Category: Seat

Probably under pressure after an unofficial picture of the three-door Ibiza has emerged on the internet, Seat took the wraps off the Ibiza SportsCoupé.

With two fewer doors, the three-door variant is more appealing than the five-door version. At 4,034 mm long and 1,428 mm high, this new variant is 18mm shorter and 17 mm lower than the five-door sister. It also features a different C pillar. The three-door Ibiza is slightly closer to the Bocanegra concept car. However calling it a SportsCoupé is a bit presumptuous.

The three-door variant is the first model in its market segment to be equipped with a seven-speed DSG double clutch gearbox which will be associated with a 103bhp 1.6-litre petrol engine.

After the disappointing five-door Ibiza, one did wonder how the expected three-door variant would look like. Thanks to a Seat employee, we have our answer.

The three-door Ibiza seems to be sportier and less disappointing than the five-door version. After the Bocanegra concept car at Geneva, expectation was high for the new Ibiza. Unfortunately, the production version looked rather dull and didn’t meet our expectations. The three-door version appears to offer more character than the five-door hatchback thanks to large and sharp shoulders at the rear end.

This three-door version will be used for the forthcoming Cupra version which will take its styling cues from the Bocanegra after the concept car was highly praised by the press and the public.

Here is a video of the new Ibiza driven by Autopista testers. The video is in Spanish, but forget the speech whose information was previously reported on Petrol-Head. What’s interesting about this video is the possibility to see the new Ibiza in movement.

Initially unveiled as a preview of the new Ibiza, the Bocanegra was so praised by the press and the public that Seat will use it as a basis for the upcoming Cupra version.

If the Bocanegra was a striking concept, the new Ibiza features a disappointing despite Luc Donckerwolke promoting the “Arrow Design” concept. But when the same Donckerwolke reveals in an interview given to Auto Express that Spanish carmaker will build the Bocanegra, a large smile appears on our face. However, one will wait the launch of the Cupra next year to have a final opinion. The production version will likely feature the body kit and the panoramic glass sunroof.

The Cupra version will be powered by a turbocharged 1.4-litre petrol engine delivering a power output of 180bhp and hooked up to a seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox to keep up with the Peugeot 207 RC, the Vauxhall Corsa VXR and the Clio RS.

Seat has taken the wraps off the next-generation Ibiza by unveiling official pictures of the small car expected to be officially launched at the Madrid Motor Show in May.

The first variant to be unveiled is the five-door hatchback set to compete with the market segment’s best seller such as the Fiat Grande Punto or the Peugeot 207. As predicted the new Ibiza is very close to the Bocanegra concept-car seen at Geneva although the final design looks a bit different from the concept car. Penned by former Lamborghini stylist Luc Donckerwolke, the new Ibiza features a sporty line with a front fascia that takes its styling cues form the Tribu concept car seen in Frankfurt last year.

The new Ibiza shares its inner structure with the Skoda Fabia and Roomster models although it gets chassis tuning to spice up the handling. At 4050 mm long, the car is 80 mm longer than the current model, so the new Ibiza should be a little roomier. With 292 litres, the boot is also bigger than that of the current Ibiza.

Under the bonnet, the next-gen Ibiza will initailly offer three petrol engines: a 69bhp 1.2-litre unit, followed by a 84bhp 1.4-litre engine and topped by a 101bhp 1.6-litre unit. Those engines can either be hooked up to a five-speed manual transmission or VW’s seven-speed DSG gearbox.

For Seat, the new Ibiza marks the start of a major product offensive which will, over the coming months, also see the debut of further Ibiza variants, as well as the new saloon and estate contenders in the upper medium segment.

Seat has recorded a profit after tax of £135 million/€170 million which marks the achievement of the planned financial turnaround one year ahead of schedule.

In 2007 the Spanish carmaker increased its deliveries to customers by 0.4 percent to 431,000.  Best performing markets were the United Kingdom with +5.8% and France with +5.1% as well as the new markets of Central and Eastern Europe with a global +27.3%. Poland recorded an outstanding growth with a 70.6% increase. The most popular models were, of course, the Leon and the Ibiza.

The good news enables Seat to invest in the future. As Seat CEO, Erich Schmidt said, “Our strategy for the next ten years aims at selling more than 800,000 cars per year, gaining a return on investment of 15 percent, gaining leadership in design and quality in our model segments and becoming Spain’s most attractive employer.”

The company will unveil the next-generation Ibiza in May already seen as a concept car called Bocanegra in Geneva.

Seat executives have selected Mexico to build the Cordoba model intended to be sold in South America.

Along with the ambitious plan to launch forty new models by 2018 to increase its global sales, the Spanish carmaker plans to focus on the emerging markets base in South America. Starting almost from scratch, Venezuela, Argentina, Brazil, Ecuador and Colombia will become the company’s priority over the next years. Thanks to the combination of an expanding lineup and investments in South America, Seat plans to sell 800,000 vehicles by 2018 from 430,000 last year.

The Cordoba will be built at 40,000 units in 2009 and will be sold in Brazil, Argentina and Chile.

Seat is adding a new engine to the Leon lineup, a 1.4-litre TSI petrol unit that delivers 123bhp.

The current Leon’s lineup suffers from an engine gap as the entry-level engine is a 101bhp 1.6-litre unit that is followed by the 197bhp 2.0-litre. In other words, Seat needed to fill the gap. Despite featuring a smaller displacement than the 1.6-litre, the new TSI unit delivers more power, 101bhp at 5,600rpm and more torque, 148lb ft at 1,750rpm thanks to the turbocharger.

Compared to the 1.6-litre figures, 0-62mph drops from 11.7 seconds to 9.8 seconds and top speed jumps from 114mph to 122mph. The carmaker claims the new Leon 1.4-litre TSI achieves a combined cycle figure of 44.1 mpg compared to 37.2 mpg to the 1.6’s.

Starting at £13,755 for the Reference Sport trim, the new engine offer is £1125 more expensive than the equivalent 1.-6 litre. The new engine is also available with the Stylance trim for £14,750.

According to insiders, Seat will unveil a surprise at the Geneva Motor Show under the form of a concept car that previews the eagerly-awaited next-generation Ibiza model.

The concept car will be very close to the production version and will take its styling cues from the Tribu concept car seen last year. Seat wants to move from its current German design to a more ‘Mediterranean’ inspired styling to increase its sales in Europe. The concept is likely to be named either Blackmouth or Bocanegra, the latter being the favourite.

The future Ibiza is expected to be officially unveiled under its final shape at the Madrid International Motor Show in May of this year.

The Spanish carmaker has unveiled a body kit called K¹ to make the Cupra wilder than ever!

The Cupra is critical to the Leon’s success in the UK and get all the attention from SEAT with this body kit. Boasting a bespoke K¹ boot badge, the kit includes a revamped front and rear bumpers, new side skirts, a more pronounced spoiler and a unique oval exhaust. The car is available in four colours:  Inferi Black, Emocion Red, Luna Grey and Candy White. The kit costs £1,000 but for the new registration plate that starts on Saturday, Seat has decreased the Cupra’s price tag from £19,695 to £19,495. So, the aggressive body kit costs just £800.

In addition to the new price, there are two new options: 18” Orion alloy wheels in black or white for £205 and Bi-xenon headlights that follows the turn of the steering wheel for £870.