Seat has indicated its future design direction with this plug-in hybrid sports saloon concept, unveiled on the eve of the Frankfurt motor show.
Seat describes the IBL, which bears a family resemblance to the Volkswagen Passat CC, as a crossover between a saloon and a sports coupé.
The concept is 4670mm long and 1850mm wide and has a wheelbase of 2710mm, with short front and rear overhangs. It sits on 20in wheels.
The lower air intakes at the front are designed to evoke the look of an electronic circuit board, which is a nod towards the hybrid tech that powers the IBL. The front and rear LED lights are an ‘all-in-one’ design that combines indicators, daytime running lights and main headlamps into a single “light sculpture”.
The cockpit has a one-piece curved glass surface that covers the instrument panel all the way to the secondary display in the centre of the cockpit.
The IBL features a novel approach to climate control. Virtually the entire upper side of the cockpit is conceived as a large-surface air vent, allowing draught-free ventilation.
Seat says the car does not pre-empt a specific model. Company president James Muir said: “The IBL shows that sports saloons within the Seat brand will play an important role in future. Over the next few years, Seat will embark upon a product offensive that will see the spirit of the IBL reflected in several production models.”
Add your comment