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CAP Blog > CAP Blog > Martin's Blog
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Jul
15
Written by:
Martin Ward
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Milton Keynes is home to the Volkswagen Group HQin the UK, so it was just a two hour journey down the M1 in our VW Passat BlueMotion test car and it achieved an amazing 64.3mpg.
 The new Ibiza Cupra will only be available with a 7 speed DSG automatic gearbox and Seat say it is unlikely it will ever be offered with a manual gearbox. They say the reason for this is that the younger drivers watch motor racing and see the steering wheel paddle shift as the sporty way to change gear and is F1 inspired. This may well be true but automatics are also used by older people and it may be sending out the wrong message. As these cars come into the used car market in a few years time, will the boy racer really want to be seen in an automatic that is the same as one used by their Gran? However, other VW Group companies have been successful with the DSG transmission in models such as the Golf GTi and Audi TT so if Seat can get the right message across and convince future buyers that it is the car to be cool in then maybe they could be onto a winner.
 The new Cupra is powered by the award winning Volkswagen Group 1.4 litre TSI supercharged and turbocharged petrol engine. It produces 180ps, goes from 0-62mph in 7.2 seconds, has CO2 emissions of 148g/km and an expected combined fuel consumption figure of around 44mpg. We drove the Ibiza Cupra around Milton Keynes and then into the local countryside. There we found some bends in the road where we were able to safely test the uprated, stiffened and lowered suspension and the uprated brakes, which coped admirably with the 180ps power output. It felt rock solid and safe and handled just as you would expect a hot Hatch to behave.
 The sports seats are comfortable yet supportive and they really hold you in place when cornering. The interior gives the appearance of quality, with the fit, finish and materials used being extremely good. The level of standard equipment is generous. This includes climate control, cruise control, ESP with EBA, hill hold control and a tyre pressure monitoring system.
The Ibiza is a very stylish Sports Coupe and this perception will be enhanced further with the addition of this model. Seat say the Cupra will account for around 3% of Ibiza sales and the key competitors for the Sporty Ibiza models will be: Renault Clio Renaultsport 200, Alfa Romeo MiTo 1.4 T-Jet, Vauxhall Corsa VXR, Ford Fiesta 1.6 Zetec S and Mini Cooper S.
As well as the Cupra model, Seat are introducing a Cupra Bocanegra as well. The Bocanegra (black mouth) has some black styling elements, bespoke interior features and the Bocanegra name on the boot lid. It will cost £700 more than the Cupra.
The cost of the Cupra will be £15,995 and is available to order now with first UK deliveries due in October.
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