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SEAT is today unveiling the
first details of an exciting new
Leon Ecomotive Prototype which
adds a radical twist to the idea
of maintenance-free motoring.
The one-off prototype has been
cleverly re-engineered to
include a 545-litre (120-gallon)
fuel tank which, working on the
basis of the new Ecomotive’s
extra urban economy figure of
83.1 mpg, gives the ultra-green
Leon the unique ability to cover
a full 10,000 miles between
fill-ups.
As
a result this exceptional Leon
Ecomotive, which like the
production version boasts a new
1.6-litre TDIcommon rail
powerplant as well as new
start-stop technology, is able
to offer many of its lucky
owners the luxury of never
having to visit the filling
station again.
Since the SEAT comes with a
12-month/10,000-mile service
interval as standard, the new
prototype model need only ever
be fuelled by a SEAT dealer. As
such, the car is not fitted with
a conventional fuel filler flap
or cap, the diesel instead being
refilled via a special nozzle in
the boot.
Even higher mileage drivers
covering, for example, 12,000
miles a year could collect their
car in, say, June and then look
forward to ten months of
unstoppable motoring before
their vehicle’s first scheduled
10,000-mile service and an April
fuel stop.
Of
course to accommodate this
extra-large fuel tank SEAT’s
engineers have had to
significantly rework the Leon’s
interior layout. Out have come
the rear seats to be replaced,
instead, by the enlarged tank
which fits neatly into the space
vacated by the three seats.
A
handy luggage space sits atop
the extra-large fuel tank,
meaning the Leon Ecomotive
Prototype remains as practical
as it is economical.
Other important revisions have
been made to the SEAT’s standard
suspension set-up of course,
allowing it to maintain its
sporty handling while carrying
the increased fuel load. The
Leon’s already efficient brakes
have been uprated, too.
As
ever, safety is paramount and
SEAT’s engineers have worked
hard to ensure the concept
doesn’t compromise passenger or
pedestrian protection.
Significant reinforcement of
the Leon’s already robust
passenger protection measures
ally to the fact that even
should the tank be ruptured in a
serious accident, a
characteristic of diesel fuel is
that although it will burn in
open air using a wick it will
not explode and does not release
a large amount of flammable
vapour.
The clear advantage of the
prototype SEAT is, of course,
never having to queue at the
filling station, never again
donning the plastic disposable
glove before refuelling and
never waiting in line to pay.
In the case of the new car,
refuelling takes place as a
matter of course when the car
visits a SEAT dealership, with
dealers set to offer handy fuel
payment plans alongside the
existing fixed price service
plans.
Head of SEAT UK Press & PR, Mike
Orford, said of the intriguing
prototype: ‘Clearly, you’d be a
fool not to see the benefits of
this new Leon Ecomotive.
‘Travelling 10,000 miles between
fill-ups removes a significant
amount of forecourt queuing and
waiting time for Leondrivers
meaning they’ll have more time
to spend enjoying their car.
‘We expect the first drivers
will be tickled pink when the
car goes on sale here.’ |
