SEAT have released (or, as they might put it, “unleashed”) details of the new generation of their Ibiza line.

They’ve described the design as “young” and “emotional”. Now, if the ink’s not quite dried on the schematics, technically a design can be “young”, I suppose. But “emotional”? You’ve lost me there, SEAT.

But where they’ve lost me they’re bound to pick up someone else, for this generation of Ibiza’s all about versatility. They’re trying to offer something for everyone. The three-door Ibiza SC promises to be “compact and sporty”; the five-door “dynamic and universally popular”; the ST estate “elegantly practical”.

But particular note is to be taken of the Ibiza E Ecomotive. With emissions of just 89 g/km of CO2 it’s more than worthy of its “ultra-efficient” label.

Then there’s the Ibiza FR. Described as “exceptionally sporty”, it achieves a really rather meaty 150 PS.

Something for everyone, then. Something for everyone.

See? Even moany me has been quietened with their fresh green credentials.

“The Ibiza is an important foundation of our brand,” says James Muir, President of SEAT, S.A. “With the new generation, we are taking a clear step forward – the fresh and young design language speaks to SEAT’s unique and distinctive character.”

“It underscores the precision and quality of our products. This makes the new Ibiza a crucial element in SEAT’s strategy. Its success will grow even further, not least in our new market of China.”

China, hey? Well, good luck there, SEAT!

As for the UK,  we’re looking at a spring 2012 launch. Full details of UK trim levels, prices and technical specifications will be announced as and when.

SEAT have unveiled the prototype of their new Altea CL Electric Ecomotive model. A totally electrically-driven zero-emissions affair, it represents their first ever foray into the exciting new world of electric motoring.

In addition, they’ve announced the prototype Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive (pictured) – a plug in hybrid.

The Altea XL Electric Ecomotive is the first ever electric vehicle to be fully designed,  developed and manufactured in Spain. It has an engine producing 115 hp (85 kW) and 270 Nm of torque. This translates into a limited top speed of 135 kph. With its roomy passenger compartment and generous boot, the electric Altea XL is equally suitable for family transport or company use.

The SEAT Leon TwinDrive Ecomotive in full electric mode has a range of 52 kilometres, with a top speed of 120 kph. In combined mode (electrical plus combustion) the consumption forecast is only 1.7 litres of fuel and 18.5 kWh per 100 kms, the equivalent of a rock-bottom 39 g/km of CO2, with a top speed of 170 kph.

The hybrid is looking at a 2015 release, with the fully-electric model expected the following year. Quite a wait yet, then!

Says SEAT president James Muir: ‘Customers demand a more sustainable form of mobility, but their needs are diverse. Therefore, we believe that a parallel strategy of developing two different technologies will put SEAT in the best position to meet their needs.’

Got it. So they know that their customers want to go green, but also know that not everybody’s yet happy with fully-electric vehicles. So they’re covering all bases. That’s fine!

Just that – what if people are au fait with fully-electric come 2015? SEAT – it’s good that you’re moving ahead with the times, but please: Never forget how to dream.

One is arguably the most influential folk musician to ever live, whose devastating way of words has been variously inspiring, inciting and invigorating millions for some five decades now. The other is a Spanish manufacturer of cars.

But this week, the respective fates of Bob Dylan and Seat were curiously aligned. For, this week, both made their Chinese debut.

Whilst ears are still ringing post Dylan’s first ever Chinese concert, Seat have announced that, for the first time in history, the company will be present at Shangai’s Motor Show (April 21-28) as part of a strategy to establish a new market in China.

The immediate objective is to “establish SEAT among potential customers before sales begin with the Leon and Ibiza models in 2012.”

Says Seat’s S.A. President James Muir: “The Chinese market offers a great opportunity for a brand like ours.  SEAT is synonymous with design, being young in spirit and sportiness – attributes which are greatly appreciated in this market”.

He continues: ‘Our research shows that Chinese car buyers value performance and dynamism. Furthermore, technology and state-of-the-art engineering are important to them and they are very design-conscious.

‘On this basis, we are satisfied that SEAT will bring something fresh and new to the car market in China, helping us to establish a brand identity and a position in the market which is uniquely SEAT’s.’

Well. Good luck, James!

SEAT in China. Who’d've thought it. The times, they are a changing.

For all those London motorists who are today hit by an unwelcome VAT rise on fuel and an extra £2 on the Congestion Charge, SEAT’s E Ecomotive models may be the next car to get.

