New SEAT Ibiza Cupra

Bigger - yes, bigger - 1.8-litre engine, 192hp, manual gearbox and adjustable dampers for heavily updated hot Ibiza

While the rest of the motoring world grapples with reduced cc, fewer cylinders and the inexorable rise of the automated gearbox, the hot hatches spun off the Polo GTI seem to be going the other way. Previously powered by the 180hp 1.4-litre 'twincharger' turbo/supercharged motor and only available with a seven-speed DSG, the Polo and its SEAT Ibiza Cupra and Skoda Fabia vRS relatives were all much of a muchness.

Another one for a packed segment!

Then the Polo came back from a mid-life facelift with a most off-trend addition of a bigger 192hp 1.8-litre turbo and option of a proper manual.

We rather liked it when we drove it and now its closely related SEAT brother is getting the same upgrade as part of a refresh debuting very shortly at Frankfurt. The additional power - and a hike in torque from 184lb ft to 236lb ft - contribute to improved performance with a top speed of 146mph and a 0-62 time of 6.7 seconds. Which, on paper, is fast enough to put it on equal terms with key rivals like the Clio Renaultsport 200, Peugeot 208 GTI and Fiesta ST.

In a demonstration of the march of trickle down tech from 'bigger' cars the new Ibiza Cupra also features two-mode dampers as part of driver configurable system branded Cupra Drive Profile. Familiar enough from its Leon big brother and others within the group, it also influences the steering weight, ESP and response from the limited-slip differential simulating XDS system. Familiar enough tech, it's purely brake based rather than mechanical or fully active like the Leon's but better than nothing. The 1.8 TSI engine is impressive in its features too, including combined direct and indirect fuel injection like many cars in the VW group, up to and including the Lamborghini Huracan and Audi R8.

No news on the Bocanegra's return...

There's more tech in the updated cabin as well, including Apple CarPlay and Android Auto to pair the car up with your smartphone while Mirror Link recreates your handset's interface on the car's touchscreen. There's also a new SEAT DriveApp to, god forbid, read out Facebook and Twitter posts from your friends as you drive. It also features a 'Challenger' function, which probably isn't as much fun as the promise to 'offer interesting challenges to optimise driving skills' sounds, given that it apparently encourages 'a more efficient driving style'.

Pricing in comparison to its VW sibling will be key; given SEATs are traditionally keen in this regard if you were thinking of a Polo GTI it might be worth holding on until we get confirmation of the new Ibiza Cupra's bottom line before committing. More when we have it.