Toledo Going For Bold

By Chris Thorp

27th May 2004

To differentiate the Toledo from the smaller Altea, it has been given a bul-ging lower tailgate and wraparound rear screen. The result is a back end similar to that of the controversial Renault Vel Satis - but this has allowed the Toledo to provide 500 litres of luggage space.

Even in this early guise, the car is a huge departure from the current Leon-based model, and it's no surprise that the Altea's look has been adopted at the front end. The new face of SEAT was showcased on the Salsa concept, revealed at 2000's Geneva expo, and the characteristic teardrop headlights and SEAT grille will eventually appear on all future models. That includes the Leon replacement, due next year. Even the two-tone paint could be an option! It's only when you take a look inside that you realise how close this Toledo is to a final production model, though.

The interior seats five and is more spacious than the current version, while the dashboard offers all the quality of the Volkswagen Golf, which shares its platform with the car. So can you see the Toledo at the British Motor Show? Unfortunately, it won't be there. The company told Auto Express that it has decided to focus its efforts on promoting the right-hand-drive Altea. Insiders are tipping the Paris exhibition in September as the venue for the debut of the production version of the Toledo.

Exact details of the engine line-up and specifications aren't yet known, but expect a similar range to that of the Altea. That means acclaimed FSI petrol units, plus the option of the frugal and gutsy 1.9-litre and 2.0-litre TDI diesels.

See the all-new SEAT Altea at the Motor Show in Hall 5 Stand 5-150

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