Just like the Volkswagen Group continued selling the first generation Skoda Octavia under the Octavio Tour badge, because the car was still selling good even with the second generation launched, they also did the same with the previous generation Audi A4, but they rebadged it using another brand in the group, Seat, so the Exeo was born. And if the current generation Audi A4 will soon be getting a facelift, something pretty similar to the upcoming facelift for the A5, which will debut at the Frankfurt Motor Show, it was time for the Seat Exeo to be refreshed too, after being in production for about three years, with the new version unveiled several weeks before the German show. So let’s take a look at what the new Spanish sedan will bring new to the table.
First of all, we have the exterior design. The front part, even though not getting a major makeover, became a little more elegant, with the radiator grille now featuring a more sporty honeycomb shape and the headlights getting a pair of curved LED daytime running lights, just like the current A4, making the new Exeo look a little more “serious”. Besides these changes, we also have a new set of wheels, but the exterior is mostly the same, with a decent combination of sporty and elegance. As for the interior, the only changes are represented by a new, larger, choice of premium materials available in different new colors.
When looking at the facelift’s powertrain details, we see an improved version of the 2.0-liter TDI turbocharged diesel, which now is more fuel efficient and with lower CO2 emissions. According to the press release, the Seat Exeo 2.0 TDI will have an average fuel consumption of 4.0 liters per 100 km (70 mpg), 0.3 liters per 100 km less than the current model, while the CO2 emissions level is 129 grams per kilometer. This value is even lower in the ECOMOTIVE version, which features the Start/Stop system and which releases only 120 grams of CO2 per kilometer. As an option, the new Exeo will also be available with a new Multitronic continuous CVT automatic transmission, only for the 200 hp version. Besides these, the engine choice is the same, with four petrol engines (1.8 liter TSI available with 120 or 160 hp and 2.0 liter TFSI with 200 or 211 hp) and three diesel units (a 2.0 TDI delivering 120, 143 or 170 hp).
That’s about all Seat mentioned in the press release, but we’re expecting full details about the pricing and the car’s features after the official debut at the 2011 Frankfurt Motor Show.