UPDATED: New Seat Ibiza

Seat has unveiled the all-new Ibiza supermini at its Martorell factory in Spain, and these the first pictures of the finished production car. The Spanish brand claims its new Ibiza will mark the start of a “major product offensive”, to include a new saloon, a small 4x4 and a small sporting coupé.The Ibiza’s the first model to use VW’s new small-car platform, which will also underpin the Volkswagen Polo. It’s also the first mainstream Seat styled by the company’s new design boss Luc Donkerwolke, formerly of Lamborghini.Showing Autocar around his latest work, Donkerwolke explained his intention to “entertain and excite Seat’s young clientele, those who are synchronised with technology and modern life.” With the three-door still to come, this sharp looking five-door Ibiza is noticeably larger than the old model, at 4.05m in length compared with 3.97m. It has wider front and rear tracks, giving it a more aggressive, planted stance. The carefully flared, faceted panels add to the effect. But the buzz-word around this small Seat is quality. “I’m keen on Swiss watches, that level of precision, but with emotion too, and flare,” Donkelwolke enthused. Interior packaging’s also been improved; there’s more rear legroom and 292-litres of boot space. And there’s an upmarket feel about the cabin with racy binnacle-mounted dials, sculpted mouldings and soft-touch materials. There’ll be a range of high-end options on offer with the Ibiza, including a seven-speed DSG gearbox (it’s the first supermini to offer this), hill hold assist, swivelling headlights, and USB/iPod music connectivity.The petrol engines have been downsized with TSI turbo technology and there’ll be three on offer at launch. They range from a 1.2-litre three-cylinder with 69bhp, a 1.4-litre, 84bhp four-pot and a 1.6-litre four-cylinder producing 101bhp. The 1.9-litre TDI will be the first diesel unit, with more to follow. Seat claims that all models will emit less than 160g/km of CO2, and an Ecomotive version of the car is likely to produce under 100g/km. When the three-door version arrives, we can expect FR and Cupra versions which will use the 1.4 TSI unit with the wick turned up to 200bhp. The three-door's styling should stay true to that set by the racy-looking Bocanegra concept seen at the Geneva show. Designer Luc Donkerwolke told us “the three-door will be substantially different to the five-door.” The new Seat Ibiza will be in UK showrooms by late July.

Will Powell