Autoblog

Seat bringing boatload of hot hatches to Lake Worthersee

Noah Joseph — Thu, 17 May 2012 16:32:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Performance, Europe, Hatchback, Misc. Auto Shows, SEAT, Racing

GTI Treffen may have started out as a gathering for owners of Volkswagen pocket rockets, but by now it's blown into a full-on celebration of everything related to hot hatches and more. And though it remains a grassroots event by enthusiasts for enthusiasts, Volkswagen is wise not to ignore it. These days, it comes to the annual lakeside gathering in Austria with a handful of show cars in tow, and brings its sister-brands along for the ride, too.

Audi has already announced the Q3 Red Track concept destined for Wörthersee, and Skoda is coming with a pair of Citigo concepts - one made up as a DJ booth and the other as a rally car. Now their Spanish cousins at Seat have revealed the veritable motorcade of show cars it's bringing to the meet-up.

Seat will be showcasing the Ibiza Cupra Concept it unveiled in Beijing, but that's not all. It'll also display a customized Ibiza FR and Leon Cupra R, a Mii city car (that's the Spanish version of the Volkswagen Up!) imagined in sporty FR trim and, most enticing of all, a pair of racing models that are ready to hit the track.

The Ibiza SC Trophy packs a 180-horsepower turbo four with DSG, locking differential, upgraded brakes, modified oil sump and competition-spec suspension, available to aspiring racers for 31,500 euros (before taxes, or about $40K). The Leon Super Copa, meanwhile, is closely mirrored on the car that Seat ran in the World Touring Car Championship and packs a 300-horse 2.0-liter turbo four with all the trimmings, available for 63,000 euros (about $80K). Both can be fielded in spec-racing series across Europe and arrive at Wörthersee in grey with fluorescent orange accents.

Check out the full spread in the high-res image gallery above and the press release below.

Continue reading Seat bringing boatload of hot hatches to Lake Worthersee

Seat bringing boatload of hot hatches to Lake Worthersee originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 17 May 2012 16:32:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Report: VW CEO says Seat getting its last chance

Zach Bowman — Tue, 18 May 2010 10:01:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Earnings/Financials, SEAT

Seat Ibiza Sport Tourer - Click above for high-res image gallery

It's no secret that Seat is the dimmest bulb in the Volkswagen classroom. The beleaguered Spanish manufacturer squandered a total of $138 million in the first quarter of this year alone - more than double what the next two least profitable brands in the German manufacturer's lineup lost. In a last-ditch effort to get Seat back on its feet, VW has announced that it will both expand the company's offerings and spread the brand outside of Spain. The plan is the brainchild of James Muir, the company's new CEO as of September of last year.

Many of the problems currently afflicting Seat are due to the fact that Spain's economy has taken a beating during the global recession. Likewise, most of the company's sales come from Southern Europe - an area that hasn't fared well amid the financial crisis. VW hasn't said exactly where the Seat name will be showing up in the near future, but you can bet your lucky underpants it will be somewhere with a little extra money in its pocket.

Likewise, the company didn't say much about what we can expect in terms of new models. According to Bloomberg Businessweek, a total of 56 percent of Seat sales come from the Ibiza compact, and Muir says that if the automaker's outlook is to improve, that needs to change.

Gallery: SEAT Ibiza Sport Tourer

[Source: Bloomberg Businessweek]

Report: VW CEO says Seat getting its last chance originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 18 May 2010 10:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Geneva Preview: SEAT shows off Ibiza Sport Tourer

Noah Joseph — Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:29:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Wagon, Geneva Motor Show, Europe, SEAT

SEAT Ibiza ST - Click above for high-res image gallery

With the annual Geneva Motor Show fast approaching - a little over a month away now - lots of glamorous new vehicles are making their way into the public eye. This, however, probably isn't one of them. What we have here is a tidy little station wagon made by Volkswagen's flamboyant Spanish cousin.

Following the three- and five-door hatchback models of the new SEAT Ibiza, the ST joins the family as the the third body style. It's about seven inches longer than the hatchback, the bulk of the stretch hanging over the rear to provide a touch more versatility.

Otherwise, from the C-pillar forward (and ignoring some of the lowest-profile roof rails we've seen yet) it's pretty much the same as the Ibiza we already know, with power coming from a range of engines (three gasoline and three common-rail diesels) with the growing implementation of direct injection and turbocharging for increased response and economy. Details in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: SEAT Ibiza Sport Tourer

[Source: SEAT]

Continue reading Geneva Preview: SEAT shows off Ibiza Sport Tourer

Geneva Preview: SEAT shows off Ibiza Sport Tourer originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 04 Feb 2010 11:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Burning the Midnight Oil: SEAT releases Ibiza FR TDI diesel hot hatch

Noah Joseph — Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST

Filed under: Performance, Europe, Hatchback, SEAT, UK, Diesel

SEAT Ibiza FR TDI - Click above for high-res image gallery

Once upon a time, "diesel" was a codeword for slow. And slow as they were, there was no way of getting around that. But things are different today, thanks in no small part to the diesel gurus in the Volkswagen group, arguably chief among them SEAT.

