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Seat has launched the new Ibiza model in Ireland, based on a new platform, more space and new 'Arrow Design' styling. Seat believes this latest car will set new standards in the supermini segment, given its competitive price of €14,850 before delivery charges.
 The new Sat Ibiza combines stunning style with a competitive entry price of €14,850 before delivery charges.
The Seat Ibiza model has been the face of Seat since its launch in Ireland in 1984. Over four million Ibiza models have been sold across Europe to date, so this is an important car for the Seat team.
The styling for the new Ibiza has been created by ex-Lamborghini designer Luc Donckerwolke, who has taken over as Seat Design Director. The 'Arrow Design', with its lower headlights and radiator grille, will be the new corporate face for Seat models in the future. He has retained the 'Dynamic Line' that sweeps across the side of the car but added strong rear shoulders and attractive wheel arches to complete the design.
Special attention has been paid to detail in the new interior. New softer-to-touch plastics, smart new instrument panel and supportive sport seats are used. The newly designed radio includes an integrated Bluetooth telephone system that can be activated via controls on the steering column.
The Ibiza is the first car to use the new platform, front and rear suspensions developed by the VW Group for this segment. The new chassis lengthens the car's wheelbase by seven millimetres and widens the track by 30 millimetres at the front and 33 millimetres at the rear. Seat claims these changes provide the Ibiza with greater driving comfort and control, more room and more practicality. Besides, an eight per cent increase in boot space puts it among the leaders in its segment, with a total capacity of 292 litres (25 litres more than the previous Ibiza).
The new five-door Ibiza is initially available with a 1.2-litre three-cylinder 70bhp petrol engine in two specification levels. The 1.2 'R' model starts at €14,850 and the 1.2 'S' at €16,290, excluding delivery charges. The economical engine, with CO2 emissions of only 139 g/km, is in the new tax band 'B' and qualifies for annual road tax of just €150.
The engine line-up will increase in September with the1.4-litre petrol version and by end year 1.4 and 1.9 turbo-diesels will be added. These turbo-diesel models with band 'A' CO2 emission levels will cost only €100 for annual road tax. A 1.6-litre petrol engine with a seven speed DSG gearbox is expected in 2009.
The entry 'R' model Ibiza comes with height and reach-adjustable steering wheel, height-adjustable driver's seat, speed-sensitive electro-hydraulic power steering, driver, front passenger and head-thorax front side airbags, ABS, electric front windows, six-speaker audio with MP3-compatible CD player and AUX input for MP3 or iPod devices, integrated Bluetooth system, steering wheel audio controls, remote central locking and rolling code immobiliser.
Move up to the Ibiza 'S' model and you get extra features, such as body-coloured door mirrors and handles, silver instrument binnacle, height-adjustable front passenger's seat, electrically-adjustable and heated door mirrors, electric rear windows, cruise control, front fog lights with cornering function, trip computer, double headlamps, headlights with coming-home function and an alarm.
Seat has put the new Ibiza through more than two million kilometres of endurance testing. Crash tests during the development programme were carried out at higher impact speeds than usual. As a result of the improved active and passive safety systems, the new Ibiza gained five stars for adult protection, four stars for child protection and three stars for pedestrian protection in the EuroNCAP tests, making it one of the safest cars in its segment.
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