New Best Cars: Seat

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Seat Ibiza by JE Design

German company JE Design has released details of their tuning package for the Seat Ibiza. The model has been pimped to add extra bit of aerodynamic efficiency while offering an aesthetically pleasing look. The body kit includes a front spoiler, headlamp covers, side skirts, a carbon-effect rear apron attachment and a centrally positioned trapezoid tailpipe that are compatible with all body styles in the Ibiza range. JE Design also offers a roof edge spoiler for the 3- and 5-door hatchback models. Beneath the skin, there is also a ride-lowering suspension kit that is complimented by a set of 17- or 18-inch shadow silver or matt black Multispoke alloy wheels.

The engine units have also received their share of attention from the tuning engineers:

The 1.2 liter TSI unit sees power increased from 105PS(77kW/103hp) and 175Nm (129lb-ft) of toque up to 140PS (103kW/138hp) and 230Nm (170lb-ft).
The 1.6 liter TDI unit has been increased from 105PS(77kW/103hp) and 250Nm of torque to 125PS(92kW/123hp) and 295Nm (218lb-ft).
Performance upgrades are currently in the development for the 1.4 TSI and 2.0 TDI CR that produce factory outputs of 143PS (105kW/141hp) and 150PS (110kW/148hp) respectively.

All upgrades are available to order immediately directly from JE Design or alternatively from any Seat partner.

Seat Introduces New FR+ and Upgrades Cupra R in the Leon's Range

Banking on the success of the Leon FR that, last year, was responsible for one in four Leon sales in Britain, Seat introduced a new FR+ derivative, while also extending the FR badge to a broader engine range.
The Leon FR hatch is now available with a 1.4-liter TSI petrol developing 125-horses and linked to a manual transmission only, or a 2.0-liter TDI diesel with 140-horsepower and the choice of either a manual gearbox or a DSG dual clutch automatic transmission.
The FR badge adds new front and rear bumpers, twin chrome exhaust pipe, trademark silver-painted door mirrors, LED rear-light clusters, sports seats and steering wheel, rear parking sensors, rain-sensing wipers, automatic headlights and auto-dimming rear-view mirror.
The previous FR models have been renamed to FR+. Buyers can choose between a 211HP 2.0-liter TSI petrol and a 170HP 2.0-liter TDI CR diesel.
In addition to the FR's standard features, the FR+ trim adds 18-inch ‘Ibera’ alloy wheels; the SEAT Media System 2.2, which includes satellite-navigation with five-inch colour touchscreen, DAB radio, Bluetooth audio streaming and SD card slot; Bluetooth phone connection; Bi-xenon headlights with AFS (Adaptive Front-lighting System) and front parking sensors.
Seat says that while the retail cost of the extra equipment when specified separately is £2,465 RRP, the price of the new Leon FR+ is up by only £1,070 RRP.
Prices for the revised FR lineup start at £18,205 RRP for the Leon FR 1.4 TSI 125 PS, and rise to £22,615 RRP for the Leon FR+ 2.0 TDI CR DSG-auto 170 PS.
Along with the changes to the FR range, Seat also added some new standard features to its flagship 265HP Leon Cupra R model, including a SEAT Media System 2.2, Bluetooth connectivity, Bi-xenon headlights with AFS and LED rear-light clusters.
The additional equipment not only comes at no extra cost, but Seat actually reduced the car's price by £10 to £25,995 RRP.

PHOTO GALLERY

UK Insurer Parts the Most Unreliable and Costly Car

In an article on a BMW-faced Honda Accord we found for sale on Craigslist back in 2008, we wrote that in a perfect world, our ultimate car would be “designed by Italians, engineered by Germans, built by Japanese and marketed by Americans”.So, what’s the worst car one could imagine? Well, if we played around with the above statements, we’d say one designed by Japanese, engineered by Americans, built by Italians and marketed by Germans.
But UK insurance firm Warranty Direct had something a little bit different in mind. Instead of playing the origin card, the company decided to check out its database of 50,000 live policies on cars aged five years on average to part the UK’s most unreliable vehicle that would break down every other month and cost an average of £2,050 (equal to US$3,270 - €2,330) to fix each year.
By studying its Reliability Index tool that measures car reliability by considering average cost of repair, frequency of failure, age and mileage, the UK firm came up with an owner’s nightmare, which it calls the Monster Mk1.
The most unreliable car would be powered by an MG TF engine, ride on the suspension of a BMW M3, and have the electric workings of the Renault Megane, the air-conditioning system of a Seat Alhambra, the heating system of a Seat Toledo, the ignition of a Mercedes V-Class, the steering system of a Volvo C70, the gearbox of a Land Rover Freelander and the brakes of an Audi A8.
Commenting on the results, Warranty Direct managing director, Duncan McClure Fisher, said: “The Monster Mk1 represents the worst-performing vehicles in every sector, from suspension to electrics, on our roads today. The wide range of cars included in our special blend highlights how mostly reliable cars can be dragged down by one problem part.”
According to the British company, nearly 40 percent of BMW M3s require repairs to axle and suspension components alone each year, while the same percentage of Renault Meganes report an electrical fault on an basis.
Furthermore, one in five Land Rover Freelanders suffer transmission glitches each year and the same number of Audi A8s will need repairs to their brakes.
The company also found that almost a fourth of MG’s TF sports car owners will experience engine troubles, while more than one in eight SEAT Alhambra MPVs will need their air-con fixed during a typical year.

