This is our first glimpse of the third member of the Seat Ibiza family – the Ibz concept car. Although compact estate cars are small fry in the UK, they’re quite big sellers in parts of continental Europe and Seat is keen to exploit that.
The Ibz will spawn a production Ibiza estate in summer 2010, likely to trade closely off the edgy style of this concept.
What exactly should we pay attention to on the Ibz?
Stylistically, the Ibz ushers in a few new design details for VW’s Spanish outpost. There’s a ‘running edge’ crease running the length of the car along the bonnet, while new eyebrows adorn the headlamps, themselves updated from current Seats’.
We somehow suspect that the 19in wheels won’t be standard on the production Ibiza wagons. Note, however, the hidden rear door handles apeing the items on the back of a Leon.
Is the Ibz a decent estate?
The concept’s tailgate opens down low, allowing owners to load up easily. And the boot gobbles up 410 litres of clobber – not bad for a supermini estate. Flop those rear pews down and you’re left with an entirely flat loadbay stretching all the way to the front seat backs, says Seat.
Subtract the usual concept car frippery and you’re left with something remarkably close to the real Ibiza wagon. Another niche offering from Seat to help expand sales