New SEAT Ibiza Cupra set to storm the hot hatch party

SEAT is set to skip over the ropes with punches flying when it enters the fight for hot hatch honours with an undated and uprated version of its Ibiza Cupra.

A 1.8-litre turbocharged TSI engine has been slotted under the bonnet of the Spanish hatchback in a bid to compete with the likes of the Ford Fiesta ST, Peugeot 208 GTI and Renaultsport Clio 200.

With headline figures of 189bhp and 236lb.ft. of torque — rises of 12bhp and 52lb.ft. over the old 1.4 TSI — it should now be able to compete.

Seat claims that the new Cupra, which comes equipped with the Volkswagen Groups XDS electronic differential, will reach 62mph in 6.7 seconds and a top speed of 146mph.

Setting out his stall for the new model, Dr Matthias Rabe, Vice-President for Research and Development at SEAT S.A., said: “Responsive, powerful acceleration, extremely precise handling, good traction and fade-free brakes guarantee the kind of driving fun that the CUPRA name stands for.”

He added: “The new Ibiza CUPRA is a perfect example of how we at SEAT bring together the very latest technologies from the Volkswagen Group to create a unique and highly distinctive overall package.”