Seat Leon crowned 2013 Car of the Year

THE Seat Leon has won the prestigious Car of the Year 2013 prize in the United Kingdom at the annual Auto Express New Car Awards.

During a ceremony in London’s Grand Connaught Rooms, Auto Express Editor-in-Chief Steve Fowler handed the coveted award to SEAT’s Executive Committee Chairman Jürgen Stackmann.

The Leon scooped a double win, also picking up the Best Compact Family Car Award, while there was yet more cause for celebration at the Seat table as the Alhambra won the Best MPV award – for the third year in a row.

But it was the Leon’s night overall, with the Auto Express judging panel giving it the nod for Car of the Year ahead of some very strong competition.

Explaining why the Leon was crowned the year’s best car by the UK’s best-selling motoring weekly, Auto Express Editor-in-Chief Steve Fowler said:

“We love its style, the way it drives, the quality and the kit. Best of all, you get all that at a bargain price, while running costs will be ultra-low, too. The SEAT Leon has beaten some superb cars to be crowned Car of the Year – it’s that good.

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Jürgen Stackmann thanked the Auto Express jury for choosing the Leon.

“The new Leon is the best vehicle in Seat’s history. It is a perfect embodiment of our transformation and shows the way we will be taking over the next few years.

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Seat Ireland Director Cian O’Brien said:

“The Leon has made a really significant and positive impact to sales here in Ireland since it arrived earlier this year.

“With the new Leon SC just arriving on to the Irish market and the versatile ST model arriving before the end of the year we will soon be able to offer a comprehensive Leon line-up.

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