SEAT star leads show round-up...

By Richard Yarrow

26th February 2010

Here's a shock – SEAT has unveiled its first-ever electric car. The striking sports coupé, which is badged the IBE, debuted at this week’s Geneva Motor Show. It boasts a 102bhp electric motor under the bonnet, coupled with a lithium-ion battery at the rear.

The model tips the scales at 1,000kg, and the Spanish maker claims it can hit 0-62mph in 9.4 seconds and has a top speed of 100mph. Shorter than the current Ibiza and wider than a Leon, it is styled as a 2+2 hatchback aimed at young couples.

And in a showcase of the latest vehicle-to-vehicle communication technology, the coupé can exchange data about its position on the road and traffic congestion with other enabled vehicles. SEAT president James Muir said: “With the IBE we are demonstrating that electric mobility will always be combined with excellent design and outstanding driving fun.”He confirmed that engineers are also working on electric mobility vehicles, which include both plug-in hybrids and full electric models. These would build on the success of the ECOmotive range of low-CO2 cars.

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