New SEAT Ibiza ‘will make a great leap forward for the brand’

THE fifth generation of the all-new SEAT Ibiza, the Spanish brand’s best-selling model with more than 5.4 million units sold, took centre stage on the marque’s stand at the Geneva Motor Show.

Luca de Meo, Chairman of the Executive Committee of SEAT, S.A. said the new SEAT Ibiza ‘will make a great leap forward for the brand’ and is set to mark a turning point in the segment.

At the beginning the year came the launch of the first SUV of the brand, the Ateca, followed by the updated Leon. Now it’s the new Ibiza’s turn, completing the reinforcement of the three main pillars of the brand. New models are still yet to come, such as the compact crossover, the Arona.

The fifth generation of the SEAT Ibiza has been developed in Barcelona and is a decisive step forward in the future of SEAT.

Firstly, because it demonstrates the Volkswagen Group’s latest technology, the MQB-A0 platform (Modular Quer Baukasten) which shows the importance of the SEAT brand within the Volkswagen Group, as this new platform will be featured for the first time on this segment.

And secondly, because it comes full to the brim with the most advanced technology, spectacular dynamism and a notable increase in interior space. This means a completely new model while, as always, it keeps its young spirit, dynamism, functionality and comfort. To achieve this, it gets a new, fresh and sporty design, reflecting the unmistakable SEAT DNA. The surfaces have been accentuated even more in a way that gives a more sculptured, exciting and aerodynamic look.

Niall Phillips, Brand Director at SEAT Ireland said that since 1984 almost 30,000 SEAT Ibiza’s have been sold to customers in Ireland and ‘I would bet that everyone knows someone that owned an Ibiza at some point’.

‘ The Ibiza continues to be an icon of the SEAT brand and due to world class innovation and outstanding design, the all new fifth generation Ibiza is set to be better than ever. It will epitomise exactly what the SEAT brand stands for, high quality, excellent design and value for money and we look forward with relish to introducing the Ibiza to the Irish market this summer,’ he said.

The key aspect of the all-new SEAT Ibiza is the fact that the fifth-generation model establishes the brand as one that is facing forwards and looking to the future. It shows key factors, practicality, intelligent technology and connectivity.

The new Ibiza can include driving assistance systems already seen in the Leon and Ateca but certainly not common in this class (Front Assist and Adaptive Cruise Control ACC, among others) as well as coming with wireless charger and GSM signal amplifier.

In addition, the new SEAT Ibiza is 100 per cent connected thanks to three options: Apple Car Play, Android Auto and Mirror Link. This certainly shows SEAT’s ambition to become a leader in in-car connectivity and in the development of new mobility solutions.

The car also features Beats sound-system: the brand that with its premium sound entertainment brings energy, emotion and excitement to music lovers, changing the way they listen to music. It uses a digital signal processor (DSP),