SEAT goes for fun with sporty Ibizas

Jul 6 2009 Bruce Booth

SINCE last year when SEAT launched the latest-generation Ibiza, enthusiasts of the marque have been waiting patiently for the arrival of more sporty derivatives of the popular Spanish-built supermini.

With both the Cupra and FR models building up a fiercely protective following over the years with drivers of all ages, SEAT could easily have fallen into a trap of rushing out a couple of sportier-badged models just to keep an eager customer base happy.

But no, SEAT has taken the time to get things right, and boy is that policy ready to pay huge dividends.

For not only are new Cupra and FR models on sale in the UK now for autumn delivery, a third hot-hatch will also join the Ibiza stable in the form of the range-topping Bocanegra, which lives up to its billing as the 'ultimate expression of sportiness'.

For the UK market, the sporting trio are all equipped with highly-tuned versions of Volkswagen's 1.4-litre TSI turbo and supercharged international engine of the year, the 148bhp version being fitted to the new FR, while a more extreme 177bhp unit is exclusively reserved for the Cupra and Bocanegra.

To add to the sporting factor, SEAT has opted to mate these powerful engines to a seven-speed sequential DSG gearbox, complete with steering wheel mounted shift paddles for lightning-fast gearchanges.

But perhaps the biggest advance in the new range is the fitment of an fully-electronic XDS dynamic stability system which works as a self-blocking, limited-slip differential without the need for any additional mechanical parts. This system has already proven itself in both the new Leon and Altea ranges and coupled with ESP, takes the sporty Ibizas to new levels of performance when it comes to road holding and grip.

Although sharing the same platform and basic body design, each of the three models have their own separate features which make them highly individual.

The three-door FR is immediately recognisable from its standard siblings by it bigger bumpers front and rear. These help the FR give off a more aggressive silhouette and when coupled with its large front honeycombed grille, large air intakes and lower mounted headlights, combine to give the car its arrow design characteristics.

Completing the exterior package are body-coloured door mirrors, 17-inch silver five-spoke alloys, twin chrome tail pipes and FR badging on the front bumper and tailgate.

Inside you find exclusive sports seats with embroderied FR initials sewn into the backrests. Exclusive FR badging also appears on the leather-clad, flat-bottomed sports steering wheel, while other quality touches include leather covered gear lever, black roof lining and high gloss black finish to the radio/CD unit, instrument binnacle and ventilation nozzles.

Slip up a gear to the Cupra and Bocanegra models and the extra 30 horses really adds extra spice to the sports hatchback.

To help cope with the extra power, SEAT has lowered the chassis by an extra 5mm compared with the FR, while the brakes have also been uprated with the option of four-pot racing callipers also available.

Stiffer shock absorbers, coils and front wishbone silent block ratings, combined with the lower ride height, help give the car greater precision , making the new Cupra easier to drive than the outgoing model.

And thrill-seeking owners will immediately fall in love with the thrilling engine note emitting from the twin triangular exhaust pipes. Not overly noisy, the sporty note is a licence to thrill and will have the hairs on the back of your neck standing at attention on every downshift.

As in the FR, both the Cupra and Bocanegra duo sport specially-designed interiors, with black, cross-stitched fabric and Cupra badge reserved of course for the Cupra, while a capital ÒBÓ stitched in red on the seat back rests identify the range-topping model.

For those familiar with the SEAT marque, Bocanegra derives from the 1200 Sport model which first appeared nearly 35 years ago. With its black-pained front end and grille, it was immediately christened Bocanegra - it's Spanish for black mouth - and so the legend was born.

To continue the theme, the new Bocanegra is aimed at the most discerning of drivers looking for a distinctive touch of class. Only 1,000 of these models will be built for world-wide sale.

As you would expect, black features predominantly at the front end. The double headlights peer out froma completely black casing while the central grille and honey-combed mesh surrounds add to the model's special personality.

The middle portion of the bumper is also finished in black, while the side air vents are also finished in black trim to complete the highly-original front end.

While a spectacular-looking machine from any angle, the new sporty three-door hatchbacks are equally spectacular on the road.

And where better to put them through their paces than on some twisting back roads high on the hills behind the cars' own back yard of Barcelona.

Perfectly balanced and with bags of torque, both engines were a delight that any petrolhead would dearly love to put through their paces.

Thanks to the DSG system, super-fast gear changes added to the enjoyment, but it was the XDS really made the car for me.

It was quite unbelievable just how early you could get the power down while negotiating some of the tightest corners imaginable. The confidence the system emits is simply phenomenal and it takes the superminiÕs road-holding abilities to heights previously deemed unthinkable.

The ride quality is simply brilliant with a tuned suspension that can never be accused of being overly hard.

Priced at £15,999, the Cupra is well priced to take on the likes of its MINI Cooper S, Alfa MiTo Veloce, Ford Fiesta 1.6 Ti-VCT Zetec S and Vauxhall Corsa VXR competitors. The range-topping Bocanegra comes at a premium of £700, but for the extra money, buyers are getting something very special that could turn into something of a collector's piece.

However, for me, the £14,995 FR ticked all the right boxes. With maximum output coming in from just 1,200revs compared with1,400revs for the 177bhp unit, I found little difference in the way the two models performed.