Distracting as the skimpily-clad ladies that straddled the SEAT Leon Prototype at the Geneva Show earlier this year were, it was plain to see that the "Prototype" was nothing of the sort, being nothing more than an extravagantly painted production car with a fancy interior and big wheels. Our suspicions are confirmed this week by the first pictures of the all-new SEAT Leon.

Inspired by the sporty Salsa concept car from as far back as 2000, the new Leon is undeniably sleek and sporting. However, and this is a criticism we would level at all of SEAT's latest cars (other than the conventional Ibiza hatchback), the new Leon has the appearance of an MPV, with its one-box shape. SEAT like to think of it as more of a coupe, and have used Alfa Romeo's trick of hiding the rear door handles in the doorframe to achieve that. We do like the tapering roofline though, and the shape should look good in the extrovert Cupra versions, though perhaps not in the entry-level models.

To begin with, four engines will be available; the petrol options are a 100bhp 1.6-litre or the well-proven 2-litre direct injection unit we drove in VW Golf with nearly 150bhp. Diesel engines at launch are a 1.9-litre with 100bhp and a 2-litre with nearly 140bhp. The latter can be specified with the superb Direct Shift Gearbox (as tested in the VW Touran and Audi TT). We expect to see sportier versions of the Leon at the 2005 Frankfurt Motor Show.

Safety is paramount in this market sector, and SEAT has not cut corners. Though final UK specification has yet to be decided, it is likely that six airbags will be standard (two front, two side and two curtain), with the option of two side airbags at the rear. Two ISOFIX child seat fixings are also standard at the rear. Anti-lock brakes of course will be standard, and it is also probable that the latest generation of traction and stability control systems will be available on all models.

The Leon could prove to be a good steer too. Naff title aside, SEAT's "Agile Chassis" incorporates an independent front suspension with MacPherson struts, mounted on a new aluminium sub-chassis that should improve refinement. The rear suspension is also fully independent and uses a four-arm multilink axle for precise wheel control. Electro-mechanical power-assisted steering and ventilated disc brakes at the front and solid discs at the rear complete the package for the cars at launch.

Prices have yet to be announced.

Shane O' Donoghue - 20 Apr 2005