Mercedes believes “creases have had their day,” but as you can see, SEAT’s design department has an entirely different opinion. Now in its fifth generation, Martorell’s supermini adopts a considerably sharper body in the same vein as the recently facelifted Leon. While the norm in the car industry today is to make cars longer and longer with each new generation, the new Ibiza is actually two millimeters shorter than the model it replaces.
Despite the slightly decreased length, the distance between the two axles has increased considerably as the wheelbase has been stretched by a generous 95 mm and now measures 2,564 mm. How was this possible you ask? It’s all thanks to the much better packaging provided by the Volkswagen Group’s MQB A0 platform, which is effectively making its debut on the Ibiza set to be followed by the next-gen Polo later this year.
While length is down a bit, width has increased by a considerable 87 mm and that will pay dividends in terms of available space inside the cabin for both the driver and the passengers. Not only is the body wider, but the front and rear tracks have been extended as well by 60 mm and 48 mm, respectively.
People shopping in the supermini segment will be happy to hear the new Ibiza has 24 mm more headroom at the front and 17 mm in the back, while the seats are a whopping 42-mm wider than before. The good news continue as the trunk’s capacity has massively increased by 63 liters to a very practical 355 liters with the rear seats in place, thus making the B-segment hatchback a better companion on longer trips.
As far as the oily bits are concerned, a turbocharged 1.0-liter gasoline engine will be available with 95 and 115 horsepower. Should you want more muscle, you’ll have to wait for the end of the year when the 1.5-liter TSI Evo that recently debuted in the Golf facelift will arrive in the Ibiza with 150 hp.
If fuel economy is your top priority, you’ll want the 1.6-liter TDI set to be offered with 80, 95, and 110 hp. SEAT will also give customers the possibility to go for a 90-hp version of the 1.0-liter TSI compatible with compressed natural gas (CNG). Depending on selected engine, the 2017 Ibiza will be available with five- and six-speed manual gearboxes and a seven-speed DSG.
Available exclusively as a five-door hatchback, SEAT’s overhauled Ibiza will be sold in Reference, Style, FR, and XCelence trims. The FR will be the sportiest of the bunch with a slightly more aggressive exterior and sportier suspension setup, while the XCelence is going to take a more luxurious approach and will eventually receive a softer setting for the suspension.
If you are a fan of light-emitting diodes, you’ll love the new Ibiza. SEAT will sell it with full-LED headlights, indicators, fog lights, dashboard, as well as with red or white LED ambient lighting for the aforementioned FR and XCelence trims.
The 8-inch infotainment system provides numerous connectivity options, including Android Auto, Apple Car Play, and Mirror Link. The touchscreen will also provide footage from the rearview camera, but that will cost extra. A new generation of more precise front and rear parking sensors should make your life easier whenever maneuvering the Ibiza in narrow spaces. At an additional cost, the 2017 Ibiza can receive a seven-speaker, 300-watt Beats sound system.
On the safety side, the fifth-gen Ibiza gets a wide array of systems, among which we mention Front Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, and Traffic Jam Assist.
Following the market launch of the Ibiza, SEAT will then gear up to introduce its crossover counterpart. Dubbed “Arona,” the high-riding Ibiza will be unveiled in September at the Frankfurt Motor Show before going on sale late 2017. Don’t hold your breath for three-door SC and wagon ST versions of the supermini as these two body styles will not be offered in the Ibiza’s fifth iteration.
Source: SEAT
Live Photos: SEAT, OmniAuto.it, Motor1 France
Gallery: 2017 SEAT Ibiza
New SEAT Ibiza
The best Ibiza ever
/ A major step forward in the company’s portfolio renewal
/ More compact outside and much more room inside
/ Features the latest connectivity, comfort and safety technology
/ The fifth generation of the Ibiza debuts with the latest innovative MQB A0 Platform
Martorell, 31/01/17. - The New SEAT Ibiza is already here loaded with the latest technology features, outstanding dynamics, and an impressive improvement in interior space and comfort. The Spanish brand’s most important model has all-new styling while preserving the same youthful, functional, sporty and comfortable spirit as always. And it does so with a fresh design that reflects the latest SEAT distinctive character by continuing with the brand’s DNA but with an edgier, sportier design, featuring more sculpted, accentuated, exciting and streamlined surfaces. The fifth generation of the SEAT Ibiza will make its public debut at the next Geneva Auto Show and go on sale in June 2017.
The new SEAT Ibiza, then, is a completely new model that was created with very ambitious goals in mind: To go a major step ahead in safety, design, performance and comfort. This huge advance in quality was achieved thanks to the new MQB A0 modular platform. The new SEAT Ibiza is the Volkswagen Group first model to use this platform, highlighting SEAT’s importance within the Group and offering countless advantages.
Launched in 1984 for the first time, the Ibiza has become an icon of SEAT. This car has been around the longest in the history of the brand and is its top-selling model, with over 5.4 million units sold. The Ibiza is one of the three pillars of the company, together with the Leon and Ateca, on which SEAT relies to continue building the success of the company in the future.
