The SEAT Ibiza Cupra will get a new engine with the facelift

The guys at SEAT have now officially announced that, among the new features planned for the Ibiza 2016 range, the modification of the Cupra offering.

This is the logical step, one already taken by its close relative, the Volkswagen Polo, which has also modified the engine of its most powerful version, in this case the GTI.

As we already know, the SEAT Ibiza, the cornerstone of the Spanish brand owned by the VW Group, “has been through the operating room” to receive a battery of changes, both cosmetic and mechanical, that will sustain the model’s strong sales until the arrival of a new generation around 2018.

Aesthetically, the Ibiza receives new bumpers, as well as front headlights with a redesigned interior. New shades are added to the paint palette, along with alloy wheels with an updated design. Inside, the changes are more evident, with improved materials used in the trim.

Ergonomics have improved across the entire range with the incorporation of a better-designed multimedia system, to which a climate control module taken directly from the Polo is added. Mechanically, the Ibiza receives new systems such as adaptive damping, which will presumably be fitted as standard on the Cupra version.

Speaking of the Ibiza Cupra, until now it was only available with a 1.4 TSI engine producing 180 CV and 250 NM, necessarily paired with a 7-speed DSG dual-clutch automatic transmission. With the arrival of the facelift, the small engine is replaced by a new 1.8 TSI that presumably mirrors the figures of the Polo, with 192 CV of power and 320 NM of maximum torque.

The other major novelty will be the option of a manual gearbox, something fans of the brand had been requesting since its launch. However, the automatic gearbox will remain available, although the maximum torque figure will be reduced to 250 NM to avoid damaging the transmission.

Source | autocar.co.uk

Technical specifications of this car

HatchbackSEAT Ibiza14 versions · from 18,520 €