Seat Ibiza Bocanegra wows crowds at Barcelona Motor Show

By Matt Brogan | May 08th, 2009

The road-ready version of Seat’s stunning Ibiza Bocanegra is wowing the crowds at this week’s Barcelona International Motor Show.

The Bocanegra concept car, first unveiled at the Geneva Motor Show a little more than 12 months ago, can still be seen beneath the production version including the unique and dramatic styling elements of the black front-end – hence the Bocanegra name which translates as ‘black mouth’ in Spanish.

Unveiled yesterday, the Ibiza Bocanegra’s styling is also a tribute to Volkswagen’s Spanish subsidiary’s original Bocanegra, the 1200 Sport, which debuted in its home country back in 1975.

The ‘70s car, a milestone in the brand’s history as the first model to be wholly developed at the Seat Technical Centre in Martorell, quickly went on to become a firm favourite in its home market and notched up sales of more than 11,000 in just three years.

In its home market the new Bocanegra will be equipped with the VW-developed twin-charged 1.4 TSI engine. Meanwhile, XDS electronic limited slip differential and a state-of-the-art seven-speed DSG gearbox with steering wheel-mounted paddle shifts underline the Bocanegra’s hi-tech appeal.

“The surprise unveiling of Luc Donckerwolke’s brilliant design concept at Geneva last year caused a real buzz around the show, and I’m sure the appearance of this remarkable production version will do the same in Barcelona,” said Head of Seat UK, Peter Wyhinny. “I’m very much looking forward to seeing right-hand drive versions of the Ibiza Bocanegra turning heads on UK roads later this year.”

Unfortunately for us, Volkswagen Group Australia has made it clear there are no plans for Seat to re-emerge in Asutralia any time soon.

Reckless1

That looks pretty good to me. I wonder if it will get the full 2.0t/6 speed DSG treatment in another option?

Anyway, the tuners are getting 225hp out of the twincharged unit now, so that would be enough
Lucas

I want one! Look at that interior, beautiful!
Autogyro

Nice looking car from the front. Not so much from the rear.
Vid_Ghost

Looks like they Completely copied the Mazda 2 MPS front end down to the last detail, Then changed the grill enough to call it a new design. they even got some of the style for the back from the Mazda 2, those headlights are a little angled.

All in all i think this car looks awsome but i also think the mazda 2 looks awsome. this will be going head to head with the 2MPS if the thing ever comes out. eheh
Yanzo

GOD DAMN!!! THAT THING LOOKS MEAN, AS!!! HOLY CRAP!!!

if that car was driving down the street other cars would probably get scared and hide.
Will

Another competent and impressive vehicle by the Volxwagen group…
Will

er, Volkswagen Group.
Neo Utopia

“Vid_Ghost”, Seat have been designing hatchback designs like this for at least 5 years now, these cars just haven’t been sold in Australia. It is Mazda who has been inspired from Peugeot and Seat in the past 5 years since their first 3. Look overseas to Europe first before making a myopic statement like that again.
http://www.caradvice.com.au OSU811

Ive said it a couple of times now. but they should of reintroduced SEAT rather than SKODA, seat has some much more exciting cars and more cars with appeal to the australian market.
Phill

Who owns Seat??????
http://www.caradvice.com.au OSU811

Seat is part of the vw/audi/porsche/skoda group!
they share chassis/engines and components with a lot of vw models..
Tomas79

OSU811, Seat has been tried in oz, and it failed miserably!!
Skoda on the other hand is much more elegant, much better built product!!
Aussiecars

@Tomas
seat and skoda need to combine then. Skoda cars Seat styling.

Very nice looking car this one.
G man

I agree with Will it looks like a VW
Reckless1

Tomas79 Says:
May 8th, 2009 at 4:43 pm
OSU811, Seat has been tried in oz, and it failed miserably!!
Skoda on the other hand is much more elegant, much better built product!!

Historically speaking, the SEAT didn’t win fans in Au, but neither did VW at the same period. Skoda of today can similarly not be compared with Skoda of yesteryear.

SEAT is just as well put together nowadays as the rest of the VAG stable.

SEAT vehicles seem to be aimed a little more at the boy racer end of the market whereas Skoda is more conservative in design and aimed at an older demographic.
Jake02

ChineseDriver,you can’t have a go at me for bringing Skods into this one…

SEATs are aimed at younger people as an alternative to the big brands, and they are somewhat but i’ve heard that SEAT isn’t actually doing that well. Some of their cars are slighty weird…like the Toledo which is a hatchbatch with a boot…

Skodas are the cars that people (in Europe) buy alot more of, and therefore are the cars that SEAT cars are the alternative to. Yes Skoda styling is abit less flairish but they’re still quite funky/unusual. The Roomster (need I say more?), the new Yeti and the design features on all Skoda models like when the taillamps are on the light is in a ‘C/ reverse ‘C’ shape, which is quite distinctive.

Skoda works better here than SEAT ever did, they’re abit more conservatively styled (thats why Toyotas sell so well…look at a Camry), the quality is fanastic (same or better than VW…especially the Superb), the cars themselves are so much better rounded (I’ve read reviews in Euro car mags, Skodas rate alot better than SEATs do so they look good go fast but what else?) and they have a better range of cars that look different to one another (all SEATs look the same at the front).

The Skoda Fabia RS will have the same engine etc as this, it’ll be a much better car.
booter

i drove an ibiza a few models back and it was a fantastic car, and SEAT make beautiful looking cars now, Ive always wanted a SEAT LEON, looks fantastic. VID_GHOST your wrong, mazda is the one copying styling. the euros have been doing for years now what mazda is trying to do with its styling, big mouth front ends etc. And the latest Mazdas show that they arent getting it right. that new *smile* just looks silly.
Jake02

Adding to my above comment, VW Australia wanted to bring Skoda here, not Seat. They didn’t have a competition between two! Skoda was chosen because it makes a truck-load more money every year!
I’m glad they did, otherwise I wouldn’t have my little gem Skoda, proving everyone wrong that it’s a great car, and is what people buying base Commodores should look at (bigger boot better space much better ecenomy on my RS spec better performance).
observer

Dont expect to see SEAT make a return down under….Skoda is having enough trouble trying to shift models that date back to 2007. Oh dear!!!
ComradeVodka

Eh, If SEAT come to me here in Australia, I will go to SEAT, and move to Europe.
ComradeVodka

That’s, “If SEAT [Don't] come to me”
http://CARADVICE.com.au tay

Still driving er from new than seat ibiza 1.4 since 95.Abit of body noise,but still drives like bulletproof.Fuels frugal too.I guess a simple reason for not bringing back Seat to Australia is a direct competition on the VW range.On the other hand,they might consider SEAT as a lower range models, if VW sales starts to slight.Why kill the golden goose that lay the golden egg.Ibiza! Ibiza!Drives a golf gti too.Nice but pricy though
http://CARADVICE.com.au tay

If i cannot get my hands on a new SEAT in australia ,beggars cant be choosers.eh!i wont mind buying an old Seat Ibiza /cupra gti…Would love to get my hands on a good seat ’98 or ’99 cupra GTI 16valves.I believed they are 110kilo watts.They are still great cars.After all they are VW ,wolfs in sheeps clothing
tay

Change my mind and awaiting for the new polo gti dsg and thats the closest vw car next to SEAT not sold anymore in Australia