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The SEAT Toledo is an automobile built and marketed by Spanish automaker SEAT, a division of the Volkswagen Group (Volkswagen AG). The Toledo name was first introduced to the SEAT line-up in May 1991, with the third and current generation was introduced in late 2004 as a 2005 model year car.

[edit] Mk1 (Typ 1L, 1991-1998)

SEAT Toledo Typ 1L

SEAT Toledo Mk1
Production	1991-1998
Predecessor	SEAT Málaga
Successor	SEAT Toledo (1M)
Body style(s)	4-door saloon
Platform	Volkswagen Group A2 platform
Engine(s)	Petrol engines: 1.6L I4 1.8L I4 1.8L I4 16v 2.0L I4 2.0L I4 16v Diesel engines: 1.9L I4 1.9L I4 TDI
Wheelbase	2,470 mm (97.2 in)
Length	4,320 mm (170.1 in)
Width	1,660 mm (65.4 in)
Height	1,425 mm (56.1 in)
Related	Volkswagen Golf Mk2 Chery A15
Designer	Giorgetto Giugiaro

The initial version of the SEAT Toledo (Typ 1L) was the first SEAT automobile developed entirely under Volkswagen Group ownership. This was a five-door liftback built on the Golf Mk2 Volkswagen Group A2 platform chassis, with boot similar in shape and size to the Volkswagen Bora's, but with the advantage of a tailgate. As saloon versions of small family cars were rare in Europe, it was sometimes considered a large family car^{[citation needed]} due to its overall length and boot size, despite having smaller rear leg room, and pricing closer to small family cars.

The Toledo initially featured underpowered engines compared to the Ibiza and Málaga's System Porsche units, such as a base 1.6 L 75 PS (55 kW; 74 bhp) petrol engine, and a GT version using the 2.0 L 115 PS (85 kW; 113 bhp) engine. Later, the Toledo would see the addition of more powerful versions, including a 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) 2.0 GTI 16v, and 110 PS (81 kW; 108 bhp) 1.9 TDI which, like many diesel engines built since 1996 by the Volkswagen Group, it is advertised as capable of running on either mineral diesel or biodiesel.

This version of the Toledo is now built by Chinese car manufacturer Chery, and sold under the names Chery Amulet, Cowin, Windcloud and Flagcloud. Chery acquired the chassis of the 1993 Toledo from a Mexican dealership after authorisation from SEAT. Chery Cowin, which is based on Seat Toledo, already has an authorisation to market it in Europe along with Russia and South America.^[1]

[edit] Engine choices

The following internal combustion engines were available:

[edit] Petrol engines

(All fuel injected).

[edit] Diesel engines

[edit] Mk2 (Typ 1M, 1998-2004)

SEAT Toledo Typ 1M

SEAT Toledo Mk2
Production	1998-2004
Predecessor	SEAT Toledo (1L)
Successor	SEAT Toledo (5P)
Body style(s)	4-door saloon
Platform	Volkswagen Group A4 (PQ34) platform
Wheelbase	2,520 mm (99.2 in)
Length	4,440 mm (174.8 in)
Width	1,740 mm (68.5 in)
Height	1,440 mm (56.7 in)
Related	Audi A3 Mk1 Audi TT Mk1 SEAT León Mk1 Volkswagen Golf Mk4 Volkswagen Bora, Škoda Octavia Mk1
Designer	Giorgetto Giugiaro

The second generation Toledo (Typ 1M) was introduced in 1998. It was more rounded than the previously boxy shape, and had a much more fluid design, although both were products of Giorgetto Giugiaro's Italdesign studio.

It shared components with both its Volkswagen and Škoda PQ34 platform-mates - the Volkswagen Bora and the Škoda Octavia - yet is supposedly the sportiest out of the three. Sport details have been added, such as completely translucent headlights not often seen in cars at that time, and a more rounded dashboard with white dials, derived from the Audi A3.

