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LATEST SEAT NEWS By Broadspeed Online Editor
NEW SEAT IBIZA CUPRA
Cupra is an island off the coast of Spain or a new Seat Ibiza hot hatch; take your pick! The new Seat packs a huge level of tech into an exciting yet well priced model coming in at under £16000 OTR. The new Seat Ibiza Cupra offers the 178PS 1.4L super and turbo charged 4-cyl motor boasting a 7-speed dual-clutch transmission with a new XDS LSD. The Cupra has a bespoke body kit, 17" alloy rims plus centre exhaust exit. Funky colour schemes, sport seats, a s/wheel DSG paddle shift complete the enticing spec. A Bocanegra model is technically identical, but adds butch detailing for an extra £700. Its super-turbo motor is superb and delivers both low down torque with instant acceleration – 0-60 mph arrives in a tad over 7seconds. The Cupra has a great exhaust note with a super charger whine becoming a turbo charger woosh as you press on. A DSG gearbox is provides super smooth changes up or downshifting. The Seat Cupra has excellent bodycontrol with strong roadholding, but isn't the most involving drive. Steering is well weighted and sharp but there isn't a great deal of driver feed back. The Seat Cupra is safe and capable, fast, practical and economical - rather than a driver-focussed hooligan. If you want an engaging drive, buy a Clio 200. If you want a good combination of daily practicality with speed and safety, the Seat Ibiza Cupra is the better choice.
New Seat Ibiza Cupra Review
The latest Seat Ibiza has been joined by a hot hatch known as the Cupra. The Ibiza has sporty looks and now those aggressive design cues are matched by fiery perfomance. Perhaps that's not so surprising given that the new Seat Ibiza was designed by none other than Lamborghini stylist Luc Donckerwolke who has added some dynamiscs over the old Ibiza model. The new Ibiza shares its running gear with the 2010 Polo GTI, arriving on the market 6 to 9 months earlier. The Seat Ibiza Cupra has a 1.4-L TSi motor, but don’t let that small capacity fool you. The latest VW 1.4 TSI nestles under the Ibiza’s bonnet - and it's not just super-charged, it's turbo-charged delivering 177PS and 155 lb/ft. That delivers a 0 to 60 mph sprint of 7.2 seconds and a useful 140 mph maximum speed whilst returning 45 mpg and just 147 gkm of CO2 – that’s the kind of performance the new Clio 200PS has, but in an overall package that is way greener. The Ibiza Cupra also gets with a 7speed paddle shift DSG transmission as standard (the only hothatch with this). Consider the VW Golf GTI has a 6-speed due to a minor power advantage and one suddenly realises that the Ibiza Cupra is a very hot hatch indeed! The motor is refined and predictable, it pulls away well yet, manages to feel quick at both ends of the revrange. The transmission manages to behave well whether toodling around the town or blasting down a B road at full chat. Overall, the Seat Ibiza Cupra 1.4 is a remarkably competent and attractive package; it should disappoint no one.
THE NEW SEAT EXEO
The A4-derived Seat Exeo has a choice of 2.0L petrol plus 141PS and 167PS 2.0 diesels. Seat's 143PS 2.0L TD will probably be the biggest seller, achieving 0-60 mph in a tad over 9 seconds, and reaching 133 mph. Fuel economy on a combinedcycle are around 50 mpg except the Sport model, which averages 37 mpg. All models have a standard 6-speed manual gearbox with frontwheeldrive. The Seat Exeo is comfortable at motorway speeds so if you drive a high mileage, the Exeo is a great choice. On twisty roads, though you may find the harder suspension of the Sport a little harsh, but if you bought the Sport, you expected a handling trade-off. The SE offers better comfort and control without ride penalty. SEAT has used the body of the A4 saloon but the cabin of the cabriolet in the Exeo. You get a remarkably a long standard equipment list, plus options such as window double-glazing and a solar panel to keep you cool during warm weather (even if the engine isn't running). The Exeo's A4 DNA suggests it will offer decent reliability over time. VAG strives to uphold its safety reputation across its brand family, and the Exeo scores well. The Seat Exeo is not capacious, and others in this class offer more space; it has a 460 litre bootspace (compare that with arch rival Mondeo with 535 litres). The Seat Exeo offers bi-zone climatecontrol and cruise control as standard plus front fogs. Four trims include S, SE, Sport and SE Lux versions (the SE should be Seat's biggest seller). The estate model is due to arrive soon. Business buyers should account for 70% of market share (the Exeo-SE offers 19%_BIK). Pricing starts at £17740 for an S upto £21340 SE/Lux. The Seat Exeo provides MP3/CD player with Bluetooth mobile connection plus auxillery and USB port. Price is key with the new Seat Exeo - essentially you buy Audi-equivalent quality without the high price. It may be worth considering a one year old A4 as opposed to a brand new Exeo, but there is something to be said for having a new car warranty, and the hopeful prospect of cheaper servicing.
