Hot Ibiza spied testing

It’s only been a couple of weeks since the finished five-door Seat Ibiza was unveiled in Spain, but Autocar’s latest spy snaps from the Nurburgring reveal the performance-orientated Ibiza FR in high-speed testing for the first time. This petrol-powered Ibiza FR is likely to get the VW Group’s 1.4-litre TSI engine, offering around 160bhp here along with improved fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions. There’ll be a diesel Ibiza FR too, using one of VW Group’s new common-rail engines and probably boasting more urge than the current model’s 128bhp.Styling cues for the three-door Ibiza will be borrowed from the Bocanegra concept, which made its debut at this year’s Geneva motor show. Some similarities are already obvious from this test mule, particularly the stylish twin-spoke alloy wheels. In Seat’s hierarchy, FR models are intended to offer ‘accessible performance’ while the real thrills are reserved for range-topping Cupra variants. Sources suggest the Ibiza Cupra will use the same 1.4-litre TSI engine in a higher state of tune, possibly as much as 200bhp. The Cupra is said to stick even more closely to the aggressive Bocanegra concept’s styling. The Ibiza FR is expected to cost around £15,000 and will go on sale late next year, several months after the launch of the lower-powered Ibiza variants.

Will Powell