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2012 Seat Exeo is Audi with the old, in with the new-ish

We know what you're thinking: This car looks an awful lot like an Audi A4. But it isn't. And it is.
Regular readers may be aware that Audi's Spanish sister-company Seat inherited the previous-generation A4 some time after it was replaced. They put some new badges on it and presto! A new flagship model for Seat.
Called the Exeo, it has now undergone a minor facelift that did nothing if not make it look even more like an Audi, if that were possible, and we got up close and personal with the new model here in Frankfurt. Check it out in our high-res gallery of live images from the show floor.

Refreshed Seat Exeo looks even more like an Audi than before

What happens to German cars when they've outlived their lifecycles? Some die off like any other model line, but others get turned into more budget-oriented vehicles with new badges.
Take the old Mercedes-Benz E-Class, for example, whose platform was recycled into the Chrysler 300 and then, in turn, into the Dodge Challenger. Same with the old SLK that was turned into the Chrysler Crossfire. Volkswagen often continues producing its old vehicles after they've been replaced, offering them in markets like South America and Canada. But when the Audi A4 was replaced, it was transformed into a new flagship model for Seat.
The Exeo has only been on the market for three years, but the B7-generation A4 on which it's based (and by "based," we mean a few fresh body panels and some new badges) dates back to 2004. That's seven years ago, and that makes the Exeo a dated product. So Seat's toiled to keep it fresh by launching this facelifted model. But though you might think they'd have made it look less obviously like an Audi, to our eyes it looks like they've done precisely the opposite.

Seat shows Leon SC three-door ahead of Geneva

Seat has just unwrapped the Leon SC three-door hatchback ahead of its official debut at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. Unlike some transformations from five- to three-door hatches, the Seat Leon underwent some meaningful surgery in the changeover, losing nearly an inch and a half of its wheelbase while still retaining the same amount of cargo capacity behind the rear seats.
The SC, which stands for Sports Coupé, is said to be more nimble than its larger counterpart, and therefore more fun to drive. A range of turbocharged and direct injected gasoline and diesel engines will be available in Europe ranging from 1.2 to 2.0 liters and with up to 184 horsepower. Manual transmissions with five or six gears will be offered, depending on the engine chosen, as will a six-speed DSG automatic.
Seat also says that the new Leon boasts more expressive styling than the five-door, and we can see where they are coming from. Of particular note, says the automaker, are the size and shapes of the glass areas and the sweep of the tailgate toward the ground. Take a good look at the new three-door Leon in the image gallery above, and feel free to read all the details in the full press blast below.