Barcelona Motor Show 2009: Seat

The Spanish brand is playing at home, and it shows in the number of novelties it has brought to the Catalan show. While not all of them are world premieres, the rest also have their own appeal. These are the Ibiza FR and León Cupra 2009, the Ibiza Bocanegra and the Ibiza 25 Anniversary. Their prices have not yet been confirmed, but you will find the remaining details below. These models were also accompanied by the estate version of the Exeo, called ST (Sport Tourer), which was already presented at this year’s Geneva Motor Show.

The first two were world premieres and gave the “spicy” touch to the Seat pavilion. The Ibiza FR was shown with the same configuration and colours as in the official images we published alongside its details and its modifications, which, although much more discreet than those of the Cupra, had their effect.

The León Cupra, on the other hand, was the last version left for Seat to apply the facelift it gave the compact for the Geneva Motor Show. Carrying the spirit of the victories it achieved for Seat in the WTCC with this same model, the Cupra represents the most sporty part of the range, and its performance figures (0 to 100 in 6.4 seconds) bear witness to this.

As for the two special editions of the Ibiza, both have a link to the past and to the history of Seat. The Ibiza 25 Anniversary celebrates the quarter century that the Spanish city car has completed, during which it has achieved sales records. Seat has displayed at its pavilion at the Barcelona Motor Show one example of each Ibiza generation, the first of which was presented for the first time at the Paris Motor Show of 1984.

Finally, the Ibiza Bocanegra is the Spanish manufacturer’s response to the good reviews received by the Bocanegra Concept prototype at last year’s Geneva Motor Show, which previewed the look of the fourth generation of the Ibiza. The special edition presented at the Barcelona Motor Show has lost some of the provocative design of the concept model, but it retains the characteristic front that gives it its name.

Just like the Seat 1200/1430 Sport “Bocanegra” from the 70s, this Ibiza features the area between the front grille and the lower air intake in black, as well as front headlights that are doubly darkened, black mirror housings and a black trim on the air intakes. On the rear tailgate there is a “Bocanegra” logo, and the §h81;”Sira” 17-inch alloy wheels are exclusive to this edition.

The interior incorporates an exclusive upholstery with red stripes, a “B” letter embroidered on the seat backrests and another in aluminium on the centre of the lower arm of the 3-spoke steering wheel, and various shades of black that darken the cabin. The Ibiza Bocanegra is available in both FR and Cupra trim and therefore adopts the same technical characteristics and equipment as those versions.

Photos | Highmotor