SEAT reveal 2009 Ibiza FR - first look

markmeus

Mark Graham
Jun 9, 2007
2,948
11
Banbridge, Northern Ireland
I've noticed a general feeling of disappointment on the fourm with the revealing of SEATs sportier models recently, and I think I've found part of the problem.

This is just my two pence, feel free to comment!!!

If we take the Ibiza for example. Currently the standard sport coupe models, in my opinion look pretty sporty as standard, with their mesh bumper grilles and general shape.

Rewind 10 years to 1999, The mk3 Ibiza had just came out, and the front bumper of the base models was about as sporty as a pair of granny knickers! Where as the cupra looked like a proper mean machine.

The same applies to the prefacelift mk4's, the standard ones looked pants!

Nowadays sporty mesh grilles are the norm. I think most new cars looks sporty as standard, and therefore its a little harder to make the sportier models stand out short of redesigning the whole front.

I guess cost cutting has a part to play too.

And it could be a lot worse, the pre-facelift mk1 Leon Cupra was visually nothing more than a cupra badge on the rear and bigger multispoke wheels!

Overall I think the different models in the Ibiza range and now more distinctive than the Leon range.

And I will seriously be considering the new FR come September
 

Trumpetman21

Fully Membered
Jan 17, 2006
328
0
Manchester
You defo need to be able to tell the difference between 'standard', FR & Cupra models from a distance. As others have said I am not sure that will be so easy to do with the Mk V.
 

ZBOYD

Looking up at the stars!
May 19, 2001
9,468
15
Cheshire
www.seatcupra.net
An orange 5 door Ibiza. nah not convinced by that.

However this has been tipped to make it's production appearance at Barcelona next month by some sectors of the motoring press.

main.php
 

Crafoo

Crazy Fool!
Apr 30, 2005
5,498
4
At home
An orange 5 door Ibiza. nah not convinced by that.

However this has been tipped to make it's production appearance at Barcelona next month by some sectors of the motoring press.

main.php

Now that looks the part, I would definitly have one of those, it looks a lot meaner than the current effort.
 
I just wish Seat would give us something official - it's been a year since they gave us the first taste of the cupra and not really much since

All we get is rumours and speculation - It's like they cannot make their own mind up about what they're going to do - I'm certainly not going to be buying a new Seat this year until they have released all the models they're intending to, to compare them all
 

ZBOYD

Looking up at the stars!
May 19, 2001
9,468
15
Cheshire
www.seatcupra.net
The car is the Bocanegra ( or Black Mouth) it was the original design concept car for the Ibiza. If you look carefully at the Cupraand the concept the differences are actually very minimal.

However the concept was very well received by the public and motoring press alike. Since then SEAT have made mumblings about making a production version of the Bocanegra. Recently it was reported that it was expected to make it's production ready appearance at the Barcelona motorshow, which is early next month.

We shall have to wait and see.

More pics here - http://www.seatcupra.net/gallery/main.php?g2_itemId=21346
 
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Trumpetman21

Fully Membered
Jan 17, 2006
328
0
Manchester
The do seem to be taking their sweet time, it'll only cost them sales in the long run IMHO.

All they have to do is improve on what they did with the Mk IV - if this FR makes 150bhp then the cupra needs to be knocking on the door of 200bhp....180 'aint enough!
 

ZBOYD

Looking up at the stars!
May 19, 2001
9,468
15
Cheshire
www.seatcupra.net
Very few people are buying cars at the moment, and even fewer are buying hot hatches. So I think they should take their time to get the right product at the right price.
 

CupraOl

Full Member
Mar 8, 2004
131
1
Visit site
My dealer have a lot of info on the Bocanegra in at the moment, and seem to think it will come into production towards the end of this year. I really hope it does as it looks awesome, although I remember rumours that it would just be a styling pack for the Ibiza rather than a full on separate model.

I would definitely be interested in this over the MK5 Ibiza Cupra, particularly as the dealer are saying that the 170 diesel engine is very likely to feature in the Bocanegra line up, whereas there don't appear to be any plans to make a mk5 cupra diesel at the moment. I'm waiting to see what Seat do at the moment, and hanging on to my MK4 until I definitely know all the options.
 

jwilkinson

Active Member
Oct 12, 2008
131
0
thanks for doing what I didn't bother to do driveforward! What I don't understand is, this bodykit is a genuine Seat kit for the mk5... Why didn't they just use it on the car??
 

markmeus

Mark Graham
Jun 9, 2007
2,948
11
Banbridge, Northern Ireland
Because the Cupra and FR wouldnt be exclusive then!

At least with it being options you can put it on if you like it, or not if you dont.

Id imagine it will be a bit marmite with people, much like the Leon aero kitl
 
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