The world is more digitalised than ever as we plug into the connected world. The need to take this digital world with us into the vehicle is growing, which is why the SEAT Leon is the brand’s first fully connected car. The connected, controllable attributes of the vehicle are further enhanced by the incorporation of specific on-line functionalities for the e-HYBRID, giving a greater breadth of functionality increasing the relationship between vehicle and user.

A new world is being opened thanks to the SEAT Connect app which can be downloaded to your smart device, giving remote control over a plethora of functions that will help maximise the driver enjoyment and improve safety too.

Outside the vehicle, the SEAT Connect app allows users to remotely access their vehicle’s data: driving data, parking position, vehicle’s status, including doors and lights, set up speed alerts to be warned if someone using the vehicle is driving too quickly, area and anti-theft alerts, open and close the doors with the remote lock and unlock service, or remotely activate the horn and turn signals to find the car more easily. But it doesn’t end there.

With the introduction of the e-HYBRID variant, additional features to help users have been included. Plug-in hybrid vehicle drivers can manage the charging process remotely via the e-Manager, control the air conditioning – the vehicle can be pre-heated for up to 30 minutes and the system works from: 15°C to 22°C, and manage departure times all from the smartphone app.

Inside the cabin, the heart of the system is the SEAT Digital Cockpit, which comes as standard with the plug-in hybrid version of the SEAT Leon and brings together a high-resolution 10.25” user definable instrument cluster and infotainment system. The standard Media system boasts a larger 10” screen Navi system offers 3D navigation, capacitive display capability and natural voice control (via the command “Hola Hola”) as well as gesture recognition to simplify user interaction.

The SEAT Digital Cockpit provides a window into the SEAT Leon e-HYBRID’s controls, setup and status providing information on what mode the vehicle is running, battery state of charge and other important areas.

Voice recognition is perhaps one of the easiest and most natural ways to interact with devices, especially as we have become increasingly used to home assistants from the consumer electronics world.

In the all-new SEAT e-HYBRID voice recognition enables a natural understanding of language in order to allow the user to interact with the infotainment system using natural commands, making corrections and referencing previous commands. So, whether you need to find navigation information or search for music, it is quicker and easier.

And with the Full Link system, customers will also be able to access their digital lives no matter what device they use; Apple CarPlay or Android Auto, using a wireless connection based on Bluetooth or WLAN, and bring their digital eco-system into the vehicle. So, whether you want to bring your contact list into the vehicle, the music that’s part of your journey or mapping systems, they are all available, accessed in a controlled, intuitive, safe manner that won’t distract drivers from the road, using either the infotainment system or the integrated steering wheel controls.

And with the optional Connectivity Box with inductive charging that meets Qi standard protocols, users needn’t worry about losing power at crucial moments.

The Online Connectivity Unit with an embedded SIM means that the SEAT Leon e-HYBRID will never lose its connection to the digital world, and, in future developments, the system will allow users to access the latest infotainment apps which can be updated at any time. Therefore, the SEAT Leon e-HYBRID will be able to offer new digital products and services throughout its lifetime. The built-in eSIM also means that the SEAT Leon e-HYBRID benefits from the eCall service, which directly contacts emergency services should an incident occur, adding yet another level of safety to the vehicle. It’s not only the possibility to make an emergency call (manual or automatic) but also that important data from car will be sent to the emergency services such as car position, engine type, colour or number of passengers, making it easier for them to assist.

In addition, the online connectivity via the embedded eSIM allows some infotainment functions to use real time information from the cloud, adding an additional dimension to the traditional navigation system. For example, online traffic information, parking and petrol station position and the opening times and current prices. And, for those who don’t want to be limited to the radio they listen to, the SEAT Leon e-HYBRID brings online radio into the cabin, allowing the customer to listen to any online radio station they like, even if it’s from a different country.

The number of in-car and online services will grow through the life of the vehicle as the digital eco-system expands, enhancing the user experience.