The Spanish automaker recently bowed out of the World Touring Car Championship after winning two seasons in a row with its Leon TDI. But that doesn't mean SEAT's giving up on the idea of the fast diesel, and to that end has just announced its latest oil-burning hot hatch.

The Ibiza FR TDI mirrors its gasoline counterpart, but packs a turbodiesel punch. With its 141-horsepower force-fed four, the Ibiza FR TDI hits 60 in 8.2 seconds and tops out at 130 miles per hour, all the while returning 62.7 mpg on the European combined cycle and emitting just 119 g/km of CO2. The power's kept in check with SEAT's trick XDS electronic differential and electronic stability control, available with three doors or five. Details in the press release after the jump, photos in the gallery below.

Gallery: 2010 SEAT Ibiza FR TDI

[Source: SEAT]

Continue reading Burning the Midnight Oil: SEAT releases Ibiza FR TDI diesel hot hatch

Burning the Midnight Oil: SEAT releases Ibiza FR TDI diesel hot hatch originally appeared on Autoblog on Mon, 25 Jan 2010 13:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Frankfurt 2009: Seat IBZ concept makes us say "Hazlo, por favor!"

Jonathon Ramsey — Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:01:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Frankfurt Motor Show, Wagon, SEAT

Seat IBZ concept - Click above for high-res image gallery

Seat loves to present its concepts in a lapis-like blue with deep cream interior coloring. It's usually a very good start, and the IBZ concept adds an Alfa-worthy beauty to what might otherwise be an ordinary wagon. Number three in the Ibiza lineup, the concept takes the Ibiza hatch platform and adds more interior room while keeping the virtually the same exterior dimensions.

The IBZ will be put into production as soon as January of next year. Of course the more wily elements, like the headlights, will go the way of the moa. Yet based on the preview and Seat's impressive record of translating concepts to reality, we say it's too bad we won't see it...

Gallery: Frankfurt 2009: Seat IBZ concept

Continue reading Frankfurt 2009: Seat IBZ concept makes us say "Hazlo, por favor!"

Frankfurt 2009: Seat IBZ concept makes us say "Hazlo, por favor!" originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 16 Sep 2009 08:01:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Barcelona Preview: Seat reveals new Leon Cupra and Ibiza FR

Noah Joseph — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:58:00 EST

Filed under: Hatchback, Misc. Auto Shows, SEAT

2009 Seat Ibiza FR and Cupra Leon - Click either image above for a hi-res gallery

Variety, so they say, is the spice of life. So while American fans of Volkswagen's hot hatches have nothing to complain about, none could be blamed for pining for the alternative options that the German auto group offers overseas. The company's Spanish subsidiary Seat doesn't sell stateside altogether, which is a bit of a shame, because Seats offer compelling packages with a bit more flavor than their VW counterparts, often with more power and at a lower cost, too. (Think Pontiac vs. Chevrolet with a bit more Mediterranean flavor and you're halfway there.) Case in point the revised Leon Cupra and new Ibiza FR which the company will be unveiling next month at its home-market Barcelona Motor Show (which, incidentally, was evidently not canceled).

Although the Leon Cupra is ostensibly the same model as the one it replaces, Seat has added a few extra touches. Fortunately, the engines - 2.0-liter turbo fours in either 208 horsepower TSI trim (VeeDub-speak for gasoline turbo) or 168 hp TDI (turbo diesel) guise - carry over, but both are now mated to Seat's new XDS electronic differential, and complimented by a series of adjustments to the exterior and interior styling. Outside, the front fascia is more aggressive, the rear bumper gets a faux-diffuser black insert, the side mirror housings are blacked out and the ride height has been dropped slightly. Inside everything's all black and brushed aluminum. We had a chance to drive the Leon Cupra last year and found it to be a slick ride, if suffering slightly from torque steer that the e-diff should help clear up.

Joining the revised Leon Cupra is the FR version of its little brother, the Ibiza. Slotting in below the new top-of-the-line Ibiza Cupra, the FR offers a compelling package with the VW Group's new 1.4-liter twincharger, packing both supercharger and turbocharger to deliver 148 hp, mated to a standard-equipment seven-speed DSG with paddle shifters. A host of electronic aids keeps everything in check, while the FR (Seat's second-tier sport trim) benefits from a variety of sporty touches which you can read about more in the press release after the jump.

