2002 SEAT Leon FR / TopSport 1.8 20VT 6MT (180 HP)

Vehicle Overview

The 2002 SEAT Leon FR was based on the successful SEAT Leon I, which was launched in 1998. It shared the same platform with other compact class vehicles from the Volkswagen group, including the Golf.

Volkswagen’s road to the premium market started way back in the ’80s. Its idea was to transform the Spanish brand SEAT into a mass-volume car-company, and the German would fill the gap between a mass-market car and a premium car company. But the SEAT needed a stronger image on the market, and that could have been achieved via a sporty model with a price lower than of a Golf GTI.

In 2002, the SEAT Leon received an FR version. It was based on the regular SEAT Leon, but with a stronger appearance. It was an evolution over the Cupra version. When compared to that, from the outside, there was a different front bumper and featured specific design of five twin-spoke 17″ light-alloy wheels. The name FR stands for Formula Racing. The idea was to build a sporty image for the Spanish brand. In 2003, the brand launched a one-make trophy, the Supercopa SEAT Leon. All the vehicles were based on the Leon FR model.

Inside the cabin, there was room for five and sport-bucket seats for the front passengers. The analog dials featured red-needles on white background for the dials.

Underneath the car, there was a fully independent suspension for both axles. Despite the fact that some SEAT Leon models were equipped with an all-wheel-drive system, the FR was front-wheel-drive only. There was only a six-speed manual offered for that version. It was equipped with either a 1.8-liter 20-valves gasoline engine or a 1.9-liter diesel. Both versions were turbocharged.