More compact, roomier, more efficient
The new SEAT Ibiza has impressively increased its interior roominess, it is a lot more robust, and also, a lot safer. It is much wider by a stunning 87 mm, it is two mm shorter and one lower than the previous model, but more than anything, the change in its dimensions conveys a powerful image of a car that hugs the ground. And the key is in the new MQB A0 platform.
The wheeltrack is 60 mm wider at the front axle and 48 at the rear axle, while the distance between the axles is 2,564 millimetres, a 95-mm increase. The result is a much more comfortable car, with the new SEAT Ibiza being both roomier on the inside and larger on the outside. For example, leg room in the back seats has increased by 35 mm, while the head room has gone up by 24 mm in the front seats and 17 mm in the back. The seats are an astonishing 42 mm wider, making the new SEAT Ibiza one of the best in its class in this area. The boot has also been enlarged by 63 litres, bringing its total capacity to 355 litres, making it best in class. The loading height has also been lowered, proof that SEAT knows how to combine design and functionality.
All of the engines available on the new SEAT Ibiza comply with the Euro6 emissions regulation and lead the way in performance, with outstanding features, high mileage and low emissions. There are three aluminium block and cylinder petrol engines to choose from. The first option is the 3 cylinder 1.0 TSI with 95 or 115 PS, along with a turbocompressor, intercooler and direct injection. A new 1.5 TSI will be available in late 2017 with four cylinders and 150 PS. Efficient 1.6 TDI diesel engines will come in 80, 95 and 110 PS varieties. Finally, the new MQB A0 platform allows the New Ibiza to offer a compressed-natural gas (CNG) powered 90-PS 1.0 TSI engine. SEAT is the first maker to offer an engine of this type in this class. The gearboxes available are a manual 5-speed transmission for the 95-PS and lower engines and a 6-speed transmission for the more powerful engines. The dual-clutch DSG 7-speed gearbox is another of the options available on the new SEAT Ibiza.
The car’s dynamic behaviour, ride quality and driving comfort are exceptional thanks to the new MQB A0 platform, as well as to the 30% higher torsional stiffness. The new SEAT Ibiza is only available in a 5-door option, which is now more functional and the new design offers the sportier look of a 3-door model. There have also been qualitative leaps forward in terms of noise control, vibrations and ride harshness. The new SEAT Ibiza offers the quality of a more luxurious automobile. It’s also agile in the city, efficient on curved roads and offers excellent comfort on long trips.
Four trim packages and the most advanced technology
The new SEAT Ibiza will offer four equipment lines, starting with the Reference followed by the Style trim. The top-of-the-range will be the FR and XCellence trims.
The FR trim comes with the most dynamic and technological equipment to enjoy the best performance. Exclusive dynamic design elements have been specifically created for it like, rear diffuser, exclusive front bumper, sport suspension and exclusive exterior black pack.
The XCellence trim aims at reaching new customers looking for a more sophisticated and distinctive design combined with more convenient and smart functional equipment.
Both trims will have the same price and are intended to offer the best possible options to different types of drivers: FR is for those looking for a sportier car, while XCellence focuses on comfort, elegance and technology.
The interior ambient LED lighting for the FR and XCellence versions is offered in two colours, red and white. The use of LED technology for the interior and exterior lights is not an aesthetic whim. LEDs offer much higher quality lighting while saving energy, thus yielding improved fuel economy. The full LED lights on the Ibiza (headlights, dashboard, indicators and rear fog lights) are new in this class.
The FR trim includes a stiffer suspension and offers two mode settings, Normal and Sport, to adapt to the driver’s preferences or to the conditions on the road. The XCellence trim will also offer this possibility later on, with a softer setting.
The driving assistance systems built into the new Ibiza include elements that, while already present in Leon and Ateca, are quite unusual in this class. The new SEAT Ibiza features Front Assist, Traffic Jam Assist, Adaptive Cruise Control, Keyless Entry System with heartbeat engine start button, a new generation of front and rear parking sensors and a rear view camera with a higher quality and precision reflected in a premium 8’’ touchscreen with glass panel. Is the very first time that the SEAT Ibiza has a huge and functional integrated 8’’ touchscreen that offers the best technology without compromising the interior harmony.
In the interior, one of the most outstanding features of the new model is the wireless charger with GSM amplifier. In terms of connectivity, the New SEAT Ibiza is the only car 100% connected thanks to three options: Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Mirror Link. SEAT is committed to becoming a front runner in connected cars and developing new mobility solutions where the connected car enhances user experience, making it easier and more flexible. In an environment of disruptive changes, SEAT is eager to deal with the challenges posed by urban infrastructures, traffic systems and vehicles in cities, offering these technologies in most of its vehicles.
The New SEAT Ibiza presents a partnership with Beatsaudio soundsystem, a brand bringing energy, emotion and excitement that has changed the way people listen to music. It uses a digital signal processor (DSP), 7 premium speakers and an 8-channel with 300W amplifier.
