Estates still make much sense these days. I think they’re even more practical that most crossovers since, at least, estates don’t suffer from any identity crisis.

Here’s Seat with their new compact estate – the Seat Ibiza ST estate.

Powering the car is the a range of six engines consisting of 3 gasoline engines and 3 diesels with the 1.2 TDI and 1.2 TSI engines built new for the Ibiza range.

The car’s 18 cm longer than the regular Ibiza hatch creating 430 liters of cargo space – significantly more than the hatch’s 292 liters. The rear folding split seats would allow for more storage capacity when needed.

The car will be unveiled at the coming Geneva show and will be on sale this summer.

A Seat Ibiza Ecomotive cruised all the way from Spain through France and Germany on the way to a world record for average fuel consumption for its class. The trip put the Ibiza at 81.1 mpg after making a single-tank trip for 970.6 miles.

The Ibiza Ecomotive was driven by former rally driver Gerhard Plattner from the Seat headquarters in Martorell near Barcelona. It left the facility with a sealed bonnet and a sealed fuel tank mouth. The car ran no more than under 70 mph. The car arrived at the predetermined finish point in Germany with still some fuel in the tank.

With the record already bagged, the car went on to Göttingen, to have the seals removed by the International Police Motor Corporation. Plattner described the feat as incredible. “Without a doubt, it has been the most spectacular fuel-saving challenge this year,” he added.

Seat banked on the Seat Ibiza Ecomotive’s optimized aerodynamics, weight-saving measures, and a modified TDI power plant to clinch the world record. Here’s hoping the record translates to a boost in sales.

Source: Autocar

Seat announced that it will be coming up with a limited-run variant of its Ibiza supermini. The Spanish automaker will be making 150 Ibiza Black variants, featuring a Black Magic paint job along with additional styling upgrades.

Aside from the gorgeous black colorway, the new Ibiza Black will have all-new exterior components to match. The front and rear bumpers, side skirts, and a roof spoiler will be among the updated features. It will also feature 17-inch alloy wheels and, on the inside, sport seats.

Essentially, the Ibiza Black features the same specs as Ibiza Sport Coupe 5dr, on which the variant is based. It will be powered by a 1.4-liter engine that can push the car to a top speed of 108 mph. It can accelerate to 62 mph in a decent 12.2 seconds. Fuel mileage is pegged at 45.6 mpg, while CO2 emission levels are at 149g/km.

It’s a limited-run offer, so it’s bound to get some interest. The Ibiza has proven to be a respectable seller, and the stats show the car isn’t a pushover.

Source: Autocar