The Spanish brand’s Ibiza E Ecomotive and Leon E Ecomotive models all boast official CO2 emissions of less than 100g/km, meaning they not only offer stunning real-world fuel economy but also they are exempt from the charge levied on driver’s entering the centre of London.

These new rules which are effective from today will be warmly welcomed by SEAT owners down south.

Today, the daily Congestion Charge rose from £8 to £10 but among the exemptions is the Greener Vehicle Discount (GVD), which allows a 100% reduction for new cars that emit 100g/km or less of C02 and that meet the stringent Euro 5 standard for air quality. Of SEAT’s growing E Ecomotive family, the most popular- the Ibiza and Leon meet both these criteria.

Owners of Ibiza or Leon models will need to register their cars with Transport for London and pay a nominal fee of £10 per year, but other than that they can venture into the city centre knowing they are escaping the charge and have tailpipe emissions amongst the lowest of any car on the road.

The Ibiza E Ecomotive is the greenest of the green in SEAT’s range, with a C02 rating of only 92g/km. Its eye-catching combined fuel economy of 80.7 mpg, means that even with diesel set to rise to about £1.32 per litre- a range of almost 800 miles will still only cost around £60.

Considering it is a family sized car, the Leon E Ecomotive’s 99g/km CO2 emissions are particularly impressive. The Ibiza and Leon models achieve their efficiency through careful optimization of the latest technology, including common rail TDI diesel engines (1.2 for the Ibiza and 1.6 for the Leon), Stop/Start system, gearshift indicator and Brake Energy Recovery technology. The Leon is also equipped with low friction tyres and enhanced aerodynamics to reach its sub-100 g/km figure.

Aside from the low running costs and exemption from the Congestion Charge, these frugal E Ecomotive models also qualify for a £0 Road Fund Licence each year, further emphasizing their low-cost motoring credentials.

There’s a passage in Nick Hornby’s “About A Boy” in which Will, the protagonist, concedes that one of the benefits of motoring is the opportunity to listen to music at such volumes which, were they indulged at home, might have had him arrested.

However, a survey as conducted by SEAT has revealed that it’s not volume that’s the issue when it comes to motoring and music. Rather, a lot of drivers appear to view solitary driving as an opportunity to listen to such songs which might otherwise have seen them ostracised by their peers. The research revealed that 14% of men and 11% of women admit to harbouring embarrassing “closet” musical tastes which only ever manifest themselves in the car.

For the men, it’s such music which might be viewed as “a bit girly”, with 12% admitting a fondness to show tunes, 25% as possessing a fondness for Take That and 26% opting for a bit of Abba. Aha.

Some 17% of women, on the other hand, have a fancying for that which SEAT have unfortunately labelled as “macho classics” from the likes of The Clash, Thin Lizzy, AC/DC and Motorhead.

Am I not the only one who finds this incredibly patronising and sexist? Why shouldn’t men have a fondness for that which might be more the remit of their female contemporaries? And since when has it been at all remarkable for women to profess a liking for metal?

The research was commissioned to coincide with the even more alarmingly sexist “SEAT Sex Drive” reality show which “aims once and for all to settle the debate over which of the sexes is better behind the wheel”. Well. That’s not so much the women’s rights movement as being set back by a few decades but, I fear, humanity itself.

Get over your gender-based hang-ups, people. If you enjoy it, why should it make you feel in any way ashamed? If it makes you happy, then go ahead and enjoy it. If your friends think less of you on account of your taste in music, well then. They can’t be very good friends anyway, can they? And the notion that one gender’s “better behind the wheel” than the other? What’s the need? What’s the need.

For the latest in Nationwide’s SEAT car leasing offers, click here.

The Ibiza ST made its showroom debut in the UK this month. To coincide, SEAT have released the full price and specification details for the latest model to join the Ibiza line alongside the sporty SC and the practical 5dr.

The Ibiza ST was designed with a view to offering additional carrying capacity with zero compromise made on the trademark sporty style for which the Ibiza range of superminis is famed. In terms of boot space, the Ibiza ST boasts an impressive 430 litres with the seats up – a full 138 litres over that of the 5dr model.

A range of motors will be available at launch to suit every need, from sporty  turbocharged petrols through to the latest in efficient turbodiesels. In addition,  the optional five-speed manual or hi-tech seven-speed DSG gearbox entails that the new SEAT is even available to order in super-frugal Ecomotive form for reduced CO2 emissions.

