The first product from the Volkswagen-owned Spanish brand to be imported to the mainland market, the small and sporty Leon went on sale in China on March 31 priced from 243,900 to 294,600 yuan.

Two engine options are available - a 2.0 TSI turbo engine that produces maximum power of 211 hp/155 kW and a 1.8 TSI engine with maximum output of 160 hp/118 kW.

The Leon equipped with a 2.0 TSI engine has top speed of 233 km/h and accelerates from zero to 100 km/h in 7.1 seconds. Average fuel consumption is 7.7 liters per 100 km.

Volkswagen Group China said that the model's target market is mainly the young urban elite. The company quoted JD Power statistics saying that people born in the 1980s now account for more than 40 percent of all car buyers in China.

The first group of SEAT dealerships opened in Shenzhen, Chongqing, Chengdu, Wuhan, Changsha, Zhengzhou, Suzhou and Nanjing to test demand.