Monday 23rd April 2012

Beijing show: SEAT Ibiza Cupra concept

Well, we say concept... it's more of a 'refresh'...

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SEAT has unveiled what it, at least, is calling a 'concept' - the new Ibiza Cupra - at the Beijing motor show.

We use those inverted commas because, although officially a 'close-to-production' car, this is evidently a near as makes no difference the hot Cupra version of the revised Ibiza range - which went on sale in the UK a few days ago.

Even then it doesn't in all honesty seem massively revised, with the 1.4-litre still turbocharged and supercharged, still putting out 180hp, still via a seven-speed DSG transmission with the XDS electronic differential lock.

There are a few styling tweaks, mind, with LED DRLs at the front and new LED tail lamps. There's been some titivation going on inside, too, with a new sports steering wheel and an all-new entertainment system with a portable 5-inch screen that incorporates sat-nav, phone and a trip computer.

All of which is nice enough, but to call the 'new' Ibiza Cupra a concept does stick in the craw somewhat. It's a facelift guys, admit it...

[CedricN]

Damn my cupra will be old now

I see that they changed color on the temp screen and freshhend up the stereo (although looks a bit messy). The dials also seems redone.´I´m glad that they didnt change the engine, feels better for me I dont know about the front, I think the old one looks better, this one seems a bit audified

Great car though, really enjoy it as a daily commuter. Maybe not the raciest hatch but for everyday fun and practicality its awesome. And most important it looks special, evertime I leave the car and look back at itIi think, sweet lookin car. Thats one reason why i didnt chose the boxy fabia

[anonymous-user]

looks sharper now! defiantely one of the better looking hot hatches

[Tim16V]

Looks really good - hopefully they've spent some money upgrading the poor plastics on the dashboard to give a more complete package.

[macajc88]

Looks good and im a big fan of Audi-like LEDs. Im waiting to test drive the new Fiesta ST next year before deciding on which of these £18-£20k hatches to go for..

[daydotz]

does look ok but the engine is still a liability

Edited by daydotz on Monday 23 April 14:30

[PaperCut]

The Ibiza is the best looking small hatchback IMHO. Well, certainly out of the other cars it shares its platform with - A1, Polo, Fabia. Remember the original version was designed by ex-lambo stylist, so that perhaps is the reason!

[tomv1to]

I do like that lambo style exhaust.

[HorneyMX5]

daydotz said:

does look ok but the engine is still a liability

Edited by daydotz on Monday 23 April 14:30

Really? I know a chap with a modified Polo GTI with this engine and he's ahving no probs despite it being capable of 0-60 in 4.9 & 0-100 in 12.3. No tbad for a wheezy little 1.4

Nick

[splitpin]

At 9.10am Monday morning, Head of Design @ Seat Design Studio puts down the phone and announces "It's a new record, those buggers @ the 911 Design Studio have already packed-up and gone down the pub for the rest of the week!"

"OK, let's go join them - here's the story - why are we late? - well, unlike you blokes we've done a Concept, not just another Facelift! If they ask to see pics, say sorry, can't let you ........ it's really radical, absolutely unlike any other Seat the World has ever seen before. Above all, remember to keep a straight face"

[daydotz]

HorneyMX5 said:

Really? I know a chap with a modified Polo GTI with this engine and he's ahving no probs despite it being capable of 0-60 in 4.9 & 0-100 in 12.3. No tbad for a wheezy little 1.4

Nick

guess hes been lucky ive got a standard one and ive had trouble with it theirs plenty of problems with this engine in vws audis skodas & seats cracking as is

[VeeDub Geezer]

That looks pretty good. I'd buy one

[John Galt]

Designed with the flair and imagination of a lobotomy victim. It's basically a bad amalgamation of a Focus and an Audi, especially at the front.

Oh dear.

[va1o]

Looks good, nice improvement on before. Was expecting they might have improved the engine a little bit though.

[gmh23]

va1o said:

Looks good, nice improvement on before. Was expecting they might have improved the engine a little bit though.

Totally disagree, think they've made it look worse

[lewisf182]

IMHO the cupra looks far, far too bland. What really differentiates it from an FR? I think its the wheels that let it down the most, the alloys from the previous Cupra (and leon cupra) looked far more menacing and hot hatch-ish. These just look so boring and could be from anywhere in the range!

[bobberz]

Seeing that makes me wish we got Seat over here. Much more interesting than a Golf, IMO. Wish we got that little twin-charged engine, too. 180BHP out of 1.4L! That's the kind of figure that used to only be found in sport-bikes like the Hayabusa.

[George H]

A big improvement imo, if it wasn't for the interior I'd now have one of these over my Polo.

[hardcorehobbit]

What's the current fascination with manufacturers sticking sat navs to the top of the dashboard?

Is it so they can charge more but only design one dashboard?

[va1o]

gmh23 said:

Totally disagree, think they've made it look worse

Well having owned the current one, I prefer this, but each to there own. I won't be upgrading anyway the biggest problem with the car is the shoddy build quality and cost cutting - they've done nothing to address either by the looks of things.

hardcorehobbit said:

What's the current fascination with manufacturers sticking sat navs to the top of the dashboard?

Is it so they can charge more but only design one dashboard?

In this case its because the radio slot was badly designed originally, so it doesn't accommodate any of the in-dash VAG sat navs. Previously you could get a TomTom mount but it looks like they are changing over to using the portable Media System from the Up, Mii and Citigo.

[diddly69]

What is wrong with a manual gear box? Unless it had to be 'DSG' to help with achieving a reasonable MPG figure?