After showing a thinly disguised concept version at the Geneva Salon in March and following a leaked set of pictures earlier this month, Seat has pulled the wraps of the production version of the new generation Toledo.
Seat’s new compact sedan is more of a successor to the first (1991-1998) and second generation (1998-2004) Toledo sedans than to the ill-fated, third generation model of the same name produced from 2004 to 2009, which was essentially an Altea minivan with a prosthetic boot.
However, it is also a sister model to the new Skoda Rapid and even though each brand makes word of a bespoke design language, the fact remains that the styling differences between the two are concentrated in details such as the front end, the tail lights, rear license plate fitment, wheel designs and interior trim.
The new Toledo Mk4 has a length of 4,480mm, meaning its 40mm longer than the Toledo Mk2 while it also rides on a 82mm longer wheelbase at 2,602mm. Like the Rapid, the Toledo is a notchback saloon and comes equipped with a wide-opening rear hatch.
Seat’s proposal in the popular compact sedan segment will be offered with several engine and transmission options.
The petrol range includes the 1.2-liter and 1.4-liter TSI turbocharged units generating between 74hp (75PS) and 121hp (122PS), the most powerful versions of which will be offered with an optional 7-speed dual-clutch DSG transmission in addition to the standard manual gearbox.
Initial diesel options include a 1.6-liter TDI with 103hp (105PS) and from 2013, with 89hp (90PS).
The standard safety package for all Toledo models includes driver and passenger airbags, front side airbags and head/thorax airbags, while the base model also comes equipped with central locking, a two piece folding rear backrest and power windows in the front.
Seat said the 2013 Toledo will be launched initially in Spain and Portugal in mid-November and then in the rest of Europe and other markets during the course of 2013. According to the automaker, next to Spain, other key markets for the Toledo are Germany, Mexico and Turkey.
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