MQB AO Platform
The latest technology from the Volkswagen Group, the MQB platform - Modular Quer Baukasten -, allows higher manufacturing flexibility and robust implementation, as it supports different models and allows for different body types within the same segment and different wheelbase configurations can be achieved within the same base platform. SEAT’s investments and R&D expenditure in recent years were partially allocated to adapt Line 1 at the Martorell factory to the new MQB A0 platform, allowing SEAT to be the first company of the Volkswagen group to use this technology.
The number of parts using Hot-Forming technology has been increased, and that contributes to reduce weight and to increase rigidity, therefore improving performance and accounting for lower consumption. In particular for the new Ibiza, 900 robots and more than 4000 welding points guarantee the robustness of the vehicle. Spot welding combined with laser technology bring components together with a great result: A lightweight body with extreme structural stiffness.
Design: the next step in SEAT’s DNA
Thanks to more than three decades of history and its importance as the main pillar in the SEAT brand, the 5th generation of the Ibiza has been a total challenge in terms of design. It had to be fresh and young, and yet mature and balanced too. And this is how the new SEAT Ibiza stands out straight away; its perfect proportions, strong character and agile look. Its characteristic SEAT brushstrokes have not just been maintained, but taken to the next level, pushing the evolution of SEAT’s design DNA. You only need a glance to feel what the designer sketched when creating the new car and see that this is the best design SEAT has ever come up with in the A0 category.
At the front of the car, the triangular Full LED headlights and the iconic daylight graphics make the new SEAT instantly recognisable. The badge is not only displayed proudly on the grille, but is also enhanced by the two characteristic lines on the bonnet, with a slight gap in the chrome frame. The x-shaped design gives great dynamism and incredible visual stability.
The front and rear overhangs are very short, with the four wheels situated on the four corners of the car, making the car stable, dynamic and sporty. The longer wheelbase and window graphics accentuate the size of the new Ibiza, while the double blisters down the length of the car are typically SEAT, giving the car a more expressive, three-dimensional look. The bodywork has been beautifully sculpted, combining sharp lines and smooth surfaces. Its new wheels, up to 18 inches and with two tones to choose from, give an elegant touch.
The rear of the car is also typical of the Ibiza. Its rear lights wrap around the car, interacting with the blisters at the rear, properly proportioned within a unique design and offering fantastic aerodynamic performance. The boot’s strong lines and bumpers make the car appear wide and give the car an almost monolithic look, while the rear reflectors appear to bring the car closer to the ground. The FR trim comes with details that bring out its sporty character, such as the exhaust tips either side of the rear bumper. The XCellence trims receive chrome details that emphasise their sophistication and refinement.
In terms of the interior, the same design steps have been followed that are now in the SEAT Leon and Ateca, but this time with a new vision for its design language. More tension, more technical and precise lines and lighter proportions have all been added in order to achieve a more elegant look and a greater level of perceived quality, while new materials have managed to safeguard its youthful and dynamic character. Structurally, a special emphasis has been put on its horizontal proportions in the assembly of its different functional areas, including the elevated console in the interior to improve ergonomic performance and safety. The aim was to achieve perfect proportions and a greater sense of space and comfort.
All of the controls and instruments are situated around the driver in the highest position possible to avoid the driver having to take his or her eyes off the road. Just as with the new Leon and Ateca, the start button is in the same place, to the left of the gearbox. This is also in the highest position possible for ease-of-use. Upon analysing the top quality of each and every detail of the new SEAT Ibiza, one cannot help but think of models in higher categories, from the innumerable personalisation possibilities to the possibility of choosing the colour of the interior LED lighting, without forgetting of course the onboard technology, such as the 8-inch touchscreen and the Full Link connectivity system. The cockpit is protected by an Air Care filter that isolates the occupants from any type of allergens, creating a completely contaminant-free space.
Its exciting design, its dynamic behaviour and driving quality, the feeling of incredible stability and reliability on the road, vastly improved interior quality, incredibly safe and easy-to-use technology, roomier interior, all combine to make the new SEAT Ibiza, a really attractive option and of course at the best price.
SEAT is the only company that designs, develops, manufactures and markets cars in Spain. A member of the Volkswagen Group, the multinational has its headquarters in Martorell (Barcelona), exporting more than 80% of its vehicles, and is present in over 75 countries. In 2016, SEAT achieved worldwide sales of 410,200 units, the highest result since 2007.
SEAT Group employs more than 14,000 professionals at its three production centres – Barcelona, El Prat de Llobregat and Martorell, where it manufactures the highly successful Ibiza and Leon. Additionally, the company produces the Ateca and the Toledo in the Czech Republic, the Alhambra in Portugal and the Mii in Slovakia.
The multinational has a Technical Centre, which operates as a knowledge hub that brings together 1,000 engineers who are focussed on developing innovation for Spain’s largest industrial investor in R&D. SEAT already features the latest connectivity technology in its vehicle range and is currently engaged in the company’s global digitisation process to promote the mobility of the future