Seat has spiced up the Ibiza with the addition of a new three-door model. Dubbed SportCoupe, the new car offers a unique silhouette and the first seven-speed dual-clutch gearbox in the supermini class.
The SportCoupe takes inspiration from the Bocanegra concept, unveiled earlier in 2008 at the Geneva motor show, although it somehow seems to have lost the wow factor of that slinky show special.
Still, bar smaller wheels and a production-spec front bumper, the Bocanegra and SportCoupe look surprisingly alike. The twin side creases remain, as do the flared wheelarches, while the glasshouse appears indistinguishable. To differentiate the SportCoupe from the five-door model Seat says the car has lower headlights and a repositioned front grille.
Fine, but it is called SportCoupe. How is this Ibiza sporty?
To live up to its name, the SportCoupe has two fewer doors, a 17mm lower roofline and the biggest petrol engine yet available in the new Ibiza. This 1.6-litre offers 104bhp and is the only engine available if you want that fancy twin-clutch ‘box.
Expect the 1.2 and 1.4-litre petrol engines to also be available, while the diesel line-up will be taken care of by a 1.4-litre in different states of tune.
And what if I want something really sporting?
Seat has confirmed that FR and Cupra models will ‘make their debuts over the coming months.’ Expect these models to receive something akin to the darkened grille treatment of the Bocanegra concept.
The SportCoupe will make its debut at the London motor show in July 2008, where full prices will be announced.