SEAT Ibiza Bocanegra

By Sam Hardy

07th May 2009

Here's the hot hatch that proves SEAT is putting its money where its mouth is! This is the stunning Ibiza Bocanegra – a car whose name literally means 'black mouth' in Spanish. It originally debuted at the Geneva Motor Show last year in concept trim but now, as promised, SEAT has unveiled a showroom-ready version at the Barcelona Motor Show.

On sale in the UK before the end of this year, the Bocanegra gets a dramatic piano black plastic front end, which is very similar to that of the original concept car. Based on the Ibiza Cupra, it also gets black double headlights, a central grille with honeycomb mesh plus a host of neat air vents. There are also black door mirror housings, a dark tinted roof and 17-inch alloys.

At the back is another honeycomb mesh grille, a roof spoiler and two Bocanegra badges. Inside, the cabin gets special sports seats with a capital 'B' stitched in red. There's also a three-spoke flat-bottomed steering wheel, which has a capital 'B' in aluminium too.

While the Bocanegra will be available with the choice of a 148bhp or 178bhp 1.4-litre TSI turbocharged and supercharged engine in Spain, the UK will simply get the hotter option. With an electronic limited slip differential and a seven-speed DSG paddleshift gearbox, expect the Bocanegra to do 0-60mph in seven seconds.

Sales should start later this year and buyers can choose between the red shown here of white paintwork. A price tag of between £16,500 and £17,000 is likely, said a SEAT insider.

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