"We want to increase our 340,000 unit sales from last year – by 8 to 10 percent – thanks to existing models. We aim to sell 45,000 units of the Ibiza ST (station wagon) this year. And the Alhambra already is well above plan so we expect a full-year volume of 20,000 units. This proves that our brand is gaining strength," Muir was quoted as saying by Autonews Europe.
For 2012, the company has even bigger plans, fueled by the launch of four new models. "We will launch four new cars: the new Leon, a totally new entry-level model, a four-door sedan and a major Ibiza facelift," said Muir, who was appointed head of Seat in 2009.
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Since then, the car has gained an interior while its exterior design has been tweaked with a restyled lower fascia and new LED headlamps and tail lights. Furthermore, the car is now finished in a more eye-catching cherry-red color.
The super-compact sports coupe concept with the 2+2 seat layout is around 200 mm shorter than the Ibiza measuring just 3,830 mm in length. However, it is also unusually wide at 1,770 mm with a height of just 1,230 mm.
The Spanish automaker said that it will showcase two versions of its recently introduced Ibiza Sports Tourer (ST) model, one with an extensive package of accessories and the other featuring the sportier-looking black fascia of the Ibiza Bocanegra hatchback.
Seat did not release any photos of the two estate models.
Talking about dimensions, Seat's sports study has an unusual breadth of 1,800mm and an overall height of only 1,220mm giving the IBE classic sports car proportions. The short front and rear overhangs, low bonnet and long roof-line along with the 19-inch alloys also help to accentuate the car's sporty looks.
There are no photos of the interior but Seat claims that the IBE is a 2+2 seater with plenty of space for a couple - meaning that the rear seats are for children at best.
As anticipated, the production version of last year's Frankfurt Show IBZ study has lost all those edgy styling elements such as the hidden rear door handles and the sharper tail lamps that made the concept look so special.
On the outside, up until the C-pillar, the Ibiza ST appears to be identical to the hatchback model while from there aft, the styling brings to mind the Audi A3 Sportback.
Available to order now at SEAT dealerships across the UK with deliveries set to begin in March, the diesel-powered extension to the Ibiza FR range boasts a four-cylinder turbocharged diesel pumping out 143 horsepower.
Linked as standard to a six-speed manual gearbox, the TDI accelerates the SC three-door hatch from 0 to 62mph (100km/h) in 8.2 seconds and on to a top speed of 130mph or 209km/h. The 5-door model's equivalent values are 8.3 seconds and 129mph.
The Ibiza FR hatch, which by the way, is faster than let's say (...) the JDM Honda CR-Z by about 1.5 seconds in the 0-100km/h sprint, records a combined fuel economy in the EU cycle of 62.7mpg UK that translates to 4.5lt/100km and 52.2mpg US, with an official CO2 figure of 119 g/km.
Both bodystyles come equipped with climate control, ESP with SEAT's new XDS electronic 'virtual' limited slip differential and FR detailing inside and out.
Sans the LED tail and head lamps, the sexy 19-inch alloys in low profile 235/35 tyres, the dramatic styling of the front and rear bumpers, the groovy exterior mirrors, the sporty interior with the high-quality materials, the flat-bottomed steering wheel, the futuristic instrument panel and well, whatever else makes this concept look cool (...), what you see here is very close to next year's production Ibiza station wagon or in Seat's nomenclature, the Sport Tourer.The concept model, which goes by the name IBZ, also gets hidden rear door handles and a panoramic glass sunfroof while the front-end shows an evolution of Seat's latest design language with the bonnet now featuring a running edge - GM anyone?
Bypassing the conceptual styling traits of the interior, the IBZ comes with a more spacious boot that measures 410 litres and can be extended when the rear seats are folded down leaving a completely flat cargo space stretching right to the back of the front seats. The car also features a hidden area underneath the 'normal' boot.
Seat says that IBZ Concept has a total length of 4.22 meters and retains the same height and width as the basic hatch. Howver, the Spanish automaker claims that access to the back seats has been improved thanks to the broader rear doors.
The toned-down, production version of the IBZ Concept will join the three- and five-door hatchback versions of the Ibiza towards the middle of next year (2010).
Seat is planning to take the wraps off a thinly disguised concept version of its forthcoming Ibiza Sport Tourer (ST) model at next week's Frankfurt Motor Show, Carscoop has learned. The production model that will most likely be revealed at either the 2010 Geneva Salon in March or the Barcelona Show in May is expected to arrive at European dealerships in the second quarter of 2010. Earlier this year SEAT said that the Ibiza ST range will include a selection of engines that are not currently offered in the SC (three-door) and five-door hatchback models.The third member of the Ibiza family will be produced at Seat's factory in Martorell Spain.
Revealed for the first time at the Barcelona Auto Show in Spain in May, Seat's concept-car inspired Bocanegra is virtually a styling package that draws its inspiration from the 1970s 1200 SPORT Bocanegra. It is offered on the Ibiza Cupra and FR sport hatches that are both powered by a 1.4-liter turobocharged four-banger producing 150HP and 180HP on the respective models.On the outside, the Bocangera is distinguished by the black inserts on the fascia, the dark headlamps, partially blacked out rooftop and black mirrors while interior upgrades include a set of sport seats upholstered in a special fabric and specific trim.
