Mean Ibiza 3dr gets go-ahead

SEAT has put its money where its mouth is! Thanks to the great public reaction to its Bocanegra concept at the Geneva Motor Show in March, the Spanish firm has confirmed it will be putting the stunner into production.

The Bocanegra – the name means ‘black mouth’ in Spanish – features a strik­ing Perspex-trimmed face. It previewed the three-door version of the all-new Ibiza, which will be badged SportCoupé when it goes on sale in November. And the Bocanegra’s nose will appear on a flagship Cupra variant, which is due in 2009.

The hot hatch will have real road presence, thanks to the neat trans­parent housing for the xenon headlights, as well as the big vents that feed cool air to the engine.

SEAT design director Luc Doncker­wolke, previously of Lamborghini, told Auto Express: “When we showed the finished concept to our president Eric Schmitt, he said ‘I want one!’. And after the positive Geneva reception, there was no way we couldn’t put the Bocanegra into production.”

The Cupra will also get the same ground-hugging bodykit, plus a panoramic glass sunroof. Power should come from the 1.4-litre twin-turbo FSI petrol engine which appeared in the concept. This will have around 180bhp and be mated to a seven-speed semi-automatic DSG gearbox.

In a related story, Auto Express has been given exclusive access to the firm’s new Mondeo rival. It will be based on the platform of Audi’s previous-generation A4, and will feature an almost identical body, except for restyled front and rear ends – as previewed by early design sketches.

“We need to get into the family segment as quickly as possible, and using the A4 is the best way of doing that,” explained a SEAT spokesman. “We will then bring out a totally new model for the next generation.”

Engine options will include 1.9 and 2.0-litre diesels and a 2.0-litre TFSI petrol. As well as a saloon, there will be an A4 Avant-based estate. The newcomer is expected to be unveiled at October’s Paris Motor Show, with sales starting before the end of the year.