Seat Ibiza (2008) unveiled

By Ben Pulman

First Official Pictures

02 April 2008 22:13

Seat's new Ibiza – unveiled today in Barcelona – offers sleek looks from an ex-Lamborghini stylist and gadgets never before seen in the supermini class. The Ibiza is also the start of a new model offensive that Seat president Erich Schmitt hopes will double sales to 800,000 by 2018.

Ex-Lamborghini designer Luc Donckerwolke penned the Ibiza’s striking shape. He explained to CAR that the focus of the Ibiza starts from the front, where the car’s ‘dynamic line’ runs out from the Seat badge. This means a bonnet that slightly overhangs the light clusters and gives the Ibiza strong ‘eyebrows’. They take a little getting used to in the metal, but make the nose more interesting.

The side profile is notable for the two sweeping lines that emerge from the front and rear light clusters. From the back the crease sweeps (beautifully) through the fuel filler cap and down into the door. The front crease follows the tone already set by today’s Seat range.

If only Ford hadn’t unveiled the new Fiesta we might be singing the Ibiza’s praises a bit more. It’s a smart car, but lacks the dynamic flair of Ford’s new baby.

Seat has worked hard to make the interior a nice place to be, and the main contacts points (the wheel and gearstick) deserve praise. The leather trim on the show cars felt a class above the Fiesta, and the perceived quality is also very good.

The cabin architecture is however a little dour when compared with the Blue Oval’s baby. The large sweep of plastic facing the front seat occupants is a soft-touch molding, though other trims parts are a little harder to the touch, but above class average.

Praise must go to Seat’s take on sat-nav. The company won’t offer a system on the new Ibiza but you can specify a tiny dock that sits atop the dash. It can mate with 92 percent of systems on the market, and charge them, so you can avoid a tangle of wires and suction cups.

A USB interface will also be available, along with active-cornering bi-xenons, hill-hold assist and seven-speed twin-clutch DSG gearboxes – a class first. Engines will be a 1.2 (68bhp), 1.4 (84bhp) and 1.6-litre (104bhp) petrols, along with a 104bhp 1.9-litre diesel. TSI performance engines will join the range at a later date.

Click 'Next' to read more about the Ibiza

By Ben Pulman