Seat IBE Concept, 2010

Seat IBE Concept, 2010

 

 

SEAT is delivering a powerful statement with the SEAT IBE Concept compact sports coupé that carries stunning design and great driving fun into the age of electric mobility. The SEAT IBE concept car uses the zero-emissions drive of the future in a sporty and dynamic concept for urban mobility, while the clean, athletic styling of the SEAT IBE concept offers an exciting perspective on the ongoing development of the next generation of SEAT design. Powerful proportions and a precise, clear design language define the continued evolution of the Spanish brand's design DNA.

Short, low and wide, an extremely low front end and broad shoulders - at first glance, the SEAT IBE displays the proportions of a classic sports car. Yet, it interprets this style genre in an innovative and unique manner - in a compact vehicle optimised for youthful living in urban areas.

The design
The SEAT IBE Concept delivers an enticing perspective on the ongoing development of SEAT design. The pure forms, the precise lines and the exact surfaces depict a consistent and unique design language that clearly sustains the SEAT identity in all its modernity. "The SEAT IBE Concept is like a concentrated gene pool for our next generation of vehicles. It will have a clear impact on all our models." says SEAT Chief Designer Luc Donckerwolke. "And it also represents a promise for the future of the automobile - even with electric drive, design will still be exciting and driving will still be fun; at least, in a SEAT."

The SEAT IBE Concept is 3.78 metres long - making it more than 25 centimetres shorter than an Ibiza - but its unusual breadth of 1.80 metres and overall height of only 122 centimetres lend it classic sports car proportions. Another classically sporty feature of the two-door layout is its extremely low bonnet and its long roof line. The short front overhang and muscular rear end with almost no overhang work together with the 19-inch wheels to underscore the car's powerful and compact look.

The front end is characterised by full-LED headlamps that are as sophisticated in their design as they are distinctive. They bear the characteristic V typical of SEAT's so-called "arrow design". The entire front end takes a powerful V form that then carries on through the bonnet. The two air intakes in the lower bumper section are ample for the relatively low cooling requirements of the electric drive. The SEAT logo is located on a trapezoidal functional surface. The alternative drive enables an extremely high degree of consistency in the design - because the compact electric motor and its power electronics require less packaging space, it was possible to stretch the V-shaped bonnet a lot flatter across the front end than would have been possible with an internal combustion engine.

The side profile of the SEAT IBE Concept emphasises its powerful stature - its broad shoulders, its sculpted flanks with a distinctive cut-in behind the front wheel, and the large wheels featuring an aerodynamically optimised five-spoke design all serve to underscore the dynamic look. The tires, on the other hand, with their 175 format, are far from extreme - with their low rolling resistance, they contribute to the high efficiency of the electric concept car. The roofline stretches rearwards, with the side glass surfaces kept low.

The rear end picks up the characteristic form of the front and reinterprets it. The rear light clusters featuring LED light guide technology once again display the "arrow" thematic with a hint of a diffuser beneath the rear bumper area reflecting the visual of the front air intakes. The entire vehicle is completely free from ornamentation - good design needs no decor. Every single line has its function in structuring the volumes and surfaces of the car; every muscle emerging from the form emphasises the sporty design. The reduction of forms, their consistent application and the precision in every detail are fixed elements of the SEAT design philosophy - and will be even more evident in future.

The concept
With its manageable dimensions, its agility and dynamics, the SEAT IBE Concept is the perfect fit for city streets. Tightly cut as a 2+2-seater, it is conceived for youthful lifestyles. It has plenty of space for a couple, while also offering capacity for four. The long roofline ensures good interior headroom, while still retaining space for luggage or leisure equipment.

Seat Leon Cupra R, 2010

Seat Leon Cupra R, 2010

 

 

 Following a very successful debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Seat León Cupra R is about to go on sale. Equipped with a new 265 hp engine, it instantly becomes the brand's most powerful production car to date, earning a special chapter in Seat's history in the process.

Boasting a thoroughbred sporty engine, the new Seat León Cupra R features exclusive interior and exterior styling touches which reflect its unique character. The Seat León Cupra R is, simply, an attention-grabber. Its feisty exterior design is mirrored on the inside, too, with a motorsport-inspired look and feel that lets you know this is not just another car.
The extensive, generous equipment list features Seat's impressive new electronic self-blocking XDS system for excellent handling, as well as a broad array of standard features that provide both top notch safety and exceptional on-board comfort.