So far, so sporty. However, SEAT have also detailed such features that ensure that the new Ibiza ST model will be viewed, as they put it, as “sensible” as it is “chic”. These include split folding rear sears with a 60/40 bias, sleek roof rails in either black or chrome finish, a low load height and wide rear hatch, a flat boot floor and innovative storage options throughout the ST’s  interior.

Such features as air conditioning, four-speaker stereo radio with MP3-compatible CD and AUX-in, steering column-mounted audio controls, electric front windows; roof rails, speed sensitive electro-hydraulic power steering and volumetric alarm and remote central locking with deadlocks will come as standard in all models.

The entry-level 1.4-litre 16V S A/C model will come with an RRP of £12,070. Of course, the price will rise depending upon the engine and equipment levels, but SEAT have announced the current ceiling to stand at £14,910 for the Ibiza ST 1.2 TDI CR Ecomotive in luxurious SE spec.

Many people love classic cars; but if you’re concerned about your environmental impact, how can anyone enjoy driving one? For some, the answer may be having the drivetrain converted to all-electric power and Duke’s Garage just outside Denver, Colorado has created an “Electric Pony” to show off their abilities to do just that. The classic car dealer and restoration specialist has taken a ’65 Ford Mustang convertible in need of some extensive rebuilding and rehabilitated both its looks and its emissions output. The pony car is now powered using twinned electric motors supplied with current from a 144 volt lithium ion battery pack under the hood. The seats have been redone using recycled foam and are swathed in a classy hemp herringbone fabric with dark piping, as are the door panels. Finished in a dark olive, the “Electric Pony” is now green inside and out and ready to carry passengers about in style for 50 to 60 miles between charges. Check out their website for lots of pics of their handiwork. Duke’s will offer the service for $15,000 to $20,000, depending on the car and are eyeing a Volkswagen Beetle and Karman Ghia as their next projects.

[Source: Duke's Garage / Denver Post]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Ford, USA

Duke’s Garage turns ’65 Mustang into Electric Pony originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sun, 15 Mar 2009 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Duke’s Garage turns ’65 Mustang into Electric Pony – Green Cars

Last fall at the Paris Motor Show, auto parts supplier and part-time vehicle assembler Heuliez debuted an electric car called the Friendly. As of Thursday, the three-seat electric vehicles were made available for pre-order on the internet. Three different versions of the Friendly will be available, all sporting nickel metal hydride battery packs that offer a range of between 100 and 250 kilometers (60-155 miles). Starting price is 12,000 euros ($15,500 in the U.S.). A deposit of 10 euros reportedly places the purchaser on a priority ordering list and deliveries are expected to begin in February of 2010.

Earlier this month, Pininfarina and Bollor� put their French electric car up for order as well. Called the BlueCar, this EV will cost €330 per month to lease (no purchases) and will also be good for 250 kilometers (155 miles). What’s the over/under on which one makes it to production first?

[Source: Automotive News - sub. req'd]

Filed under: EV/Plug-in, Green Daily, Europe/EU

Heuliez begins accepting orders for Friendly electric car in France originally appeared on AutoblogGreen on Sat, 14 Mar 2009 13:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Heuliez begins accepting orders for Friendly electric car in France – Green Cars

Seat Car Offers

At the British International Motor Show Seat unveiled another world debut for the second year running. The new Seat Ibiza SportsCoupe plans to tear up the supermini market.

The Spanish, sporty supermini has been a popular model for many years and has recently had a makeover. This SportCoupe model is a brand new branch of the Ibiza family and is designed to make a big impact in the supermini market.

This is the first Seat design of the legendary Luc Donckerwolke, former Lamborghini design chief, who is now director of design at Seat. This is where the aggressive design treatment has come from hence the more muscular, masculine appearance. Taking the ‘arrow head’ theme Luc Donkerwolke has adapted things like lowering the headlights and repositioning the front grille.

The SportCoupe is now shorter and lower than before and shares many similarities to the Bocanegra concept shown at Geneva earlier this year. It has been put onto a new, agile chassis using independent front suspension for a sportier drive. For the first time in any supermini, Seat have fitted this car with a Direct Shift Gearbox (DSG) utilising the double clutch technology for smooth gear changes with no loss of power.

This will be hitting the showrooms later this year and will be available to lease from Nationwide Vehicle Contracts.