SEAT is setting a clear course for electro-mobility with the unveiling at the 2010 Paris Motor Show of its latest generation SEAT IBE concept car.
The first version of the SEAT IBE was presented in Geneva earlier this year and, since then, its design, technology and interior have been further developed.
Making its debut in Paris is an interior which is spacious and versatile for a vehicle of this format, as well as an innovative concept for individualised connectivity and infotainment.
Clearly, driving fun and dynamics are at the heart of the SEAT IBE. The little sports car is low and wide, with powerful proportions and a concentrated gaze delivered by the razor-sharp lines of its LED headlamps.
With its short body length of only 3.83 meters it is the ideal fit for the urban mobility of the young and young at heart. And the SEAT IBE perfectly combines its sports car character with innovative technology. The all-electric drive facilitates local zero-emissions driving fun, while the powerful motor with 75 kW (102 PS) and the low weight delivered by intelligent mixed-material construction guarantee refined performance.
Alongside the impressive technical concept, the design of the SEAT IBE also points to an exciting future. Its athletic styling and clear, precise lines indicate an evolutionary step in SEAT design DNA. Style elements with unmistakable character – reduced to the minimum but perfectly executed – demonstrate the strategic quality of SEAT design in the development of future model generations.
The SEAT IBE takes a unique approach to combining dynamic design and compact sporting character with exceptional usability. It is conceived for the urban conurbations of Europe such as Paris, London, Berlin or Barcelona. Here is where the IBE will come into its own with zero-emissions driving fun, fabulous manoeuvrability, an impressive amount of space – and, of course, a cool look courtesy of its clear and extroverted design language.
Demonstrating beyond doubt that environmentally responsible does not have to equal dull looks or lacklustre performance, the SEAT IBE is a super-compact 2+2 sports coupe with classic sports car proportions. At just 3.83 meters in length it undercuts the successful SEAT Ibiza by around 20 centimeters. Yet, at an unusually wide 1.77 meters and only 123 centimeters high, the IBE possesses the classic proportions of a sports car.
The SEAT IBE is an all-electric vehicle that generates zero local emissions and has a package layout optimized for this new technology. The drive motor is located together with the power electronics at the front of the car. Their compact dimensions facilitate the extremely flat and dynamic contour of the bonnet. The lithium-ion battery is positioned in the rear.
Thanks to an incredibly compact independent rear suspension layout, the energy storage unit fits beneath the floor of the luggage compartment. With a maximum output of 75 kW (102 PS) and 200 Nm of torque, the power unit delivers exactly the kind of dynamic driving fun promised by the exterior styling.
The city dash from 0 to 50 km/h (31 mph) takes only 3.6 seconds; within 6.6 seconds, the IBE has reached 80 km/h (50 mph), and after only 9.7 seconds it arrives at 100 km/h (62 mph). This impressive performance is a function not only of the powerful off-the-line characteristics of the electric motor, but also the low weight of the car which tips the scales at only 1,100 kilograms. Intelligent lightweight engineering is the key, as well as the proven technological efficiency of aluminum and steel in its construction.
The continuous power rating is limited to 50 kW (68 PS), with the top speed pegged at 160 km/h (100 mph) – which is more than enough to cut an impressive figure even on urban motorways. Battery capacity is 18 kWh and set up for a range of around 130 kilometres (81 miles), which is ample for the daily mobility requirements of city life.
SEAT is also using the IBE to showcase its answer to the demands of the mobile generation for connectivity and infotainment. In the Paris show car the driver can use a wireless application to connect his smart phone, such as an iPhone, to the car and conduct an on-line check of its systems, including the battery and a trip computer display.
An album or a song can be selected from the smart phone and played through the car’s sound system by pressing the ‘drag to car’ option. The dash screen and the steering wheel touch controls simplify operating and navigating the integrated infotainment menus.
Furthermore, all manner of assistance and navigation functions can be used via special apps, and multimedia content stored in the device can be downloaded and accessed.[wzslider height=”400″ lightbox=”true”]
