autoevolution
 

Official: New SEAT Ibiza Will Debut in 2015, Likely in Frankfurt

Volkswagen Group has proudly announced that it will launch 50 new or improved cars in 2015, among them being a couple of surprise. Even though no prototypes have been spotted, the new SEAT Ibiza is scheduled to come out in coming months, along with a updated 911, Porsche Boxster Spyder and T6 Transporter.
2015/2016 SEAT Ibiza teaser 1 photo
Photo: SEAT
Right now, SEAT's Ibiza is the oldest and most outdated supermini of the Volkswagen Group. Volkswagen and Audi both facelifted their cars, while Skoda launched an all-new Fabia, which is likely to become the most popular car in its class this year.

Not a lot is officially known about the new Ibiza, but we do have an official sketch detailing its design. As you can see, both overhangs are extremely short, which will aid handling. Two lines define the side profile, just like on the Leon, and an X-shape can be seen at both the front and the back.

With Frankfurt being the next big show of the European calendar, we're likely to see SEAT's new car there.

The new Ibiza would be a 5th generation model, which may or may not be based on the MQB platform. Skoda has already shown that you can reduce a lot of weight by updating the older PQ25 architecture, which also fits all of the latest VW Group downsized engines.

What engines will be available?

The 1.2-liter TSI will continue to be offered in two stages, but pretty much everything else will be different. Base models will have a 1-liter L3 making either 60 or 75 hp. The current diesel engine will all be replaced by a new 1.4-liter TDI available in 3 forms: 76, 90 and 105 PS.

The biggest question mark hangs over the future of the Cupra. Sales of the current model have been less than stellar, but that's understandable considering the lack of a manual gearbox and the issues people had with the 1.4 TSI twin-charged unit. Its replacement could be a 1.8-liter turbo making 192 PS, but Skoda recently dropped its hot hatch altogether.

Still, it's too early to talk performance, when we haven't even seen the first 2015 Ibiza prototype yet. But the words VW big boss mister Winterkorn recently spoke do give us lots of hope:

“We are being deliberately rather more cautious – despite excellent figures we always have a good grip on reality. You know us well enough: we’re never satisfied with just doing the minimum. Our stated goal for fiscal year 2015 is to achieve further growth both in terms of volumes and in our sales revenue and operating profit.”
If you liked the article, please follow us:  Google News icon Google News Youtube Instagram X (Twitter)
About the author: Mihnea Radu
Mihnea Radu profile photo

Mihnea's favorite cars have already been built, the so-called modern classics from the '80s and '90s. He also loves local car culture from all over the world, so don't be surprised to see him getting excited about weird Japanese imports, low-rider VWs out of Germany, replicas from Russia or LS swaps down in Florida.
Full profile

 

Would you like AUTOEVOLUTION to send you notifications?

You will only receive our top stories