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Coinciding with its showroom
debut in the UK this month SEAT
is today revealing full price
and specification details of its
new Ibiza ST.
The exciting third ‘silhouette’
in the SEAT line-up joins the
sporty Ibiza SC and practical
Ibiza 5dr to make today’s Ibiza
range the most extensive in the
Spanish supermini’s 25-year
history.
Another sleek product of the pen
of SEAT’s chief designer, Luc
Donckerwolke, the estate version
of SEAT’s biggest seller is,
clearly, created to offer more
carrying capacity without
compromising on the sporty style
that makes the Ibiza one of the
most dynamic and eye-catching
superminis on the road.
Boot space is up 138 litres over
the 5dr taking the car’s
carrying capacity to a sizable
430 litres (seats up) meaning,
among other things, that the ST
offers a great value alternative
to many apparently larger family
hatchbacks from the class above.
Offered from launch with a broad
variety of engines, including
sporty turbocharged petrols and
frugal latest generation
turbodiesels, and with the
option of a familiar five-speed
manual or hi-tech seven-speed
DSG gearbox, the new SEAT is
even available to order in
super-frugal Ecomotive form,
with CO2 emissions
confirmed at a road tax-busting
92 g/km and an exceptional
combined fuel economy figure of
80.7 mpg.
The extensive array of modern
engines includes a newly EUV-compliant
1.4 and rises to a turbocharged
1.2-litre TSI that’s available
with manual or ‘self-shifter’
DSG ‘box. Diesel Ibiza ST
buyers are offered the choice of
a refined 75 PS 1.2-litre TDI CR
– also available in the
Ecomotive version – or a potent
1.6-litre TDI CR that’s good for
105 PS at 4,400 rpm.
Performance is fully in keeping
with the Spanish brand’s sporty
ethos and the most dynamic
version at launch, the 1.2 TSI
with DSG-auto, covers the 0-62
mph dash in a spirited 10.1
seconds before charging on,
where legal, to a top speed of
118 mph.
Clearly, Ibiza ST buyers will be
looking for practicality as well
as sporty style, though, and to
that end the new car includes a
selection of common sense
features that make it as
‘sensible’ as it is ‘chic’.
Split folding rear sears with a
60/40 bias, sleek roof rails in
either black or chrome finish, a
carefully designed low load
height and wide rear hatch, a
flat boot floor and innovative
storage options throughout the
ST’s smart interior enable it to
work with effortless efficiency.
Available to order now in SEAT’s
familiar and clear model line-up
of S A/C, SE and Sport, the new
Ibiza ST costs from just £12,070
RRP for the entry-level
1.4-litre 16V S A/C. Prices
rise through engine and
equipment levels to a current
ceiling of £14,910 for the Ibiza
ST 1.2 TDI CR Ecomotive in
luxurious SE spec.
No
matter what their budget,
though, all Ibiza ST buyers can
look forward to a generous
complement of standard-fit kit
including, among much else: air
conditioning; four-speaker
stereo radio with MP3-compatible
CD and AUX-in; steering
column-mounted audio controls;
electric front windows; roof
rails; speed sensitive
electro-hydraulic power
steering; volumetric alarm and
remote central locking with
deadlocks.
Like its Barcelona-built cousins
the Ibiza SC and Ibiza 5dr, the
new Ibiza ST boasts a liberal
list of safety features as
standard. All versions feature
head and chest airbags for both
driver and front seat passenger,
head-thorax front side airbags,
front passenger airbag
disconnection, ABS and three
three-point rear seatbelts.
Optionally available, depending
on engine and spec choices, are
other features such as SEAT’s
clever electronic XDS system –
which mimics the function of a
conventional limited slip
differential – and Electronic
Stability Programme (ESP).
On
the subject of options, Ibiza ST
buyers are able to specify an
extensive array of extras to
make their new car even more
luxurious. Among the items
available are: climate control
(including a refrigerated glove
compartment); Bi-xenon
headlights with AFS, headlight
washers and daytime running
lights; a panoramic glass
sunroof (in lieu of roof rails)
and a variety of alloy wheels
that, depending on spec, can
measure up to 17 inches.
Welcoming the latest addition to
the stylish Ibiza ‘family’ SEAT
UK Product Manager Andy McGregor
said: ‘Our new ST shows that
small cars really can be both
roomy and stylish.
‘The car’s arrival in SEAT
showrooms makes the Ibiza
line-up not only the most
extensive in our history but,
also, the most practical and
attractive. I’m sure we’ll see
the new Ibiza ST carve out a
very successful niche for itself
as buyers latch onto its great
looks, flexibility and
convenience.’ |
