The SEAT 131, SEAT's mid-high-end saloon, received a restyling in late 1978, characterised by new oversized rectangular headlights. The better equipped versions were called "Supermirafiori", and the top of the range was the limited series CLX 2000, powered by the 124 FL 90’s twin-cam engine… (read more)
Launch: April 1975 (131 CLX 2000: January 1980)
End of production: 1984 (131 CLX 2000: 1981)
Price: 835.000 Pts. (131 CLX 2000)
Number built: 412,948 (total 131; 131 CLX 2000: 1,800)
Petrol, 4 cylinders in-line
Position: At front, longitudinal
Bore x stroke: 84 mm x 86,6 mm
Capacity: 1919 cc
Valve train: Double overhead camshaft
Carburettor: 1 double-choke Weber-Bressel 34
Max. power: 114 HP at 5800 rpm
Max. torque: 157 Nm at 3500 rpm
Top speed: 175 km/h
Drive: Rear-wheel drive
Gearbox: 5-speed manual, plus reverse
Clutch: Dry single-plate
Front suspension:
McPherson-type with coil springs, hydraulic dampers and anti-roll bar
Rear suspension:
Live axle, coil springs and hydraulic dampers
Steering: Rack and pinion
Front/rear: Discs/drums
175/70 HR13
Body: 4 doors, 5 seats saloon
Length/width/height: 4231/1651/1381 mm
Wheelbase: 2490 mm
Weight: 1070 kg
The SEAT 131, SEAT's mid-high-end saloon, received a restyling in late 1978, characterised by new oversized rectangular headlights. The better equipped versions were called "Supermirafiori", and the top of the range was the limited series CLX 2000, powered by the 124 FL 90’s twin-cam engine.
So, in the 131 line-up the Supermirafiori CLX 2000 was the successor to the CLX 1800 and also the FL 90 as a high-performance model. It was launched in January 1980 and very few units were built, just 1,800, even fewer than the CLX 1800 (2,200 units in 1978).
Although it was called CLX 2000, actually the engine had a 1,919 cc capacity, chosen for tax reasons. It delivered more power (114 HP) at a lower engine speed than the 1800 and, above all, more torque. This 1,919 cc engine was specially developed by SEAT at the Martorell Technical Center, which had opened in 1975. It was premiered in late 1978 by the SEAT 132-2000, and in addition to the FL 90 and CLX 2000 it also powered the Lancia Coupé, which at that time was also built by SEAT at the same Landaben plant where the 124s FL-type were produced.
Like the CLX 1800, the Supermirafiori CLX 2000 was available only in two colours, in this case, silver grey and metallic copper, which gave it a great aesthetic distinction from the other models in the Supermirafiori line-up. With metallic paint, the chrome feature lines of the other 131s were removed, replaced by matte black trims, and the rubber side mouldings of the CLX 1800 were kept.
Other specific features were the Cromodora alloy wheels, very sporty, and the black polyurethane bumpers, more voluminous and common to the rest of the Supermirafiori line-up. The Supermirafiori was beautifully trimmed, with velvet anatomical seats with headrests (both front and rear) and electrically adjustable outer mirrors. It was also fitted with a characteristic single-arm steering wheel, although in the CLX 2000 it had a sportier, two-arms unit.
With somewhat lower and harder rear coil springs, which gave it better road-holding, the Supermirafiori CLX 2000 offered brilliant performance and was considered the domestic sports saloon par excellence at the time.
At the end of 1981 the third and last series of 131 was launched as model year 1982, whose version 2000 would have a 1.995 cc capacity when the taxation according to engine capacity was modified – the car was then called 2000 TC. The swan song of the 131 would be the 131 Diplomatic, an exclusive version developed by SEAT in 1982, powered by this engine and very luxurious and elegant. It was the last big front-engined, rear-wheel drive SEAT.
SEAT HISTÓRICOS keeps in the Collection an immaculate unit of the 131 Supermirafiori CLX 2000, as well as a CLX 1800 and a Diplomatic among the high-end versions of the 131. This CLX 2000 was registered in Barcelona in mid-1981 and is metallic copper (sportier than the other available colour, silver grey). Today it continues to prove its exceptional qualities on the road in promotional events of all kinds.