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From YourSITE.com Events Coverage Walk past the stand of Audi’s Spanish sister brand at the Frankfurt Auto Show and it’s hard not to notice the familiar form of the B7 Audi A4. As it is prone to do, the Volkswagen Group has recycled a still competitive platform and re-launched it with some mild changes, this time as the B7-based SEAT Exeo sedan and variant. In Frankfurt, SEAT announced a slight expansion of the Exeo range with new ST and CR equipment packages.
Particularly familiar to Audi owners may be the ST. Shown in variant (a.k.a. Avant) form and painted in a very familiar shade of blue, this is the most aggressive Exeo to be seen so far. The car gets a version of the Volkswagen Group’s 2.0T FSI engine, though what really got our attention were the trim details as we’re fairly certain owners of B6 and B7 generation A4s will be raiding the SEAT artsbin for some of these new OE quality pieces. In as much, Fourtitude has created a list of interesting parts identified during a quick examination of the cars on the SEAT stand.
Piano Black Segmented Steering Wheel & Emergency Brake Lever with Silver Stitching Being of higher spec within the Exeo range, the ST model features polished black plastic cabin beltline trim that appears nearly identical to the trim fitted to Titanium Package A4s sold in the United States. The ST also features a steering wheel and emergency brake handle with segments of the same Piano Black material and accented by silver stitching on the charcoal leather portions. Providing the leather matches the interiors of the A4, and we suspect they do, this means that the ST’s pieces would be a unique upgrade especially for Titanium Package A4s. Fit a matching silver-stitched shift boot to complete the look though the Piano Black shift knob of the ST unfortunately is branded with a SEAT logo. Worth noting, the SEAT logo airbag on the steering wheel appears to be the same shape as the Audi airbag used in B7 models.
Shift Knob with Aluminum Accenting While the higher spec Exeo ST’s shift knob may feature a SEAT logo, this handsome shifter from the standard Exeo sports no such mark. Combine that with what looks like a shared shift map from an earlier Audi knob design and the overall appearance is one that would look at home in an Audi A4 and offer something a little different from everyone else in the B6 or B7 forums.
Sport Pedals & Dead Pedal Befitting its more sporting placement within the Exeo line, the ST also features a new alloy pedal and dead pedal design. With horizontal rubber elements, these pieces are in keeping with pedals seen in other Audis such as the first-generation the TT, however the SEAT pedals also show exposed fasteners for a more raw look.
Avant Luggage Compartment Liner The Exeo ST Variant on display featured a light foam plastic liner for the floor of the luggage compartment. Audi already offers heavier rubber-like offerings, but this seemed like a moderately durable piece that likely costs less and with a new design.
Auxiliary Input Jack for Center Console Every Exeo also includes this change on the center console, with a SET button for the tire pressure monitoring system (TPMS) and an Auxiliary input jack for the audio system. The Aux input is the most interesting development here as it offers an OE quality input point for those wiring such functionality into their car. As for the TPMS, there is no doubt that those with a penchant for wiring and no TPMS to worry about will find a use such as a hidden radar detector activation button or the like. Summary Given the SEAT brand is positioned below Audi, there’s probably little to no interest for things like Exeo body parts or even the Exeo ST’s more sporting body kit. We can’t foresee a rabid owner converting their car to a SEAT. That said, the above mentioned pieces could easily and invisibly retrofit into virtually any B6 or B7 A4 or S4 model and offer a few more ways to tailor your Audi to your own tastes. Check out even more photos of the SEAT Exeo range as displayed on the floor of the Frankfurt IAA in the photo gallery linked below.
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