Currently reading: Frankfurt motor show: Seat Ibz concept
Concept car highlights Ibiza estate, which is on sale in mid 2010

This is the Sear Ibz concept car, which the company says previews "a new, family-sized version of the Ibiza that will make its debut in showrooms across Europe towards the middle of next year".

As a result of its imminent on-sale date, the Ibz concept is in fact very close to how the production Seat Ibiza Sport Tourer will look, although some of the more eye-catching flourishes will no doubt be removed.

See high-res pictures of the Seat Ibz concept car

Standout exterior features include the dramatic headlight shape, a new centre grille with honeycomb slats, the Leon-style integrated rear door handles and LED lights. A panoramic roof is also likely to be offered as an option on the production car.

The low load floor and wide rear window are also designed to highlight the car's intended use as a practical vehicle - boots space is 410 litre seats up, but Seat will only say it is "significantly extended" when the rear seats are dropped into a completely flat position.

However, Seat insists that the car will also retain a sporty character - hence the cut-off steering wheel and prominent rev counter.

The concept's interior is designed to highlight the estate's feeling of spaciousness; hence the use of light strips to pick out the dash and doors, and light colours such as the magnolia trim, and soft-touch suede on the dash and seats.

There are many genuine insights into the production car in the Ibz's interior, though: the switchgear, use of storage hooks and underfloor storage in the boot, the electronic handbrake and numerous storage compartments are all expected to echo the production car's design.

The Ibz concept is based on the hatch's chassis, and measuresf 4.22 metres in length and the same height and width as the hatch. However, access to the rear seats is improved still further via broader rear doors.

Twitter - follow autocar.co.ukSee all the latest Seat Ibiza reviews, news and video

Advertisement

Read our review

Car review

The Seat Ibiza is good looking, well-priced and spacious supermini that doesn’t quite live up to Seat’s sporty image

Join the debate

Comments
7
Add a comment…
Paddler Ed 16 September 2009

Re: Seat Ibz concept shows estate

J400uk wrote:
I've watched supermini estates over the years come onto the market and make virtually no sales, they are just quite simply pointless. Cars like the 207 SW, Clio Tourer and Fabia Estate are all good examples of this. The market is tiny.

I think there is a place for these; I know people who have the 207SW, the Fabia estate and the old Ibiza estate. These are driven by a 72yo, a family of 3, and a 22yo.... find me a car with as broader demographic that is as versatile and economical to run.

They may appear to be a niche, but I think actually they're the ideal solution for a lot of people, it's just people buy into the hype that actually they need an MPV. All of these vehicles have done multi week camping holidays (The Seat has done a trip with 4 people's kit, 2 people in it and 4 kayaks on the roof to Norway; the Skoda did 2 adults and a toddler camping in the South of France, with a canoe on the roof and did Dover to the Ardeche on less than one tank of fuel)

I think it's a spot on car, good luck to them with it!

J400uk 15 September 2009

Re: Seat Ibz concept shows estate

ordinary bloke wrote:
Why do you say that? I know quite a few people who currently run larger estate cars but want to downsize to something a bit sporty as well as smaller but have been unable to as there are very few smaller estate cars, as opposed to hatchbacks; the extra headroom of the estate (ie the space above the bottom of window level) is essential for a dog. The only alternative is something like the Audi A3 Sportback, but this will be cheaper than that, I guess. Small estate cars are an excellent compromise between overall size and inner space, and this fits the bill nicely.

I've watched supermini estates over the years come onto the market and make virtually no sales, they are just quite simply pointless. Cars like the 207 SW, Clio Tourer and Fabia Estate are all good examples of this. The market is tiny.

Your comparison with the A3 Sportback is invalid, as its just a regular 5dr hatch based on the VW Golf and competing with the BMW 1-Series and Mercedes A-Class.

ordinary bloke 15 September 2009

Re: Seat Ibz concept shows estate

J400uk wrote:
there really isn't a market (in the UK anyway) for a car like that
Why do you say that? I know quite a few people who currently run larger estate cars but want to downsize to something a bit sporty as well as smaller but have been unable to as there are very few smaller estate cars, as opposed to hatchbacks; the extra headroom of the estate (ie the space above the bottom of window level) is essential for a dog. The only alternative is something like the Audi A3 Sportback, but this will be cheaper than that, I guess. Small estate cars are an excellent compromise between overall size and inner space, and this fits the bill nicely.