Three-door SEAT Leon SC on the way

SEAT has shown its Leon SC for the first time at the 2013 Geneva Motor Show. The SC stands for sports coupe, SEAT’s designation for three-door hatchbacks. It’s slightly shorter and obviously it loses two doors - but has the same sharp good looks of the standard Leon hatchback.

The Leon SC will be sold in the same range of trim levels as the five door – S, SE and FR – and has the same range of engines. Rear headroom is identical, as is the volume of the boot, but rear legroom will likely be tighter thanks to the shorter wheelbase and reduced overall length.

Like the five-door, the Leon SC is based on Volkswagen Group's MQB platform - the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen Golf, Audi A3 and Skoda Octavia. Later this year there will a Leon ST estate, too.

This SC has a 35mm shorter wheelbase than the five-door hatch and the use of advanced materials in production makes the Leon SC the lightest vehicle in its class. It is 110 kg lighter than the second-generation Leon, and 20 kg lighter than the five-door new Leon. Engines range from 105 PS to 184 PS; from launch the Leon SC will feature the same engine and trim range as the five-door, including the 1.6 TDI 105 PS with 99 g/km CO2, and later in the year, the rapid-yet-frugal 2.0 TDI 184 PS FR.

Chances are it will be slightly cheaper than the five-door when the order books open in April (it goes on sale later in July), but there are no firm details yet. You can read our review of the five door model by clicking here.