Currently reading: Ibiza three-door for UK motor show
Seat Ibiza ‘sport-coupe’ to be revealed at Excel; on sale by the end of 2008

The new three-door Seat Ibiza will be unveiled at the British Motor Show this July.Based on the popular Luc Donckerwolke-designed Bocanegra concept, the three-door hatch is officially known as the Ibiza sport-coupe and will go on sale in the UK before the end of the year. Seat has also officially confirmed that the sport-coupe will get hot FR and Cupra versions. There are no details on what engines will power them, but sources have indicated that both models will stick with high-powered, small-capacity motors.Naming the three-door Ibiza the ‘sport-coupe’ is just part of Seat’s strategy to market the car as a separate model to its five-door sibling, which had its first public outing at the Madrid show last week.The styling will also set the three-door apart from the bigger five-door Ibiza, because the sport-coupe will be virtually unchanged from the stand-out design of the Bocanegra. Even the striking black grille featured on the concept is likely to make it into production, though it is undecided whether it will appear on the entire sport-coupe range or just the range-topping models. No on-sale dates have been confirmed for the three-door, but sources say it will be in the showroom by the end of the year with the FR and Cupra models following in 2009.

Vicky Parrott

Read Steve Cropley's first drive of the new Seat Ibiza.

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Mr.Pickle 27 May 2008

Re: Ibiza three-door for British motor show

I love the look of Seats new baby. The wide flared rear wings along the window line are superb. Its got to be one of the most aggressive hatchs ever designed

It would'nt surprise me if they popped up running the Volkswagen Audi Groups new FSi engines. 2.0 litre turbo charged and putting out around 245bhp in the top model with smaller 1.6 or 1.8 150bhp engines.

It will be interesting to see if diesels make a serious challenge in the hot hatch market though.

SpecB 27 May 2008

Re: Ibiza three-door for British motor show

Wow. That does look good - I've always been a fan of Seats since the mid to lat 90's when they started to get interesting.

Mini1 27 May 2008

Re: Ibiza three-door for British motor show

Excellent - it's good to see another fairly important car debuting at the British Motor Show. It would be nice to see the LEDs make it to the production car. Overall, I'm sure it will be a hot seller.