By Dan Trent
02 October 2008 15:29:40

Hot Seat scorches at Paris

Saw the new Ibiza and thought ‘yes, but what about the hot one?’ Not to worry, your wait is over. Making its debut here at Paris, the Cupra beefs up the Ibiza’s already edgey styling to new levels of aggression too.
Seat Ibiza Cupra (Image © Microsoft/Magiccarpics.co.uk)
Seat Ibiza Cupra: click on images to enlarge
And with a 178bhp version of VW’s fantastic turbo-supercharged 1.4-litre engine it proves that downsizing needn’t mean diluting the thrill quota, the punchy powerplant driving through the latest seven-speed DSG gearbox. Shifter paddles, a fat centre exhaust and beefy bodykit further underline the Cupra’s sporting ambitions too.
 
Offsetting the Cupra’s more wild nature is another new version of the Ibiza, the Ecomotive. Here the emphasis is on cutting emissions and boosting fuel consumption rather than all-out thrills but given our personal experience with the current version we can expect the new-shape Ecomotive to offer satisfactions of its own.
Seat Exeo (Image © Microsoft/Magiccarpics.co.uk)
Seat Exeo
Then there’s the Exeo, Seat’s move upmarket into new territory – namely the fiercely fought D-segment where it will go head to head with the likes of the Ford Mondeo, Vauxhall Insignia and many others. So what does the Spanish division of the VW group offer that nobody else currently does?
 
Well, if the Exeo looks familiar that’s because it is – it’s basically a reclothed previous-shape Audi A4. Which is no bad thing. And expect it to be very keenly priced – think Seat’s equivalent to the Skoda Superb. If Seat can repeat the same trick of bargain luxury with its own sporty twist it could be onto a winner. 
Seat
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Paris Motor Show 2008 - your vote

  1. Which car unveiled at the Paris Motor Show 2008 do you most want to own?

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  1. Which car unveiled at the Paris Motor Show 2008 do you most want to own?
    1. New BMW 7-Series
      12%
    2. Chevrolet Cruze
      1%
    3. Ferrari California
      23%
    4. New Ford Ka
      4%
    5. Lamborghini Estoque
      36%
    6. Lexus IS 250 Cabriolet
      4%
    7. New Renault Megane
      2%
    8. New Toyota Avensis
      4%
    9. Vauxhall Insignia Sports Tourer
      3%
    10. New VW Golf
      11%
28336 responses,