Seat Ibiza ST wagon by JE Design

JE Design has unveiled a new styling and performance package for the Seat Ibiza ST Estate.

On the design front, the tuner offers an aerodynamic body kit (€1,149) which includes a front spoiler, a revised grille, extended side skirts and a new rear fascia. Additionally, customers can order lowering springs (€149) and a variety of 17- and 18-inch alloy wheels (€1,809 to €2,380).

To spruce up the interior, owners can add leather seats (€1,599), a leather-wrapped steering wheel (€399) and a front seat massage system (€429).

Under the hood, the 1.6-liter TDI engine can be outfitted with a revised ECU (€1,399) that enables it to produce 121 PS (89 kW / 119 hp) and 282 Nm (208 lb-ft) of torque - an increase of 16 PS (12 kW / 16 hp) and 32 Nm (24 lb-ft). Thanks to the extra power, the Ibiza can accelerate from 0-100 km/h in 10.2 seconds and hit a top speed of 194 km/h (121 mph).

All about new Seat León Cupra R

Seat León Cupra R

The extensive, generous equipment list features Seat's impressive new electronic self-blocking XDS system As on the 240 hp version, the engine set-up includes a new, high-pressure fuel injection pump to satisfy its greater performance demands, and the ratios on the six-speed gearbox have been specifically adapted. The intercooler fitted to the new engine delivers its superior performance through greater turbo pressure. The interior of the Leon Cupra R gets a pair of racing-style bucket seats in grey alcantara upholstery, LED lighting on the instrument dials, a leather multi-functional steering wheel and an aluminum pedal arrangement.

The larger wheel assembly allowed Seat’s engineers to upgrade the braking system with 17-inch 345 x 30 mm discs at the front and 16 inch 286 x 12 mm at the rear. In addition, it also receives 19-inch, five double-spoke wheels shod with 235/35 tires. The range-topping Leon gets the ‘R’ logos on the central grille and at the lower right of the hatch, the right instrument dial and the remote control key. The standing kilometer takes 25.7 seconds and it has a combined fuel economy of 8.1 lt / 100km or 29mpg US / 34.9mpg UK. Its feisty exterior design is mirrored on the inside, too, with a motorsport-inspired look and feel that lets you know this is not just another car.

The Seat León Cupra R is, simply, an attention-grabber. Boasting a thoroughbred sporty engine, the new Seat León Cupra R features exclusive interior and exterior styling touches which reflect its unique character. A be guiling mix of Latin passion and practicality, this new ‘superSEAT’ remains, of course, the rational choice for ultra-hot hatch buyers who want sporty coupé looks allied to five-door functionality. As a result, the front-wheel drive only Leon Cupra R slashes the 0 to 100km/h (62mph) sprint from 6.4 seconds (standard Cupra) to 6.1 seconds and top speed climbs from 247 km/h (154mph) to 250 km/h (155mph).

Seat claims however, that the new four-banger features a new, high-pressure fuel pump injector to satisfy its greater performance demands, while fully complying with strict EU5 emissions standards. It is unconfirmed if the 2.0 TSI is the same engine found in the Vw Scirocco R. The standard model’s 240-horsepower turbocharged 2.0-liter four-pot is replaced with a 265-horsepower direct injection 2.0 TSI. 2010 Seat will unveil its most potent series production model to date, the new Leon Cupra R at next month’s Frankfurt Motor Show (all of you may know already because we revealed this fact back in June in this post).

Equipped with a new 265 hp engine, it instantly becomes the brand's most powerful production car to date, earning a special chapter in Seat's history in the process. Following a very successful debut at the 2009 Frankfurt Motor Show, the new Seat León Cupra R is about to go on sale.