Seat's most powerful car
Undeniably, the focal point of the new Seat León Cupra R is its 265 hp direct injection 2.0 TSI engine. Its main characteristics are its tremendous power, easy torque transmission and fabulous flexibility.
The Seat Technical Centre poured significant effort into modifying the engine's electronic management system and increasing the maximum turbo pressure. The result is an added 25 hp compared to the tried and tested 240 hp 2.0 TSI engine found in the Seat León Cupra.

The intercooler fitted to the new engine delivers its superior performance through greater turbo pressure. As on the 240 hp version, the engine set-up includes a new, high-pressure fuel injection pump to satisfy its greater performance demands, and the ratios on the six-speed gearbox have been specifically adapted.

The new Seat León Cupra R delivers a top speed of 250 km/h (self-limited) and a blistering 0 to 100 km/h acceleration time of barely 6.2 seconds. It also covers a standing kilometre in only 25.7 seconds. These competition-class figures are achieved with exceptional fuel efficiency of only 8.1 litres on average to cover 100 km, making it the most efficient vehicle with the lowest level of emissions in its performance category, while fully complying with EU-5 emissions standards.

Imposing design
The new Seat León Cupra R is based on the spectacular design of the existing Cupra, with subtle additions both inside and out.

The exclusive nature of Seat's new model is most easily identified via the distinctive letter 'R' that's subtly placed on the central grille and at the lower right of the hatch, the right instrument dial and the remote control key. The exclusive Cupra logo graces the front bumper on the lower left, the centre of the hatch, the steering wheel and the seat backrests.

Further distinctive detailing on the Seat León Cupra R that underlines its racing spirit, besides the spectacular 19 inch wheels are the trademark glossy black door mirrors. The wheel assembly also enables a set of exceptionally generous 345 x 30 mm front disc brakes with 286 x 12 mm at the rear; vital given the need for greater braking capacity in a car that harnesses 265 hp.

The interior features eye-catching competition styled bucket seats in a combination of grey cloth and alcantara upholstery, white LED lighting on the instrument dials, a leather multi-functional steering wheel and aluminium-clad pedals. Black prevails in the sporty passenger compartment, and the view from the driver's seat is designed to minimise distractions with the roof lining, sun visors, door handles and 'A' pillars all clad exclusively in black.

Excellent dynamic performance
The addition of the electronic self-blocking XDS system to the standard equipment on the new Cupra R means this Seat offers much greater driving comfort and safety. The clever new electronic system works together with ESP and functions as a self-blocking mechanism. It improves the car's performance when traction is lost by applying braking power to the wheel that loses grip.

This system provides a similar feeling as driving a car with a conventional self-blocking mechanism, and considerably improves the ability to transmit power to the driven front wheels. Proving its worth, in particular, through bends, XDS stops the inside wheel from slipping and reduces understeer, providing the Seat León Cupra R with unbeatable handling.
The XDS system is the perfect complement to Seat's efficient Agile Chassis, which has been modified on this version to make it one of the most dynamically impressive cars in its segment.

Top-notch equipment
The Seat León Cupra R offers a particularly generous line-up of standard equipment. Naturally, of course, there are the usual electronic safety devices, such as XDS, ABS, ESP stability control and TCS traction control + EBA emergency braking.

Other standard-fit safety features on the Seat León Cupra R are front airbags, two side airbags, two head airbags, passenger airbag disconnection, rear window seat Isofix anchoring points and low tyre pressure warning, as well as automatic lights on, rain sensing wipers, rear parking sensors, cruise control, trip computer, cornering fog lights, dual zone climate control and CD radio + MP3 + eight speakers + MDI, among others.

DESIGN
The new Seat León Cupra R is easily recognisable on the road. The new 'R' version builds on the essentially sporty lines of Seat León Cupra with a number of distinctive features that round off its upgraded image with a yet more 'racy' look.
The front end grabs your attention. An exclusive honeycomb mesh central grille with a black surround and the letter 'R' on the right are the car's most obvious trademarks. As on the Cupra versions, too, the sophisticated air vents beneath the grille enhance its sporty appeal.

Another tell-tale Cupra feature seldom found on other cars are the pronounced shoulders that house the headlights. A black character stripe runs the length of the front bumper and the word 'Cupra' stands out on the left. Finally, there is a larger trapezoid-shaped cooling grille, with cornering fog lights built in at the sides.

From the side, the car's exclusive 19-inch Cosmos Silver 'Potenza' wheel rims (optionally available in white) are shod with ultra-low profile 235/35 tyres, and the five double-spoke rims reveal enormous red brake callipers. The disc sizes and four-pot callipers provide the immediate braking response obviously required by a car in this class.