Test Drive Seat Ibiza Cupra since 2009 Hatchback

Seat Ibiza Cupra.

Even by providing journalists for a test drive, several charged modifications of the hatchback Seat Ibiza, the Spanish company is in no hurry to bring them to the Russian market. What explains such restraint?
For SEAT, the model of Ibiza is more than one of the brand cars. This is his business card. And even more - almost icon, which firm prays and whose proud. After all, it is from it that the modern history of the brand is conducted, in the fall of 1982, which became part of the Volkswagen concern. Ibiza appeared already two years later, and now not only is considered the first independent development of an updated company, but also remains its most popular model: more than 3.3 million cars have been sold to the 20th anniversary of production, at that time produced in the third generation.
The next, fourth, the generation of the model saw the light in 2008, but the hot spanches would change themselves without making sports modifications. Seatovtsy remained correct to the principles: they recently presented at once the three incendiary versions of the new Ibiza - Cupra, FR and Bocanegra. However, in this list there is a fraction of marketing flaws. In fact, Bocanegra is just a designer version of the first two modifications, which has a number of exclusive options that give it an even more aggressive appearance.
Therefore, the ride essence on the test in Barcelona was to be removed from Cupra or FR. The choice fell on the first of them, which is explained simply: it is she in the whole row of Ibiza the most clockwork, the most sporting. After all, even the name Cupra itself is nothing but the words of the Cup and Racing, folded together for the car, which three times in a row - from 1996 to 1998 - won in his class world championship in the rally.
Apparent and visible
What do not say, and the transition of the SEAT brand in 2002. The Audi Group in Volkswagen went to her. Becoming a close relative of such brands such as Audi and Lamborghini, the Spaniard got access to the most valuable resources of the concern - technologies, innovations, intellectual work. One of the most vivid results of this integration is the exterior of the new Ibiza Cupra. He came out from under the pencil of the former designer Lamborghini Luca Donervolka, and this fact should immediately contribute to the asset of this sports hatchback.
Inheriting from ordinary Ibiza of its main features - a 3-door body with a very sloping roof, elongated headlights, faceted firewalls on wings, Cupra still gained its own style. Dynamicity It clearly added new bumpers with black air intakes and a diffuser, a powerful trapezoidal fider of the exhaust system, located in the center of the stern, five-spoke 17-inch wheels, black side mirrors, tinted windows. In combination with the corporate bright yellow color of the body of this modification, it looks simply amazing.
I open the door, waiting to see the continuation of the same topic in the cabin, and I get into the kingdom of gray. Gray plastic, gray carpets, gray ceiling upholstery and chairs. Nevertheless, it is not possible to call all this language. White sitting seats and edging rugs, knobs on the doors under aluminum, metal lining on the pedals create contrast and at the same time they do not look alien. Sportsiness add a three-spoke steering wheel with manual gear knobs and two wells (tachometer and speedometer) in the dashboard center. By the way, to demand wealth in the interior of this car would also be strange - and the brand is not a premium, and the model of the compact class B, calculated on the mass segment. It is much more important here: Ergonomics of a driver's seat, visibility, the level of comfort on the front chairs (it is clear that in a small sports hatchback, the second row of seats is rather nominal).
No one of the listed claim parameters arose: mirrors, steering wheel and seat (with tangible lateral support) set up quickly, without problems figured out with the instruments and controls, appreciated the concern for travelers: bottle capacity under the central console, armrest between seats , Pockets in the doorway and on the backs of the front armchairs, climate control, radio tape recorder and can not notice the removable navigator proposed by the test organizers (although I understand that this is only an option). He turned out to be so simple and clear that even without a Russian translation, he spent me, like Lotsman, according to a completely unfamiliar area.
Another pleasant discovery was waiting in the luggage compartment. His volume is normal for its class - 284 liters. And a comfortable curtain, rising in a place with a rear door, is also not an innovation, although many producers for some reason are neglected. But that sincerely pleased, it is a full-size 17-inch spare wheel, hidden under the hollow of the trunk. It will definitely not be superfluous in the car, which the doctor prescribed fast gravel roads and serpentines in the mountains.
Pinch