Gallery: 2009 Seat Leon Cupra

Gallery: 2009 Seat Ibiza FR

[Source: Seat]

Continue reading Barcelona Preview: Seat reveals new Leon Cupra and Ibiza FR

Barcelona Preview: Seat reveals new Leon Cupra and Ibiza FR originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 21 Apr 2009 08:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heavy Breathing: SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra reportedly gets the go-ahead

Jonathon Ramsey — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:59:00 EST

Filed under: Concept Cars, Coupe, Hatchback, SEAT

Seat Bocanegra Concept - Click above for a high-res gallery

A production version of the Seat Bocanegra has reportedly been cleared for landing. The black-mouthed concept was an Ibiza Cupra with futuristic lights, a super-black grille treatment front and rear, and a concept car interior, so you can probably expect the production version to keep the special front end and perhaps an interior touch like diamond stitching. Potentially sold as a style pack to go on the Ibiza Cupra options list, Autocar is reporting that Bocanegra will get the same 178 horsepower 1.4-liter engine and appear some time after July of this year.

Gallery: SEAT SportCoupÃ© Bocanegra

[Source: Autocar]

Heavy Breathing: SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra reportedly gets the go-ahead originally appeared on Autoblog on Thu, 02 Apr 2009 16:59:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Pics Aplenty +VIDEO: 2008 SEAT Ibiza unveiling

Noah Joseph — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:29:00 EST

Filed under: Europe, Videos, Hatchback, SEAT

Click above to view more of the SEAT Ibiza unveiling in hi-res

Just yesterday we brought you news of the new SEAT Ibiza. Previewed by the black-mouthed Bocanegtra concept unveiled in Geneva, the new Ibiza itself previews the subtle change in direction to SEAT's design language, incorporating sharp intersecting lines with a more crowd-pleasing grille. European customers, however, will have to wait a little longer to see the 3-door versions, as well as for the high-performance Cupra model.

In the meantime, the Spanish Volkswagen subsidiary has now unleashed a whole corral of images of the new five-door hatch, plus a video of the car from every angle. Unveiling at the SEAT facility on the outskirts of Barcelona, the new Ibiza will have its motor show debut in Madrid late next month and will hit European markets shortly thereafter. Click on the thumbnails below to see all the images in alta resolución and follow the jump for el vídeo.

Gallery: 2008 SEAT Ibiza

[Source: SEAT]

Continue reading Pics Aplenty +VIDEO: 2008 SEAT Ibiza unveiling

Pics Aplenty +VIDEO: 2008 SEAT Ibiza unveiling originally appeared on Autoblog on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 07:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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SEAT unveils fully-restyled Ibiza hatch

Alex Nunez — Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:39:00 EST

Filed under: Budget, Europe, Hatchback, SEAT

Click image for a high-res gallery of the new SEAT Ibiza

SEAT, the Spanish manufacturer owned by Volkswagen, teased Geneva Motor Show visitors this year with the 3-door Bocanegra concept car. Today it unveiled the production version, which, as expected, takes on the Ibiza nameplate. The attractive 5-door had a lot of work done at the plastic surgeon's office, as the old car's bland lines have been transformed completely. Flat is definitely out, and the pair of diagonal character lines first shown on Bocanegra now adorn the new compact. In front, the Ibiza wears a new face -- one that European shoppers should get used to, as it's likely to trickle through to other SEATs over time. The most obvious change is the wider, more traditional-looking grille, which helps to mainstream the SEAT's appearance compared to the quirky faces you'll find on some of its stablemates.

UPDATE: New high-res images added to gallery

Gallery: 2008 SEAT Ibiza

[Source: SEAT]

Continue reading SEAT unveils fully-restyled Ibiza hatch

SEAT unveils fully-restyled Ibiza hatch originally appeared on Autoblog on Wed, 02 Apr 2008 11:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New SEAT Leon Cupra headed to British Motor Show

Alex Nunez — Tue, 27 Jun 2006 12:24:00 EST

Filed under: Etc., Europe, Hatchback, Misc. Auto Shows

On July 18 at the British International Motor Show, VW-owned Spanish automaker SEAT will unveil the new Leon Cupra for the very first time. The company's smartly-styled hatchbacks are always a visual treat, and this one should be no exception.

For now, we have to settle for a teaser photo that gives us a small peek at the car. While we have a couple of weeks to go before we get an official look, spy photos of an undisguised Cupra during cold-weather testing show that it's quite a head-turner. We look forward to the unveiling with great interest.

Similarly, the company is being secretive (for now) about the car's specs, but did offer up one nugget: Cupra will be powered by the VW Group's 2.0T FSI four-cylinder, which will produce over 225 horsepower. Hot hatch, indeed!

Joining the Cupra at the SEAT display will be the Leon FR, Altea FR, Ibiza, Toledo and the Alhambra minivan, as well as two of its race cars.

(Press release and photos of the other Seats mentioned after the jump.)

[Source: SEAT]

Continue reading New SEAT Leon Cupra headed to British Motor Show

New SEAT Leon Cupra headed to British Motor Show originally appeared on Autoblog on Tue, 27 Jun 2006 12:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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