Ibiza Still in the Driving Seat

Seat is celebrating the 25th Aniversary of the car that put them firmly on the map and is still a best seller for the Spanish Marque – SEAT.

Although it was founded 49 years ago – May 9, 1950 to be exact – SEAT didn’t stir the small car world too much until the Ibiza appeared in 1984.

SEAT – pronounced “Say-at” and now owned by the Volkswagen group – opened a rich vein of supermini success with that first petrol engined model, which enjoyed a nine year production run.

There were some physical refurbishments of Ibiza Mark I in 1991, but those early models are best know for Porsche’s input to the powertrain, which saw models carry system Porsche badging.

Mark II SEAT Ibiza came along in 1993, on the back of 1.3 million-plus sales – a hard act to follow. But with an ultra modern production facility at Martorell, in Spain, to back its launch, and diesel engines being added to the heady mix of small, sporty engines, sales gains came fairly easily.

This Ibiza became the first model in its class to get an 88bhp turbo-diesel engine, and in 1996, a more potent 108bhp oil burner was added, which segment rivals were unable to match.

But the real SEAT Sport story began with 1996’s introduction of the Cupra version, a 2-0 litre, 147bhp master blaster that quickly drew an army of hot hatch amirers.

The Cupra’s Launch came on the back of SEAT’s Victory in the 2.0 litre category of the FIA World Rally Championship, a title it would go on to win again in 1997 and 1998.

Another breakthrough for the Ibiza followed in 2000 when it became the first supermini to be sold with electronic stability.

Eventually, Mark II went on to outstrip the first version’s total sales, pulling in more than 1.5million buyers by 2002.

The model for the new millennium, Ibiza Mark III, came with a far more attractive shape.

And, although Mark IV was launched last year, the third-generation Ibiza proved so popular in Spain that it is still available over there.

So here we are in 2009, with new styling, a Sport Coupé model added, and a wide choice of environmentally friendly petrol and diesel engines. But the story doesn’t end there, because the latest Ibiza range is growing all the time.

Due in the UK soon are new versions such as the fast and furious Cupra and FR models. And they will be followed a little later on by a real head-turner: the Ibiza Cupra Bocanegra.

The Bocanegra will be equipped with a twin-charged 1.4-litre TSI petrol engine, either in 147 or 177bhp form. It will also have a state-of-the-art seven-speed auto gearbox with wheel-mounted paddle shifts.

Indeed, thanks to its dramatic and dynamic styling, it could easily eclipse sales of the popular Cupra.

On the other side of the spectrum, there’s the ultra-green Ibiza Ecomotive 1.4-litre diesel.

Under the UK Government’s bangers-for-cash offer, it can be had for as little as £9605.

The £2,000 incentive shrinks its price form £11,605 to £9,605. The Ibiza Ecomotive can be ordered now in time for early summer delivery, it returns 76.3mpg and emits CO2 at a rate of just 98g/km.