Seat Previews Next Year's Ibiza Sport Tourer with IBZ Concept

Sans the LED tail and head lamps, the sexy 19-inch alloys in low profile 235/35 tyres, the dramatic styling of the front and rear bumpers, the groovy exterior mirrors, the sporty interior with the high-quality materials, the flat-bottomed steering wheel, the futuristic instrument panel and well, whatever else makes this concept look cool (...), what you see here is very close to next year's production Ibiza station wagon or in Seat's nomenclature, the Sport Tourer.

The concept model, which goes by the name IBZ, also gets hidden rear door handles and a panoramic glass sunfroof while the front-end shows an evolution of Seat's latest design language with the bonnet now featuring a running edge - GM anyone?

Bypassing the conceptual styling traits of the interior, the IBZ comes with a more spacious boot that measures 410 litres and can be extended when the rear seats are folded down leaving a completely flat cargo space stretching right to the back of the front seats. The car also features a hidden area underneath the 'normal' boot.

Seat says that IBZ Concept has a total length of 4.22 meters and retains the same height and width as the basic hatch. Howver, the Spanish automaker claims that access to the back seats has been improved thanks to the broader rear doors.

The toned-down, production version of the IBZ Concept will join the three- and five-door hatchback versions of the Ibiza towards the middle of next year (2010).

Seat to Tease Ibiza Sport Tourer with Concept Model at the Frankfurt Show

Seat is planning to take the wraps off a thinly disguised concept version of its forthcoming Ibiza Sport Tourer (ST) model at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show, julino billym has learned. The production model that will most likely be revealed at either the 2010 Geneva Salon in March or the Barcelona Show in May is expected to arrive at European dealerships in the second quarter of 2010. Earlier this year SEAT said that the Ibiza ST range will include a selection of engines that are not currently offered in the SC (three-door) and five-door hatchback models.

The third member of the Ibiza family will be produced at Seat's factory in Martorell Spain.

Seat's Leon "Twin Drive" Petrol-Electric Hybrid

Seat has revealed a new prototype version of the Leon hatchback conceived to run on electric power or a conventional petrol engine. As its name suggests, the Leon "Twin Drive" Ecomotive sports a hybrid powertrain that consists of a 35 kW electric motor fed by a group of lithium-ion batteries located at the rear of the vehicle, and a conventional petrol engine. The initial aim is for the Leon to run on electricity in urban areas, switching to conventional petrol power for longer trips out of town.

In all-electric mode, the prototype Leon has a range of 50 km (31 miles) and a self-imposed top speed of 100 km/h (62mph).

Aside from the hybrid powertrain, the Leon Twin Drive Ecomotive features extensive modifications of the gearbox, brakes, heating and cooling systems, while major changes to the vehicle's electronics have also been carried out.

While the specific Leon is not intended to enter production, Seat plans to introduce a hybrid-electric model by 2014. The prototype Leon will offer Seat's engineers valuable information on advanced electrical propulsion techniques, battery recharging and vehicle range.