights or an incident on a motorway further up the road, or whether traffic lights are about to turn from green to red, with traffic information appearing in real time on screen.

Other connectivity features include Android Auto and wireless Apple CarPlay connections. Away from the vehicle, users can access the car’s data remotely as well as manage the battery charging and control the electronic air conditioning on the PHEV models.

It’s also telling that, these days, volume carmakers are using connectivity functions, ADAS and safety features as the main marketing pitches for new cars, leaving details on powertrains a very low priority to consumers they believe have little interest in what some see as and old-school interest. In fact, with the Leon, all we learn fro Seat is that the range will feature the aforementioned PHEV (eHybrid) plus a suite of new gasoline (TSI), diesel (TDI) and mild-hybrid (eTSI).

In terms of safety, the Leon employs the VW MQB (Modular Quer Baukasten) Evo platform provides that allows the integration of the latest ADAS including predictive adaptive cruise control and emergency assist. Seat’s executive vice-president for sales and marketing and Cupra CEO, Wayne Griffiths, said: “We have now created the best Leon ever. The new Leon has been designed keeping the ‘created in Barcelona’ spirit and at the same time being the safest, most connected and with the widest range of engines the brand has ever seen. We believe we have all the ingredients to make of the new Leon a great choice not only for private customers but also for corporate fleets.”

— Paul Myles is a seasoned automotive journalist based in London. Follow him on Twitter @Paulmyles_