New SEAT Ibiza Cupra: Beijing 2012

2012 SEAT Ibiza Cupra

The new 2012 SEAT Ibiza Cupra – called a concept but heading for showrooms – debuts at the Beijing Motor Show.

SEAT are calling the Ibiza Cupra they’ve debuted at the Beijing Motor Show a Concept, but it’s not really a concept or a new Ibiza Cupra – it’s just the Ibiza Cupra with the updates the rest of the Ibiza has had for 2012.

That means a bit of a nose job with glitzy new headlights with LEDs, new grill and big air vents, a revised bumper at the back with tweaks to the lights and some new alloys.

The interior gets a bit of a titivate too with a removable SatNav screen, new sports steering wheel and a trip computer. This concept version of the new Ibiza Cupra also gets a set of leather sports seats with yellow trim to match the paint job.

We’re struggling to see – beyond the changes the 2012 Ibiza has had across the range – what’s particularly new about the Cupra. There’s some 17″ alloys, a ‘Look at me I’m fun’ paint job, a rear diffuser and black detailing to set off the loud paint. All as you would expect.

Even under the bonnet there seems to be nothing much new going on, with the 1.4 litre forced induction four-pot producing 178bhp and putting that through a seven-speed DSG ‘box and and XDS diff to the front wheels.

Still, the old Ibiza Cupra wasn’t exactly broken, so why change?

The ‘New’ Seat Ibiza Cupra will probably arrive in showrooms by the end of the summer.