Seat has unveiled has confirmed an estate version of the Ibiza will arrive early next year, following the launch of a 25th anniversary edition of the hatchback at the Barcelona show.
Company president Eric Schmidt, on hand to unveil the Bocanegra and celebrate the 25th birthday of Seat's small hatchback, also revealed that the new small Seat, based on the VW Up!, will be aimed at a very young market.
“With the Ibiza ST we are going to extend the Ibiza range in the first half of 2010”, said Schmitt. He added, "We will also be entering a new segment beneath the Ibiza. Using the basis of the VW Group’s new small family car, which will be manufactured in Bratislava [the Up!], Seat is planning to launch a car aimed at a very young target." Autocar understands that the Seat version of the Up! will be marketed as a more funky offering than its stablemates from VW and Skoda.
The 25th anniversary Ibiza will not be sold here, but a UK spokesman for Seat has hinted that the company will mark the Ibiza’s 25th anniversary in some way, most probably with an alternative special-edition model.
The Seat Ibiza 25th Anniversary edition will be sold in Europe in three and five-door body styles, equipped with either a 84bhp 1.4-litre motor or a 104bhp 1.9-litre diesel engine.
Equipment includes climate control, privacy glass, 17-inch alloys, a USB port and Bluetooth.
The original Ibiza was based on a Fiat Strada and boasted an engine developed with Porsche. The first generation of the car was later built by Chinese car maker Nanjing, badged as the Soyat.
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