| New Eco-Model | Frankfurt Motor Show | SEAT Ibiza Ecomotive |
Competing with parent company Volkswagen, SEAT announced details of its Ecomotive range at the
Frankfurt Motor Show last week. The new range will directly rival VW's BlueMotion technology, offering in some cases better results.
The Ibiza Ecomotive is powered by a 1.4-litre TDI engine with a remapped ECU and extended gear ratios to further improve economy. SEAT claims that the revised Ibiza uses only 3.8-litres of fuel per 100km (74.3mpg), which is a little worse than VW's Polo BlueMotion manages at just 3.0-litres per 100km. However, the Ibiza produces only 99g/km of CO
2, exempting it from the proposed new London Congestion Charge and UK road fund licence. VW's Polo produces 3g/km of CO
2 more, whilst the SEAT is minutely more powerful too with 80bhp. Both models produce the same 144lb.ft of torque.
SEAT has tweaked the aerodynamics of the Ibiza Ecomotive too, lowering the co-efficient of drag rating to 0.3 as opposed to 0.315 of the standard version. The Ibiza has been fitted with low resistance tyres and wrapped around special steel wheels with closed-shape hubcaps, whilst the Spanish firm has removed central locking and electric windows shedding 22kg off the already light Ibiza - now topping the scales at just 1,084kg.
Both the Ibiza and Polo are more frugal and eco-friendly than VW's upcoming Golf BlueMotion, which produces 119g/km of CO
2 from its 1.9-litre diesel, as well as a return of 62.8mpg on combined cycle. VW showed another six new BlueMotion models in Frankfurt and so SEAT may follow suit with its own range. It seems the eco-conscious among us have yet another name to remember then...
Kyle Molyneux - 18 Sep 2007