It was built on the Volkswagen Golf Mk4 platform, which meant stiff springs to support the load of the large 500 litre boot.^{[citation needed]} The early models were built at the Volkswagen/Audi plant in Belgium, with improved build quality (compared to the Spanish-built previous generation), although the Toledo was still presented as an economic alternative to the lower level of the D segment, and included in the basic price a high level of equipment. One of the features most associated with the Spanish model, the tailgate was removed in favour of a more traditional saloon boot opening. The following year, the Toledo would be used as the base for a proper hatchback, the SEAT León.

Base model was now a crossflow 1.6 litre 100 PS (74 kW; 99 bhp) petrol engine, followed by a 1.8 litre 20-valve 125 PS (92 kW; 123 bhp) unit, while the top of the line was represented by the 2.3 litre 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) VR5 engine (V5). Diesel engined versions used the 1.9 Turbocharged Direct Injection (TDI) engine, with a variable geometry turbocharger, offered initially with power outputs of 90 PS (66 kW; 89 bhp) or 110 PS (81 kW; 108 bhp). In 2001, the V5 engine was uprated with a 20v head (four valves per cylinder), boosting power to 170 PS (125 kW; 168 bhp). Later in the series, the 1.8 litre 20-valve Toledo received a turbocharger, capable of delivering 180 PS (132 kW; 178 bhp), and a later evolution of the VW TDI engine, produced engines of 130 PS (96 kW; 128 bhp) and 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp). These three versions all featured a six-speed manual transmission. The 130 PS TDI also featured white dials instead of the standard black dials on the 110 and 150 PS TDI models.

[edit] Mk3 (Typ 5P, 2004-present)

SEAT Toledo Typ 5P

SEAT Toledo Mk3
Production	2004-2009
Predecessor	SEAT Toledo (1M)
Body style(s)	5-door hatchback
Platform	Volkswagen Group A5 (PQ35) platform
Engine(s)	Petrol engines: 1.6L I4 1.8L I4 TSI 2.0L I4 FSI Diesel engines: 1.9L I4 TDI 2.0L I4 TDI
Wheelbase	2,580 mm (101.6 in)
Length	4,460 mm (175.6 in)
Width	1,770 mm (69.7 in)
Height	1,570 mm (61.8 in)
Related	Audi A3 Mk2 Audi TT Mk2 SEAT León Mk2 SEAT Altea Volkswagen Golf Mk5 Volkswagen Golf Mk6 Volkswagen Jetta Škoda Octavia Mk2
Designer	Walter de Silva

The third generation Toledo (Typ 5P) was introduced in 2004, and it is completely different from the previous two. Abandoning the traditional "three-box" saloon format, the Toledo Mk3 has a very controversial design, penned by Walter de'Silva. It is now closer to a compact MPV with the Altea's front section, a high roof, and a rear end inspired in the Renault Vel Satis, paying homage to the original Toledo's hatchback/saloon rear.

All pretense of a sporty identity was thrown out, in favour of a more upscale and alternative image. A large 500 litre DIN boot is its most interesting feature. Under the bodywork, the SEAT Toledo uses the same underpinnings as the Volkswagen Golf Mk5. All engines are identical to other Volkswagen Group units, with petrol engines ranging from 102 PS (75 kW; 101 bhp) to 150 PS (110 kW; 148 bhp) and diesel engines from 105 PS (77 kW; 104 bhp) to 140 PS (103 kW; 138 bhp).

Updates include the arrival of a 170 PS (125 kW; 168 bhp) TDI engine in 2006, as well as a tiptronic gearbox in the 2.0 FSI model. A 1.8 L turbocharged version of this engine became available in mid 2007.

[edit] Engine choices

The internal combustion engines used are the same as for many other cars in the Volkswagen Group, and are all inline four cylinder engines.

* only for some export markets

[edit] Replacement for the Toledo

In many European markets, the third-generation Toledo has not been a strong seller, its chances of success hardly helped by its unusual styling. In 2009, SEAT released an Audi A4 (B7) -based large family car called the SEAT Exeo, with saloon and estate bodystyles. The Exeo will not be a replacement for the Toledo according to the company.^[2]

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: SEAT Toledo

• SEAT.com - official SEAT website