The fact that Cupra is charged as it should be understood already from the technical data. Lee joke, under the hood of a typewriter, weighing only 1172 kg, a real monster is located, able to overclock the 4-meter hatchback to 225 km / h. This is another gift of the parent company: the famous Volkswagen engine 1.4 TSI for the fourth year in a row recognized the engine of the year in the class of aggregates from 1 to 1.4 liters. It is installed on many cars of this concern, but in its most powerful version (180 hp and 250 nm) is found only on the new Ibiza Cupra (and as if in gratitude to the trust she caresses with a good sound). Such a step will explain: in a number of mass brands of the German concern, the SEAT brand is assigned the role of an athlete.
To support this Renome, a 7-speed preselective DSG gearbox also put on Cupra. But it was her who seemed to me not ideal: it would be a little stray, he jested. Although it is already from the field of the commour. In any case, in overtaking, you can go boldly, feeling stock in time and craft. I am sure that the overwhelming majority of owners of such cars will be happy how this transmission works, especially when switching to the sports mode. So, until hundreds of it can dispersed the car for 7.2 s. Perhaps the Spanish designers were right, deciding to abandon the mechanics and equipped the car only by a robot - its combination with a 1.4 TSI engine turned out to be successful.
The sport is sharpened and suspension Cupra. Compared with the serial Ibiza, its ground clearance reduced by 10 mm and somewhat displaced the center of gravity, significantly tougher springs, changed the characteristics of the shock absorbers. Thanks to the carefully verified settings, the car is managed exactly as you expect from the charged hatchback: accurately reacts to each steering movement, without rolls and clearly fits into any turn. The brakes are also good - smooth, but chain. And if suddenly the driver made a mistake, the electronics immediately enter into the case (for example, in addition to all the usual ABS and ESP, there is already a system of electronic imitation of the Differential of XDS). But this happens only if the situation becomes really critical, and until then the car allows the driver to feel like a real rider.
By the way, speaking of security systems, it should be noted a very good level of equipment by Ibiza Cupra. There are inflatable pillows for the driver and front passenger, and the tire pressure sensor, and cruise control. For an additional fee, you can add side curtains for the front and rear passengers, folding with the help of the electric drive side mirrors, rain and parking sensors, headlight washers, bi-xenon head light. In addition, there is a set of options that increase the level of comfort and practicality of the car. For example, the manufacturer offers leather seats and heated chairs, a panoramic roof with a hatch, a grid for fastening cargo in the trunk, drawers under the front armchairs. In general, a very good set for the city class V.
Hurry not hurt?
In 2009, SEAT demonstrates unprecedented activity: during just a few months the market was represented four times in various classes. Some (as EXEO and EXEO ST) are built on the Audi platforms, others are the fruit of their own developments and partnerships with the Volkswagen brand (the same new Ibiza divided the platform with the latest VW Polo). But in any case, these are original and high-quality cars. And not wine brand is that in many countries it is not quite popular: for example, in Russia, for its promotion, it took only lately when an independent importer company appeared.
But in the homeland of Seat out of competition: For the past eight years, he remains the most popular brand in the Spaniards. Buyers there finds each of the models - Leon, Altea, Cordoba, Toledo, but all of them are far from the popularity of Ibiza. The sports versions of the model on which third demand are also played in this. For a long time, the first 150-strong Cupra was represented in 1996, and later it appeared in every generation of Ibiza. A little later, in 2002, the company first released less hot modification - FR. Now, thanks to the Bocanegra versions, the choice of lovers of sports hatchbacks has become even wider.
However, the success of three charged innovations of this year, Seatovtsy is not in a hurry - in the yard crisis. The same factor does not allow to assess the prospects for sales of these cars and in Russia. Especially since our dealers will appear, apparently, not very soon - neither prices (in Spain they start with 20,600 euros), nor from the date of commencement of sales, the Russian distributor has not yet been determined. It's a pity. After all, we have lovers of such cars, and Spanish hatchbacks can quite revive the competition in their segment.

Specifications SEAT Ibiza Cupra
Dimensions, mm 4061x1693x1420
Base, mm 2469
The volume of the trunk, l 284
Curb weight, kg 1172
Engine type gasoline L4 with turbocharged
Working volume, cube. CM 1390.
Max. Power, hp / rpm 180/6200
Max. Moment, nm / rpm 250 / 2000-4500
Transmission Robotic 7-speed
Drive front
Max. Speed, km / h 225
Acceleration time 0-100 km, from 7.2
Fuel consumption (medium), l / 100 km 6.4
Volume of tank, l 45

Igor Polyakov
Photo by the author and manufacturer firms

 
  

A source: Magazine "Autopanoram"